M.D. Class of 2027 student Kat McClure shares her poem regarding incredible gift's
impact on her time at South Carolina.
Gift of Body
Housed in the Kay and C. Edward Floyd, M.D. School of Medicine's Department of Cell
Biology and Anatomy, the Gift of Body Program is for individuals wishing to participate
in the noble and time-honored practice of donating their bodies to advance scientific
discovery after their death.
Gift of Body Memorial Service
The 2026 Gift of Body Memorial Service was held on April 18, 2026, at Bible Way Atlas Church, Columbia, S.C.
The yearly non-denominational memorial service provides an opportunity for our students
to pay their final respects and show their appreciation for the great service which
their first patients provided.
Gift of Body Program
Our program began in the 1970's as our medical school began the process of training
health professionals to serve the people of South Carolina.
We are proud to say that the citizens of our state have been generous contributors;
with a current database of approximately 4,000 (future) donors, the Gift of Body Program
has far exceeded our original expectations. The cadavers obtained through the program
are utilized mainly by first-year medical and graduate students at the Floyd School
of Medicine for clinical educational purposes.
Our donors are treated with the utmost respect, and then cremated and interred at
the Donor Memorial Garden. Enrollment in the basic program allows for return of the
donor ashes (upon request) at the end of the study period.
Why Should I Enroll
Your participation in our program helps enhance our medical and graduate students’
education by providing them the hands-on clinical experience they need to enrich their
skills and improve future patient outcomes. You can learn more about our program through
our frequently asked questions.
How Do I Sign Up
We are currently accepting donor applications from those individuals that reside within
the state of South Carolina. If you're interested in donating, you may download the donor registration packet and the instruction packet or contact us to have it sent to you. Please note that the forms must be completed
and sent to us directly for a donor to be registered with our program.
