In the three years since systemwide security features were deployed in the UC Anatomical Donation Program, donor levels have returned to normal.

"We're making great progress but we're not finished yet," said Director Brandi Schmitt, who joined UCOP in 2005 to rebuild this important program.

To date, the rebuilding includes new oversight and management standards, program review committees and the standardization of donation forms for all the programs, which are located at the five UC medical schools.

In addition to the systemwide reforms, new security measures were also put in place, including financial and criminal background checks of potential employees, security card access to key department areas, and video surveillance equipment at certain sites.

Also UC is at the beginning stages of installing an electronic service for tracking and tracing anatomical material.

Each year, nearly 1,000 Californians donate their bodies to UC medical schools to support education and scientific research in the health sciences. Donated bodies are used for anatomy instruction, surgical training, anatomical and physiological research, forensic research and training, mortuary science education, and development and testing of new medical devices.

New systemwide administrative procedures were put in place after it was discovered that anatomical materials may have been sold for personal commercial gain by former employees at UC Irvine and UCLA, where the first willed body program in the world was established in 1950. UCLA's Donated Body Program shut down in March 2004 because of the controversy and reopened in November 2005.

"We've seen that our educators, professors and researchers have embraced the changes to the donor program," Schmitt said. "And, the (Donated Body Program) staff members are finding a place on campus to share their expertise."

Schmitt said the UC anatomical materials programs do more than just facilitate the education of medical students.

"Human specimens help support many programs -including graduate programs in allied health, like nursing, dental schools as well as undergraduates - there are many majors that require use of human specimens to get the full educational experience," she said.

Each year the UC medical schools hold cadaver memorial services where students honor those who donated their bodies.

For more information on the UC Anatomical Donation Program visit www.ucop.edu/healthaffairs/adprogram