ODAC Hosts Webinar On the Facts and Perspectives Behind Organ Transplantation

On February 7th, 2023, the Organ Donation Awareness Corporation (ODAC) hosted an insightful webinar on the facts and perspectives behind organ transplantation. ODAC was honored to invite Dr. Alexandra Shingina, Abraham “Abie” Rohrig, and Dr. Alin Gragossian to discuss their experiences and perspectives on the multifaceted field of organ donation. 

Dr. Alexandra Shingina began the webinar with her own professional experience in the medical field of liver transplantation, and then provided an overview of the facts and procedures of liver transplants from living donors (LDT) and deceased donors (DDT). Lastly, Dr. Shingina called for action from a medical practitioner’s perspective.

Abraham (Abie) Rohrig shared his story from a donor’s perspective, discussing his reasoning behind donating and the challenges he faced during the process. More specifically, Rohrig talked about his family’s disapproval when he first decided to donate. However, as the family became more supportive, he was more confident in advocating donation to more people; ultimately, his work led him to becoming a guest on Good Morning America and the signing of his petition.

Dr. Alin Gragossian suffered from a sudden illness and required a transplant. With experience on both sides of the doctor-patient relationship, Dr. Alin Gragossian creates a deeper connection with recipients, donors, and other professionals. With a desire to give back, Dr. Gragossian became passionate about sharing her story on platforms, using her knowledge as both a doctor and a patient.

This webinar allowed us to hear stories from people with close connections to organ transplantation. The goal was to give the audience an expansive view on organ transplantation from various perspectives. Organ Donation Awareness Corporation appreciates the time and effort of Dr. Shingina, Abie Rohrig, and Dr. Gragossian and hopes to invite more passionate individuals to webinars in the future.