What is a Knowledge Donor?

The Knowledge Donor Program is an innovative approach that transforms traditional surgical education by moving beyond the outdated “See one, do one, teach one” model.

• Exclusive access to high-quality cadaveric tissue through custom whole body donor partnerships
• Proprietary, non-formaldehyde preservation methods
• Unique expertise in medical and surgical education and innovation.

Together, these enable a scalable training platform with hyper-realistic tissue, multi-use donors, and whole-body simulations in which cadavers can bleed, breathe, and provide lifelike, yet risk-free, training in environments de-risked from patient safety.

KDP offers an unparalleled, hands-on learning environment for learners at every stage - from medical students to residents to experienced practitioners. Participants gain intentional, repetitive practice, building confidence and competence without risk to patient health or safety.

In the SJHMC Simulation & Learning Center’s simulated operating room, learners are given opportunities in:

• Practicing procedures such as intubation, suturing, chest tube placement, etc.
• Performing both open and laparoscopic surgical operations
• Operating high-fidelity trauma simulations with breathing, bleeding donors through reperfusion of expired human blood products and airway ventilation 

Training days are led by an attending proctor(s) who tailors guidance to the learners’ comfort and skill level including pre- and post-procedure debriefs to measure progress, confidence, and technical growth.

Beyond education, KDP serves as a high-fidelity platform for medical device and technology development: bridging critical gaps in early research, device iteration, validation, and training.

By removing the risks of patient safety while preserving the realism of the operating environment, KDP provides remarkable opportunities for safe, effective learning. The result is better-trained healthcare professionals and improved outcomes for the patients they ultimately serve.