When project manager and fellow creative, Sara Sciacchitano, first encountered a news article about a local resident looking for a kidney donation, questions came to mind of what this person was feeling or experiencing. After finding out that this person unfortunately passed away while waiting for a donor, Sara was devastated and knew that something had to be done. This experience ignited her journey to becoming a living kidney
donor, as she shares her story with others and uses her platform to advocate for organ donation.

Meet Grace Zhou, a Junior at the Brearley School in Manhattan, who is driving the “Organ Donation Education and Saving Lives” Initiative in the state of New York. The goal of this initiative is to integrate organ donation education into high school curriculums, from health courses to science classes. Well, how did she get inspired to do this? A friend of Grace’s, Sierra Pape, had successfully passed the “Teaching Organ and Tissue Donation Education and Saving Lives Initiative” in her state of Georgia. Initially knowing very little about organ donation, Grace began to research the field and upon seeing New York’s low donation rates, she “couldn’t imagine not acting on it.”

When her husband’s sudden illness led to a dire need for a heart transplant, Jordan Mace, a Director of Customer Success at Braze, found herself entangled in an organ donation and transplant journey.

Six years ago, Martha Gershun made the life-changing decision to become a living kidney donor. Her book, “Kidney to Share,” was published by Cornell University Press in 2021, detailing her concerns and complaints about the living donor process. Her book has educated people throughout the transplant network, spreading awareness and advocating for organ donation.

Elaine Perlman, a former educator turned organ donation advocate, exemplifies a commitment to creating positive change in the world of healthcare. Today, she advocates at the policy level to improve the lives of donors and recipients, bringing attention to the immeasurable significance of living donation.

Meet Mark and Lynn Scotch, a couple from Wisconsin who epitomize the transformative impact of selfless giving. Their remarkable decision to donate a kidney serves as a story of altruism and compassion that inspires us all.

In this interview with ⁤Dr. Arthur Caplan, the Director of the Division of Medical Ethics at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine, he shares his engagement in health, the inspiration behind his impactful work, and his significant contributions to bioethics. ⁤

Here, Dr. Stephen Oross shares his profound experiences as a heart transplant recipient and educator, emphasizing the importance of organ donation, advocating for people with health conditions, and the potential for technology to create inclusive educational environments for all.

In the dynamic realm of organ donation advocacy, Mimi Greenman stands as a seasoned professional with over 30 years of experience in the field of organ transplantation. As a LCSW with a Master’s in Social Work and a degree in Public Health, Mimi’s career has been marked by a profound dedication to empowering patients.

Meet Patti Bilings, the Community Education Coordinator at National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) NYC, and Leah Levitte, a volunteer with NAMI-NYC who specializes in delivering "Ending the Silence'' presentations in order to foster conversations that challenge stigmas regarding mental health. Through their work at NAMI NYC, Patti and Leah support the public’s mental health by normalizing conversations about mental health, providing support, and advocating for better policies. Inspired by their personal experiences and interactions with youth, they continue to advocate for mental health awareness.

Meet Sophia Renner, the Engagement Manager at the Student Organ Donation Advocates (SODA), a nonprofit organization that supports student-led organ donation advocacy on high school, college, and, more recently, graduate school campuses. Sophia details the widespread impact of SODA’s efforts towards organ donation awareness and speaks to how advocacy can shed light to certain misconceptions regarding registering as a donor. Sophia and SODA inspire young people to be involved in ways that support the health of the public, fostering a lovely and active community (supplemented by the deliciousness of donuts!).

Ken Frawley, son of Diane Frawley, is a 33-year-old heart transplant recipient who's an avid baseball player. Diane is a middle and high school teacher who shares her family's story with younger individuals, hoping to educate them about the importance of organ donation.

In vibrant metropolis New York City, one individual stands out for his unwavering dedication to making a positive impact on the lives of marginalized communities: meet Aundaray Guess, a seasoned advocate with an impressive thirty-year history in the nonprofit sector. For the past two decades, Aundaray has committed his time and energy to serving the LGBTQ+ community, leaving a trail of positive change in his wake. As the Deputy Director of GRIOT Circle, he is on a mission to empower LGBTQ+ seniors of color and elevate their voices.

Hetrick-Martin Institute, HMI, is a nonprofit organization based in NYC, that aims to provide a welcoming community for LGBTQ+ youth from ages 13 to 24, recently expanded to individuals up to 29 years old. HMI provides assistance programs such as counseling, education, job training, and college prep, while also supporting the community through housing, meals, and safe spaces for the community. 

For over 12 years, Terez Depasquale and her husband have been the epitome of a perfect family. Married at 18, they wasted no time in starting their family, and within a few years, they were raising four beautiful children. They had risen from humble beginnings to build a life that was truly a testament to their hard work and dedication. However, as the year 2021 drew to a close, the happiness of their household was abruptly disrupted.

Doyle Duke had always dreamed of playing Major League Baseball (MLB). It wasn’t just a dream though—Duke sought to make his ambition a reality. However, when Duke was 14 years old, he underwent a routine physical needed to join the baseball team, and the doctors heard a murmur in his heart. It wasn’t a normal heartbeat.

Imagine taking a common medication that ultimately leads to the need for an organ transplant. That's what happened to Nelson Freytes, the founder and CEO of Transplant News.

When Florida teacher Shirley Brill could not keep up with her 5th-grade students, she knew something was wrong with her lungs. She decided to consult medical professionals, whose responses only heightened her anxiety. Emergency room tests provided inconclusive results, while Shirley’s primary care doctor noted her depleting oxygen levels but could give no name or treatment for her condition. When inhalers failed to elevate the oxygen levels in her lungs, providers recommended Shirley for an organ transplant.

It's common knowledge that in the United States, we have months dedicated to bringing awareness to specific heritages or marginalized groups, but did you know that a whole month is dedicated to an organ? That’s right! The month of March is honoring one of our body's most important yet overlooked organs – the kidney!

Despite their diverse professional and personal backgrounds, Dr. Alexandra Shingina, Abraham “Abie” Rohrig, and Dr. Alin Gragossian connected through their faith in organ donation. In a recent ODAC webinar, each individual discussed their unique role: a surgeon, a donor, and a recipient.