Anatomical Gift Program Specialist

Overview

GENERAL SUMMARY OF POSITION:

Under the general supervision of the Director of Anatomic Services, the Anatomical Gift Program Specialist is responsible for preservation of anatomical donations and lab use/cleanup for the Anatomical Gift Program.  Provide specimens and technical assistance in the laboratory component of postgraduate/medical/resident courses involving gross anatomy and neuroanatomy.  The specialist will be responsible for maintaining the cleanliness of the lab in compliance with medical school, state, and federal regulations, maintaining inventory of donations and specimens, as well as assist faculty and group with their needs in the anatomy lab. The technician will also be responsible for on-call hours to facilitate the timely donation through communication and coordination with medical, funeral, and medico-legal professionals.

Responsibilities

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Independently manage and maintain daily operations of the human gross anatomy lab (Anatomy Resource Center), including facilitating the movement of human cadavers in and out of the Anatomical Gift Program, cleaning and stocking of supplies.
• Oversee Anatomy Resource Center activities including daily schedule, ensuring proper safety protocols and interactions with faculty, staff and Center users.
• Screen and accept human anatomical donations for the Anatomical Gift Program which require interaction with funeral homes, attorneys, and family and friends of the deceased.
• Manage and maintain regulatory documentation of all activities in the Anatomy Resource Center and ensure compliance with all relevant federal and state laws.
• Ensure that donors and donated materials are handled in an appropriate manner to meet legal, public health, and ethical standards
• Maintain inventory records which correlate with an anatomical database
• Perform general duties in support of the Anatomical Gift Program; such as, clean the lab and dispose of hazardous materials appropriately
• In conjunction with funeral home(s) and donor family requests, coordinate removal, transportation, and appropriate documentation of and receipt of acquired donation
• Carry a pager for 24/7 contact when a donation has come available and arrange appropriate pager coverage when not available
• Ensure proper communication with potential donors, donor families, funeral homes, health care professionals, and medico-legal authorities.
• Under the direction of the director for anatomic services, coordinate donation use for UMass DSF Course, Summer Prosection Program, Advanced Anatomy courses, or other approved programs
• Coordinate requests for materials from other institutions
• Embalm anatomical donors
• Prepare donors for cremation
• Monitor, maintain, and purchase stock of solutions, supplies, and equipment
• Assist in organizing the Annual Memorial Service for Anatomical Donors.
• Perform other duties as required.

Qualifications

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Associate’s degree from an accredited school of funeral service
• 3 years of experience in a trainee role or equivalent experience
• Massachusetts license for embalming or qualified for license in Massachusetts.
• Physical ability and stamina to perform strenuous maintenance duties and transfer heavy loads. Knowledge of biological, chemical, medical, psychological and business principles
• Computer literacy to assist in maintaining records
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills
• Previous experience with multitasking in a fast paced environment
• Ability to work collaboratively and independently
• Must maintain confidentiality of all donor related information and program operations, and handle responsibilities ethically