Every year, MERI and the Genesis Whole Body Donation Program pause to honor the amazing individuals whose selfless gift made the past year’s medical education and research possible. The 2020 Appreciation Celebration, held on September 27th, was a heartfelt tribute to the donors who gave the ultimate gift, and to the families who honored their wishes.

The celebration brought together MERI staff, Genesis team members, donor families, and members of the medical community to express gratitude for contributions that cannot be measured in words. Remarks from the MERI team reflected on the massive impact each donor’s gift has on physicians, surgeons, nurses, and EMTs who train at the Memphis facility.

At its heart, the Donor Appreciation Celebration is more than just a ceremony. It’s an opportunity for MERI to look at donor families in the eye and say, “We understand the weight of what your loved one chose to do, and we do not take it lightly.” Every donor who arrives at MERI is treated as a living patient, with dignity, respect, and the same care that defines every aspect of the Genesis program.

Donor families were recognized for their courage, grace, and generosity in carrying out their loved one’s final wishes. As MERI’s team expressed, it’s a privilege, not a routine, to be entrusted with a gift of this magnitude.

To every donor and every family who made this celebration possible: thank you. Your legacy lives on in every life your gift has helped save.