The Ultimate Gift: A Legacy of Learning at Rosalind Franklin University

The foundation of a great healthcare provider is built upon a profound understanding of the human form. We invite anyone to consider a unique and deeply meaningful way to support the next generation of healthcare professionals: the ultimate gift of anatomical donation.

By choosing to donate your body to the Sheinin Gross Anatomy Lab, you are doing more than providing a specimen. You are becoming a teacher for students who will one day go on to save lives, ease pain, and advance the boundaries of science.

The Impact of Your Gift

Anatomical donation is integral to medical and health science education. Your contribution has a significant and lasting impact on the University, particularly during these challenging times for higher education.

• Advancing Interprofessionalism: RFU is a leader in interprofessional education. Your donation allows students from various disciplines—medicine, podiatry, physical therapy, and more—to study together, fostering the collaboration and mutual respect essential to modern healthcare.
• Broadening Perspectives: A heterogeneous range of donors provides students with a realistic understanding of human diversity, preparing them for the varied patient populations they will serve.
• The Person Behind the Science: We believe in treating every donor with the utmost dignity. Through our donor biography program, students learn about the life you lived, the work you did, and the person you were. This unique approach ensures that, from the very beginning of their training, students view their “specimens” as individuals—an essential step in developing empathy and patient-centered care.

Support for Your Alma Mater and Your Family

While the Sheinin Gross Anatomy Lab currently acquires approximately 80 specimens annually at a high cost, a body donation helps reduce these expenses for the University while providing a seamless process for your estate.

• Cost-Free Donation: To honor your generosity, the University covers all expenses related to the receipt and transportation of the body to the Lab. There is no cost to your estate.
• Geographic Reach: The Lab is fully equipped to accept donations from Illinois and adjacent states.
• Flexibility: We understand that life is unpredictable. If a donor unexpectedly passes away outside of the region, we remain committed to working with the family to facilitate the donation whenever possible.

The Process and Your Legacy

Choosing to donate is a significant decision, and we are here to support you through every step of the planning process.

1. Intent to Donate: Upon enrollment, you will receive a Donor Card to carry with you or file with your important papers, documenting your gift intention.
2. Respectful Study: Your gift will be used exclusively for the advancement of medical education and research within our controlled, professional laboratory environment.
3. Final Rites: At the conclusion of the study, the University handles cremation with the highest level of respect. Families have the option of receiving the cremains for private interment or memorialization, ensuring your journey comes full circle with your loved ones.

Honor the Future of Healthcare

Your legacy can live on through the hands and hearts of the students you help train. By donating to the Sheinin Gross Anatomy Lab, you are investing in a future where healthcare is practiced with precision, collaboration, and a deep-seated respect for the human person.

To begin the process, please fill out the Anatomical Donor Agreement form, or the Anatomical Donor Agreement form for legal guardians.