Who May Donate
Any competent individual at least 18 years of age may donate their body to Des Moines University Medicine and Health Sciences for medical education and research.
How To Donate
Donating your body for medical education and research brings peace of mind to both you and your family, knowing you are making a lasting contribution to humanity. Potential donors must be registered with DMU’s body donation program prior to the donor’s passing.
DMU provides multiple ways to apply for the body donation program, including requesting information and paperwork by mail or email or starting the application process online.
To get started, visit our online application.
Program Process at Time of Death
- The hospital, care facilitator, donor’s family or funeral home must contact DMU’s body donation program to discuss the eligibility of the donor.
- DMU will assess the need and medical suitability including, but not limited to, height/weight ratio, medical history, cause and time of death, along with any infectious or contagious disease processes.
- If the donor is not medically suitable, DMU will notify the caller that the donor does not meet program requirements. The family will then be responsible for making other disposition arrangements with the funeral home.
- If the donor is medically suitable and is accepted, DMU will notify the caller of such decision and the funeral home will be notified to make the removal from the place of death.
- The funeral home will contact DMU to discuss transportation arrangements immediately, or following funeral services if the family desires a service before donation.
- Once the donor has arrived at Des Moines University, the family will be mailed a condolence package with additional paperwork.
- Following the completion of our studies, the family will be invited to the annual body donation remembrance service and the disposition of the donor’s remains will be carried out per the next of kin’s request.