Hamden’s Quinnipiac University is soliciting cadavers as teaching aids for its soon-to-open Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine.
The school said Tuesday that its body donation program will supplement the supply used to teach the 60 students who will be part of the school’s first class when it opens in August on Quinnipiac’s North Haven Campus.
“Donating bodies to medical schools has become a more affordable alternative for many families especially during these times when the economy is not strong,” said James Casso, director of The Q’s human anatomy laboratory.
While the typical donor tends to be at least 70 years old, age is not usually a factor in accepting bodies for the program. However certain conditions, including obesity, low weight, edema, infectious diseases, dehydration and autopsy, can make a body unsuitable for the school’s educational purposes.
Casso said he will examine each body at the time of death to determine if it’s suitable for donation.
After completing its study of a body, the medical school will pay to cremate the remains and return the ashes to the family, according to the donor’s instructions. To honor its donors, the medical school will hold a memorial service that is attended by the donors’ family members, students and faculty, school officials said.
For more information about the body donation program, please call Casso at 203-582-6587 or email him at james.casso@quinnipiac.edu.
