Sydney Levan, a medical student at the Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine, recalls how she felt knowing that people chose to contribute to her education through a medical school donation. “It was both humbling and awe-inspiring to realize I was about to learn from something real from people who had chosen to help us learn in the most profound way possible,” she said. “I remember thinking how incredible the human body is, and how privileged I was to be able to learn from it directly.”
When you donate a body to medical research and education, you are making a meaningful donation. In Arizona, body donation programs are essential to the success of the state’s growing network of medical universities.
“Every time I step into our gross anatomy lab, I am again amazed by the incredible generosity of our donors, without whom our foundational training of modern healthcare professionals would be impossible,” said Chris Heesy, Ph.D., Professor of Anatomy at a Phoenix-area medical school.
How Medical Schools in Phoenix Utilize Body Donations
Medical schools throughout the Phoenix area depend on donated bodies to train healthcare professionals across multiple disciplines. From anatomy and surgical training to research in neuroscience and disease prevention, these anatomical donations provide real-world learning for students, helping them understand the broad variances in human bodies, that models can’t quite capture, and teaching empathy and respect.
When you donate a body to medical research, you are also helping explore new treatments for diseases at research facilities in Phoenix.
| Institution/Program | Location | Purpose & Key Research Areas |
| University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix | Phoenix | Uses donated bodies primarily for medical student anatomy education and surgical training. |
| Midwestern University | Glendale | Utilizes donated bodies for anatomy labs and surgical training for its health professional programs, including the Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine (AZCOM), Dental, and Physician Assistant programs. |
| A.T. Still University – School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona (ATSU-SOMA) | Mesa | Receives donated bodies for anatomy and clinical skills training. |
| Banner Health – Brain and Body Donation Program (BBDP) | Sun City | Focuses on research related to aging, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, dementia, and movement disorders. |
Phoenix-area medical institutions actively participate with medical research programs at the Phoenix Bioscience Core, along with other institutions and more than 450 tech and startup companies, for life science research and innovation in precision medicine.
What Happens to the Body After Donation?
When a donor passes, the body is transported to an accredited facility, where it is documented, prepared, and allocated for authorized educational or research use. In anatomy labs, students and instructors study the human body’s structure to learn the foundations of medicine. For surgical training, physicians refine techniques and develop new procedures that improve patient safety and outcomes. In research, donated tissue supports scientific discoveries that benefit public health.
United Tissue Network (UTN) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and coordinates body donations in Arizona. UTN handles the arrangements, including providing free cremation after studies are completed. The cremated remains may be returned to the family upon request or disposed of in an ethical manner according to state laws. UTN ensures programs adhere to the Uniform Anatomical Gift Act (UAGA) and follow American Association of Tissue Banks (AATB) standards for ethical and legal compliance.
How to Make a Medical School Donation
UTN coordinates the process with respect, professionalism, and at no cost to families. With offices in Phoenix, UTN ensures your gift supports accredited medical schools and research institutions in Arizona and elsewhere, helping shape the future of science and medicine.
Creating A Legacy of Learning and Healing
Choosing medical school donation for yourself or a loved one is a personal decision, and a profound one. By becoming a whole-body donor, you are helping train the next generation of doctors and surgeons who will impact thousands of lives. You are also helping scientists research diseases, treatments, drugs, and medical devices to improve the quality of life for others.
Train the doctors who will save lives for generations. Register with United Tissue Network to donate your body to medical research and secure free cremation for your family.
