Full Body Donation Program at MERI: Honoring Life, Advancing Knowledge
Honoring Life,
Advancing Knowledge.
She already gets her eyes, sense of humor, and adventurous spirit from you. Why not leave her a legacy of service as well, with the ultimate gift that will benefit medical science for her, her children, and beyond.
Why Choose Body Donation
Legacy
By taking part in groundbreaking medical training and research, even after passing away, you have the opportunity to make a significant and enduring impact on the lives of millions of people, providing them with a greater chance for a better life
Financial
At no expense to your family, Genesis provides transportation, a death certificate, and cremation services. The Genesis program offers a dignified and honorable alternative for families who may either be financially drained or opposed to traditional, costly funerals.
Environmental Responsibility
Ashes are returned to your loved ones or interred in a mausoleum in the Memphis area, avoiding the ecological burden of a typical burial.
Peace of Mind
During their time with us, donors are treated with the utmost respect and dignity. At MERI, each donor is regarded as a living patient for every medical training procedure performed. MERI holds accreditation from the American Association of Tissue Banks (AATB) and is licensed by the New York State Department of Health.
How Do I Become a Donor?
To pre-register for our whole-body donation program, you have the option to complete the donor forms ahead of time, or in the event of your passing, a legal authorizing party may utilize the Third-Party Authorization form included in the donor packet linked above to arrange for donation.
Complete the donor registration forms.
Inform your family or legal authorizing party to contact Genesis at time of death.
Upon notification, Genesis provides transportation of the donor to the MERI and files appropriate paperwork including death certificates.
Donor participates in medical education, training, and research for 6-12 months.
Cremated remains are returned to a loved one or interred in a mausoleum in the Memphis area.
What Happens
The Medical Education and Research Institute (MERI) in Memphis, TN is the non-profit organization that supports the Genesis Whole Body Donation Program. Donors make critical education and training possible through their selfless and generous gift for physicians, surgeons, nurses, EMTs, and other medical professionals from around the world. These professionals come to the MERI to gain invaluable hands-on experience in the latest medical techniques and technologies, taking this newfound knowledge back to their patients.
Donor Requirements
Acceptance is contingent on each donor’s medical suitability at the time of death. MERI’s Board, staff, faculty, students and researchers appreciate all who generously plan and hope to become anatomic donors. These gifts allow for the continuous improvement of patient care.
MERI must limit its acceptance of anatomic donors to those donors who at the time of death can be “good teachers,” free of infectious diseases that could harm the learner. Additionally, the donor’s physical condition must be suitable to create a safe, high-quality learning experience.
We cannot accept a donor who has moved to or passed away in a state that is not within the Genesis service area.
Donor Registration Forms
To submit your door registration forms, please complete the following steps:
Download the Genesis Donor Forms. (You must have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed to open this type of file.)
Complete the forms online and then print OR print first and complete neatly by hand.
The completed forms MUST be hand signed by the donor and two (2) witnesses.
Mail the completed and signed Donor Forms packet to:
Genesis Whole Body Donation Program
Medical Education & Research Institute
44 South Cleveland
Memphis, TN 38104
Forms can also be mailed to you to complete and return. Please click here to be directed to our online request form
Learn More About Whole Body Donation
