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Keith McCord ReportingA somber memorial service at the Salt Lake Cemetery today. The University of Utah School of Medicine honored more than 100 people whose bodies were used for science and research purposes during the past year.
Each year, faculty and students at the University of Utah medical school gather to pay tribute to a remarkable teaching tool, donated human bodies, used for research. 107 bodies were given to the U's Body Donor Program this past year.
Kerry Don Peterson, Dir. Body Donor Program.: "Body donors give life, and they do so in a number of ways. One through biomedical research and development, and two through the education and re-education of health care professionals."
Robyn Ninefeldt is a second year med student. She said there's only so much you can learn from professors and books in the classroom.
Robin Ninefeldt, Medical Student: "I will tell you that the best teacher that I had this entire year was a woman that I nick-named Harriett. I don't know her real name, but she far surpassed anything in her teaching ability that I've encountered, ever!"
The U's donor program began back in 1940, when the medical school became a four-year program. Since then, 2,000 families have provided the bodies of loved ones to contribute to medical science. One woman's husband and daughter were both donated.
Woman: "I can't thank these doctors enough, and the students and these students who are learning. And I hope they are learning a lot because Sylvia had a lot going on in her body; she had 27 surgeries in her lifetime."
This service, held just prior to the Memorial Day weekend each year, gives closure to the families and gives the students and the university the opportunity to express their sincere gratitude.
