Overview
The mission of Tufts University School of Medicine is to educate a diverse body of students and advance professional knowledge in a dynamic and collaborative environment, to develop dedicated clinicians, scientists, public health professionals, and educators who will have a sustained positive impact on the health of individuals, communities, and the world.
The Department of Medical Education (DME) is a basic science department that serves as a hub for teaching excellence and innovation. We are located on the health sciences campus in downtown Boston. DME faculty use and study evidence based pedagogical approaches to support the development of lifelong learners. The department comprises faculty whose primary responsibility is education in the professional programs (medical, dental, physician assistant, and MS in biomedical sciences). Our faculty hold leadership positions in the teaching of anatomy, biochemistry, cell biology, histology, immunology, neuroscience, pharmacology, and physiology. DME also supports programs for undergraduate and pre-college students through the center for science education.
The Department also oversees the Tufts Anatomical Gift Program and all operations of the Gross Anatomy Laboratory.
What You'll Do
The Program Manager works closely with the Director and is responsible for the management and oversight of the Anatomical Gift Program (AGP), the Gross Anatomy Labs (AL) that serve the educational programs of the Medical and Dental Schools.
The Program Manager's responsibilities include: implementing a program to promote and facilitate body donations to the AGP; serving as program liaison with potential donors, donor families, and the public; preparation (embalming) of the deceased donors for the program; managing administrative, reporting, safety, and financial aspects of the AGP and AL; and ensuring that the AL and associated teaching materials and technologies are properly maintained and that the AL efficiently supports lab-based instructional programs.
The Program Manager will also assist with the preparation of material for teaching purposes and with the implementation of technologies to enrich the teaching of Gross Anatomy to the professional students. Implementation of policy and procedures for Gross Anatomy Lab use. Review and determine acceptance of submitted proposals for external lab use. Creation and implementation of long-term business plan for the AGP and Gross Anatomy Labs. Provide advanced, specialized subject matter knowledge to develop, implement, supervise and evaluate a university program or project in collaboration with the Director of the AGP. After hours, weekends and holidays phone coverage. Pine Hill Cemetery Corporation representative. Participate in the annual AGP Memorial Service.
- Management of the Anatomy Laboratories (AL): Partners with faculty and curriculum leadership to develop, coordinate, and oversee the Academic Learning (AL) daily scheduling framework, ensuring alignment with educational priorities, operational needs, and program objective. Manages lab ensuring it is an environmentally safe and healthy work space for students, faculty, fellows, and physicians. Oversees custodial service in the lab and is responsible for the proper storage and disposal of specimens and hazardous wastes. Ensure proper set up of the anatomy lab for dissection (ensuring each table has the appropriate number and variety of functioning dissection tools, dissection manuals, waste receptacles, wetting solution, etc.). Provides set-ups for advanced courses (e.g. Orthopedics, ENT, dental continuing education classes, fourth year medical surgical elective courses, etc.). Ensuring that skeletons, models, teaching specimens, and medical visualization equipment are accurately inventoried and properly maintained. Ensure the cleanliness of the lab and that stock of items needed to support instruction and cadaver dissections are adequate (paper towels, wetting solution, soap, etc.)
- Embalms and prepares all specimens for course use and research purposes
- Interact with students and faculty to promote optimal learning environment
- Actively works with EH&S, and Facilities to maintain compliance with state and federal regulatory law, i.e. chemical, biological hazardous waste, concerning the safety of student, faculty, & staff
- Attends/Oversees outside use of labs as needed nights and weekends
- Oversee the budget for the AGP and the AL, and any related purchasing, etc.
- Manage the Donor Program. Communicate with Funeral Directors, cemeteries, crematories, medical examiners, doctors, hospitals, lawyers, social workers, hospice care providers and other healthcare professionals. Overseeing work of the Anatomical Gift Program administrator to make sure that information pertinent to the body donation program is current, complete and properly protected. Taking calls after hours from the Tufts police, including weekends, evenings, holidays, regarding the death of a Donor, or someone wishing to make a donation at the time of death (Next of Kin Donation). Making necessary decisions regarding the acceptance of a donation (e.g., infectious disease status) and then making arrangements to have the body delivered to the school. Oversee the the final disposition of all the donors used for the school year and burial/cremation and notification of the families regarding the availability of the cremains.
- Academic Duties:
Preparation of a deceased human body (embalming) and ensuring that all specimens are properly preserved and maintained during their use in the laboratory. Properly handling and disposing of chemicals.. Each case requires unique skills and methods of treatment to achieve optimum preservation.
Participates in the preparation of material for teaching purposes, including pro-sections. Oversees the implementation of technologies to enrich the teaching of Anatomy to the professional students. Stays current on methodologies, procedures, technologies, and best practices related to anatomy education and Anatomical Gift Programs.
Addresses the needs of University pipelines programs and their impact on LCME accreditation while maintaining strict policies of the Anatomy Laboratories. - The Program Manager will be one of the representatives of Tufts at the quarterly meetings of the Pine Hill Cemetery Corporation, of which Tufts is a member along with the other three Massachusetts medical schools. As part of that role, the Program Manager will participate in yearly inspection of the cemetery grounds and participate in decisions regarding maintenance and improvements to the cemetery.
- Business Development:
Investigates other programs locally and nationally to improve on existing practices, and incorporate new ones. As well as, assist in the planning of future new facilities.
Oversees competitive bidding processes for services. Negotiates and manages contracts in accordance with University policies and procedures
Promoting the Anatomical Gift Program in an effort to bolster the availability of specimen, to better accommodate the needs of the University, as well as potential cost recovery through programs outside current core courses.
Actively pursues industry groups, hospitals, other schools etc, for potential use of the gross anatomy labs and the specimen within it.
Creates and implements a long term business plan for AGP/AL intended to increase cost recovery, and ultimately self-sustainability.
Collaborates with various departments and programs both University and Industry wide.
Cultivates both physical and financial donor pipelines through public speaking, community outreach, mass mailing, website and internet presence. - The Program Manager will participate in the annual AGP Memorial Service
What We're Looking For
Basic Requirements:
Knowledge and experience typically acquired by:
- Associate's degree from an Accredited Mortuary School or equivalent work experience and a Funeral Director and Embalmer License are required.
- Experience working with a range of groups, both academic and non-academic, to develop and run successful instructional programs utilizing gross anatomy lab resources
- 5 years of experience in an academic gross anatomy lab and anatomical donor program.
- Extensive knowledge of Massachusetts and Federal laws governing Willed Body Programs, crematories, funeral directors and embalmers, death registrations, government and probate court codes, and laboratory health and safety regulations.
Preferred Qualifications:
- 3-5 years of experience in the oversight of an academic gross anatomy lab and anatomical donor program.
- Experience with human anatomy coursework and a demonstrated ability to work with faculty members to deliver high quality cadaveric anatomy instruction to medical students at an LCME-or COCA-accredited medical school.
Pay Range
Minimum $81,200.00, Midpoint $101,600.00, Maximum $120,900.00
Salary is based on related experience, expertise, and internal equity; generally, new hires can expect pay between the minimum and midpoint of the range.
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Tufts University
Minimum $81,200.00, Midpoint $101,600.00, Maximum $120,900.00
Sep 23, 2026