Dianne Person, the Founding Director of the Anatomical Gift Program (AGP) at Elon UniversityA Unique Gift: Another Way to Give Back, The Anatomical Gift Program, Elon University’s School of Health Sciences
On March 24, 2017 Elon University launched an Anatomical Gift Program (AGP), the first willed body program in a school of health sciences in the state of North Carolina. The program is a resource for students in undergraduate biology courses and students in Elon’s School of Health Sciences as they learn about the human body and train to be physical therapists and physician assistants. Elon’s AGP provides an ethical, moral and self-sufficient future for anatomy education. The study of the human body constitutes an invaluable and indispensable part of healthcare education. The AGP supports the teaching of undergraduate biology, graduate programs in physical therapy (DPT) and physician assistant curricula (PA).
We have instituted beautiful language synonymous with some willed body programs. For example, Elon refers to our donors as our ‘silent teachers’. Our silent teachers provide an unprecedented anatomical experience for our students in healthcare. The principal source of bodies at Elon’s Anatomical Gift Program is private donation. The need for donations is great and the gift is highly valued and honored.
Choosing to donate one’s body for the purpose of healthcare education and research is a supremely compassionate and altruistic humanitarian gesture. With this priceless gift, one can provide an unprecedented legacy of learning and a foundation for the education and training of healthcare professionals. The AGP is the official entity for procurement and final disposition of donated bodies for anatomy education in the School of Health Sciences.
Dianne Person, the Founding Director of the Anatomical Gift Program (AGP) at Elon University, is the public relations expert on anatomical donation that advances the institutional interests and acts in the best interest of the donor(s) and their family. One of Dianne’s mission is to meet with North Carolina’s health care professionals and educate them on our program. An additional mission is for Dianne to provide educational outreach sessions for interested North Carolina residents.
To quote Brene Brown, ‘What we know matters, but who we are matters more.’ Elon’s Anatomical Gift Program honor, respect, and treat our program participants with care and compassion from the moment we speak with them to the moment we return them to their families.
At this writing, nearly 31-months since our public launch, we have accepted 44 silent teachers, registered 343 North Carolina residents, and have 94 requests from folks who are interested and considering registering with our program.
The Inaugural Anatomical Gift Program Donor Farewell Service was hosted on July 12, 2018. The farewell service is to recognize the noble gifts of nine silent teachers. Family members of the anatomical donors were invited to speak. They shared stories about their loved ones and lovingly provided a glimpse into their life. Candles were lit in memory of the silent teachers. Song sung from the heart to honor them. Engraved plaques gifted to families acknowledging the value of their loved one’s priceless gift toward healthcare education. The intangible gift is the legacy created by the silent teachers that will live on through the care of Elon’s School of Health Sciences healthcare providers.
For more information about the program, contact Dianne Person, Founding Director of the Anatomical Gift Program (AGP) at Elon University.
