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A Publication of the Center for Donation and Transplant Volume 12, Number 2
2009 Education Day & Awards Dinner From the CEO
By Jeffrey P.
C
DT’s fourth annual Education Day was held case. Connie Jastremski, Chief Nursing Officer and
on April 1, 2009 at the Holiday Inn in Sarato- Vice President of Patient Care Services, and Donna Orlowski
ga Springs, NY. The program was geared Anderson, Director of Critical Care and Emer- In past issues, the
towards nursing professionals, and featured nation- gency Services, offered insight on how facilities can Legacy has chroni-
ally-known speakers in the fields of donation and honor a family’s wish to donate the gift of life, even cled many donor sto-
transplantation as well as a panel of local healthcare when the circumstances of their loved one’s death ries and many events
practitioners to share best practices. involve an alleged crime. performed to honor
donors and their fam-
Bryan Stewart, Vice President of Communications The educational program was certified for 3.0 educa- ilies. The vast majori-
at OneLegacy in Los Angeles, California was the tional credit hours and preceded CDT’s annual ty of the time, these
first speaker. Charging the audience to find ways to Awards Dinner. The keynote address at this year’s stories and events
grow enthusiasm for, not just awareness of, the New dinner was delivered by Jim Carter, donor father and have been exclusive
York State Donate Life registry was the focus of 2009 Donate Life Float rider. Award winners were of donor hospitals...
Bryan’s presentation. His dynamic speaking style, presented with their commemorative gifts including either CDT organ-
and experience chairing the Rose Parade Donate CDT’s Healthcare Practitioner of the Year, Dr. Regi- ized an event or a
Life Float, was a hard charging kick off to the edu- na Frants, from UHS Wilson and Elizabeth Surprise, donor family reached
cation portion of program. RN, CDT’s Nurse of the Year from Columbia out to CDT, their
Memorial Hospital. Special community service recipients, etc.
Internationally-renowned transplant surgeon Dr. awards were given to: Regent Communications,
Kareem Abu-Elmagd, presented the keynote media partners for the Donate Life Capital Region I am pleased to
address on multi-visceral transplantation and his campaign, and Sam Messina and Jan Messina for announce in this arti-
efforts to create a national program for intestinal their tireless volunteer work on behalf of CDT and cle that in 2009/2010,
transplantation at the University of Pittsburgh the donation community at large. The Chief Execu- CDT will be reaching
Medical Center. tive Officer award was bestowed upon CDT out to each of our
employee Philip Newell, for thirty years of dedicated donor hospitals (all 45
Finally, a panel of professionals from Bassett service to the Center for Donation & Transplant. of them) to partner
Healthcare in Cooperstown, NY discussed their Please turn to page 3 for additional photos with us in honoring
experience managing a donor during a coroner’s of the 2009 Education Day and Awards Dinner donors through two
linked events as well as
an ongoing, year-
round program. While
I will be formally
reaching out to each
hospital CEO in the
coming month with a
more detailed proposal
and seeking the CEO’s
commitment to par-
ticipate, let me take a
few moments to out-
line the basics here.
The linked events
Left, Bryan Stewart, Vice Oresident of Communivations at OneLegacy. Right, will actually occur in
Nurse of the year winner, Elizabeth Surprise, R.N. and Jeffery Orlowski, CEO, January and April of
Center for Donation and Transplant at center are pictured with other nursing See From the CEO,
staff from Columbia Memorial Hospital. page 6
1
Volume 12, Number 2 Spring 2009 The Legacy
The Legacy
Volume 12, Number 2
In the News Spring 2009
The Legacy is published
quarterly by the Center for
Donation & Transplant.
218 Great Oaks Boulevard
Staff Updates in Australia with this skin and
Albany, New York 12203
Phone 518 262-5606
C
DT is thrilled to welcome play a role in helping victims of Fax 518 262-5427
back Christina Santiago to these tragic fires,” said Michael Jeffrey Orlowski, M.S., C.P.T.C.,
the hospital development Kawas, President, MTF Skin Chief Executive Officer
team. Christina took a leave of Division. “Our commitment to Bill McTague,
absence to spend time with her caring for those who need tissue Director of Clinical
husband, a member of the does not stop at the U.S. border. Operations
National Guard, who was called We share a common philosophy Lauren Quinn,
up to serve in North Carolina with DTBV, a dedication to Editor
last year. She is happy to be quality and safety.” Heather Hickland,
back and looking forward to Contributor
reconnecting with her col- DTBV is the largest tissue bank Walter Boppert,
Art and Design
leagues in hospitals across in Australia and the only human
CDT’s service area. skin bank in the state of Victoria, where most of 24-Hour Information
the fires and deaths have occurred. (800) 256-7811
H
APPY anniversary wishes to Perfusion Spe-
cialist and donation expert, Phil Newell, Musculoskeletal Transplant Foundation is the
who reached his 30th year with the Center largest tissue bank in the United States, and a non-
for Donation & Transplant in April. In his time at profit organization. MTF is dedicated to providing
CDT, Phil has served as an organ procurement quality tissue through a commitment to excellence
We Want
coordinator, quality assurance advocate and train-
er. Both CDT and patients across the region owe
in education, research, recovery and care for recipi-
ents, donors and their families. Since its inception
to Hear
Phil a debt of gratitude for his many years of dedi-
cated service.
in 1987, MTF has received tissue from more than
80,000 donors and has provided over three million
From
tissue grafts for transplantation. You!
MTF/Australian Wildfires
NKF End the Wait If you are
T
HE deadliest wildfires in the history of Aus- a member of an
tralia killed over 200 people and injured Campaign affiliated hospital
many more. The United States’ largest tissue who would like
T
bank, and CDT’s local tissue procurement organi- HERE is on an ongoing and urgent need to
zation, the Musculoskeletal Transplant Foundation increase the number of organs available for to advertise an
(MTF), has responded to this crisis by providing transplantation in the United States. T o upcoming event
donor skin to treat some of those victims. address this complex problem, the National Kidney or submit an article
Foundation has developed a comprehensive action to the Legacy,
The large scale fires have resulted in burns, trauma, plan to increase the number of transplants for kid- contact Heather
shock and organ failure. The Donor Tissue Bank ney patients-and to End the Wait! This ground-
of Victoria (DTBV), located in Melbourne, the breaking initiative hopes to serve as a roadmap for
Hickland at
capital of Victoria, contacted MTF to request the implementing tested and proven strategies that will (800) 256-7811
donation of human skin, when local facilities were effectively end the wait for kidney transplants in 10 or via e-mail at
overwhelmed by the need for tissue. When some- years. By collaborating with many organizations, hhickland@cdtny.org
one suffers a severe burn, the use of allografts, or government agencies and individuals, NKF’s End
donated skin, allow surgeons to cover the affected the Wait! recommendations will eliminate barriers, The Legacy is
areas when patients don’t have enough intact skin institute best practices across the nation, improve published on a
of their own to protect the area. Unprotected tissue the transplant system, cover the cost of donating an quarterly basis and
can quickly become infected and can lead to death organ, reduce regional and ethnic disparities and covers the health
if patients are not treated in time. increase living and deceased donation throughout care community
the United States.The National Kidney Founda- that CDT serves in
After receiving the necessary international clear- tion’s mission includes increasing and improving northern and eastern
ances, the skin was sent from the United States to transplantation and to carry out programs in edu- New York, and
Victoria. “We were delighted to assist our friends cation, research and services. western Vermont.
2
The Legacy Volume 12, Number 2 Spring 2009
National Donor Designation Report Card
Reveals a Ten Percent Increase
in Registered Donors Since 2006
A
NATIONAL report card prepared by Colorado (60 percent), Ohio (52 percent) and Utah
Donate Life America shows a 10 percent (50 percent). Six other states are nearing the goal
increase nationally in donor designations
over the last 18 months, bringing the total number “State donor registries play an essential role in the
of registered donors in the United States to nearly donation process by enabling individuals to make a
70 million. Still, only 35 percent of licensed drivers decision that is similar to an advanced directive. In
and ID cardholders have committed themselves to this case, donor designations authorize donation
donation by registering to be donors through their recovery agencies to proceed with donation,” said
state registry or motor vehicle department, leaving Sara Pace Jones, Chairman of Donate Life America.
the donor shortage a leading public health crisis. “These legally binding donation decisions are criti-
cal for the nearly 100,000 people who are on the
In 2006, Donate Life America, a not-for-profit national organ transplant waiting list and many
alliance of national organizations and state teams more awaiting cornea and tissue transplants to
across the United States, launched the Donor Des- restore their lives and health.”
ignation Collaborative (DDC). One of the main
goals of the DDC was ensuring that each state had In 2007, 1,521 organ donors had joined their state
an effective system for allowing individuals to legal- registry before their death. “The seemingly small
ly designate themselves as donors. This would be a decision by these individuals to register as donors
key step in allowing states to obtain 100 million had a huge impact on the lives of the approximately
actionable donor designations, commitments of 4,600 people who received lifesaving organ trans-
individuals to donate their organs and/or tissues plants as a result,” said Pace Jones. Additionally, it is
upon their death that are recorded in a searchable estimated that registered donors enhanced or saved
donor registry. the lives of more than 300,000 people through tis-
sue donation and gave sight to more than 14,000
A secondary goal for the DDC is to attain a 50 per- through cornea donation.
cent designation rate among licensed drivers in every
state—that is, half of all people applying for or For a copy of the National Donor Designation
renewing a driver’s license or ID card are registering Report Card or more information on how to com-
to be donors. In 2007, only four states had a desig- mit to becoming an organ, eye and tissue donor in
nation rate of at least 50 percent: Iowa (67 percent), New York State, visit www.donatelifecdt.com.
Clockwise from top
2009 Education Day & Awards Dinner Photos, Story on page 1 left, Regina Frantz,
MD, Healthcare
Practitioner of the
Year, with CDT’s
CEO Jeffrey
Orlowski; Atten-
dees from Albany
Medical Center at
dinner; Jim Carter,
donor father and
2009 Rose Parade
float rider; Presen-
ters Connie Jas-
tremski (right) and
Donna Anderson;
attendees from
Fletcher Allen
Health Center, from
left, Darryl Arnold,
Barbra Higgenbot-
tom, Wendy Tom-
linson, Deb Hebert,
Carol Guyette,
Molly Mitchell.
3
Volume 12, Number 2 Spring 2009 The Legacy
In Our Community
Spotlight on Glens Falls Hospital:
Co-worker Gives the Gift of Life
M
OST people assumed they were the best members, friends
of friends. But Donna Davison-Smith and and sometimes
Ray Agnew, colleagues for more than 10 even strangers,
years at Glens Falls Hospital, actually knew very lit- are willing and
tle about each other. That began to change the day able to offer a
Ray offered one of his kidneys to Donna. life-saving gift to
help one of these
In 2003 Donna had surgery for what her doctors people in need.
believed was pancreatic cancer, but was in fact an
aneurysm. Four years later, tests began to show that Since the trans-
Donna’s kidneys were failing. Her doctors told her plant Donna has
that she was days away from dialysis, and that ulti- been enjoying
mately she’d need a transplant. Davison-Smith was great health, and
put on the transplant list and underwent surgery to endless kisses
install an arteriovenous fistula, connecting an artery to from her grand-
Ray Agnew with
a vein in the forearm to allow for dialysis treatment. children. Ray has
Donna Davison-Smith
also recovered
Then along came Ray. A Vice President at Glens from the procedure. “The good news for me is that
Falls Hospital, he took the news to heart. “I heard after all the tests they put me through, there’s no
from my significant other, who works with Donna, doubt I’m healthy as a horse,” Agnew said, laugh-
that she needed a kidney transplant. The first thing ing. “There are actually very few restrictions on my
I thought is, I should see if I can help,” Agnew said end. I’ll be here to be a father for my two kids. ...
to the Glens Falls Post Star when interviewed in Not a whole lot is changing, and I got to help save
February of 2008. After extensive testing at Albany someone’s life. It seems like a win-win to me.”
Medical Center, it was determined that Ray was a
match for Donna and the transplant took place on Now these formerly cordial acquaintances have
January 14, 2008. become, in their words, family. Donna has even
nicknamed her new kidney, Rayette, as a tribute to
Annually almost 6,000 patients a year receive a kid- Ray. “I didn’t lose a kidney,” Agnew added to the
ney from a living donor. With almost 70,000 people Post Star. “I gained a new family member.”
on the waiting list in need of a new kidney, the
average time spent on the waiting list for an adult If you’re interested in participating in the living
from a deceased donor kidney is more than 1500 donor program, please contact the Division of
days, or around four years. For these patients, this Renal and Pancreatic Transplant Services at Albany
time is generally spent on dialysis, with a low quali- Medical Center at 518-262-5614.
ty of life and the risk of complications. Many family
Local Students Awarded Bindelglass
Memorial Scholarship
C
ONGRATULATIONS to the two winners her studies at Ulster County Community College
of this year’s Amy Bindelglass Memorial in the fall.
Scholarship Award. The recipient of the
$500 scholarship is Sasha Kassoff, a senior at The Bindelglass Memorial Scholarship was estab-
Bethlehem Central High School in Bethlehem, lished in 2001 in memory of two-year old Amy
New York. Sasha plans to attend the University of Bindelglass, who was tragically killed in an accident.
Vermont in the fall. The recipient of the $200 Her family made the decision to donate her organs
scholarship is Courtney Weis, a senior at New and to save another child’s life. The Bindelglass family
Paltz High School from Gardiner, New York. continues to advocate for organ donation awareness
Courtney plans to use her scholarship to further through the scholarship program and volunteer work.
4
The Legacy Volume 12, Number 2 Spring 2009
Local Colleges Support Donate Life Month
C
OLLEGES across the Capital Region organized an educational program highlighting
worked to promote awareness of the New donation and the importance of the registry at
York State Donate Life Adirondack Community Col-
Registry and support organ lege on Monday, April 20.
Students collected over 900
donation in their communities Sponsored by the business
donor registry cards,
for the month of April. The club, participants included Ray
the largest number
State University at Albany Agnew and Donna Davison-
of signed registry cards
hosted its yearly communica- Smith, both of Glens Falls
any class has collected
tion class dedicated to raising Hospital, Celia Fulfs, a living
in the class’ seven-year history.
awareness of donation through kidney donor and Heather
a student-run public relations Hickland from the Center for
campaign. The theme of the class’ campaign was, Donation & Transplant. For more about Ray and
“You Hold the Missing Piece.” Students collected Donna’s story, see page 4.
over 900 donor registry cards, the largest number of
signed registry cards any class has collected in the Siena graduate students Amy McCarthy, Liz Mur-
class’ seven-year history. The SUNY students phy and Allyson Sweeney along with Professor
achieved this by holding or participating in a num- Diana Strock-Lynsky, organized the 4th annual
ber of campus events, including the first annual panel presentation on organ donation for the Siena
Richard Bailey walk in Albany, commemorating a community on Tuesday, April 14. A small but
former classmate who became an organ donor. enthusiastic crowd heard from Siena alumnus and
Look for more about Richard’s story in a future living kidney donor Melissa Stevens, heart trans-
issue of the Legacy. plant recipient John Hoefler, Heather Hickland
from the Center for Donation & Transplant and
In recognition of Donate Life Month in April, Joanne Beach from the Lion’s Eye Bank.
SUNY Plattsburgh graduate student Sherry Aiken
For Our Families
CDT Award Thoughts
By Jan Messina
Jan Messina is a donor mother and a tireless volunteer I am very pleased to receive this award and consider
for CDT. She was honored with a Community Service it an honor to Matt’s life. I also consider myself only
Award from CDT in 2009. one of a very dedicated group of volunteers, all of
whom are at CDT volunteering their time for
I
want to express my appreciation to the Center for many personal reasons. I accepted this award in
Donation and Transplant for choosing my hus- Matt’s memory, but I also want to share it with all
band Sam and me to be the 2009 Volunteers of the volunteers who work with me at CDT.
the Year. I can’t adequately express how very pleased
I am to receive this award, but I want to let you I could not fail to speak also of the dedicated staff of
know as best I can what it means to me. CDT, who take their work so very seriously, per-
form all their tasks with the highest level of profes-
As I was standing at the podium with Jeff Orlows- sionalism, and are always cognizant of the extreme
ki at the Education Day & Awards Dinner, I was emotional circumstances of the families they inter-
thinking about what the reasons were for my act with on a daily basis. I have the utmost respect
being there. I thought about how I came to for all of them, and am humbled to be working with
deserve this recognition. Earlier in the evening, them. I dedicate my work at CDT to furthering the
Cindy Lauzon provided the answer, which is one I good work of all the staff members there.
have said many times, to many people. My son
Matthew put me and Sam on a different path. Thank you for giving me this most prestigious
Knowing it was what he would have wanted, he recognition. I am sincerely grateful for it, and I
inspired us at the time of his death to donate his know Matthew is proud.
organs, and at that moment, sent us on the jour-
ney we find ourselves on now.
5
Volume 12, Number 2 Spring 2009 The Legacy
Assembly Proclaims April 2009 as Organ
and Tissue Donor Awareness Month
I
N April, Assemblyman Jim Conte (R,I,C,WF- standing of this important issue, we can provide
Huntington Station) sponsored an unanimously help to the thousands of patients awaiting trans-
approved resolution in the State Assembly pro- plants and bring greater awareness to the critical
claiming April 2009 as Organ and Tissue Donor need for organ, eye, tissue, bone marrow, and blood
Awareness Month in New York. donations."
This is the 19th year Assemblyman Conte spon- Assemblyman Conte noted that while many New
sored a resolution to make April Organ and Tissue Yorkers have signed up to become organ and tissue
Donor Awareness Month and is part of his contin- donors, the need for organ donors continues to
ued efforts to bring greater awareness to the urgent grow. Currently, there are over 9,500 New Yorkers
need for organ donors. on the waiting list for organ and tissue donations.
Alyce Hyde "By making April organ "An organ donor saved my life" remarked Conte.
Hospital flies the and tissue donor aware- "I am encouraging everyone to sign up today to the
flag in honor ness month, the Legis- New York State Donate Life Registry and give the
of Donate lature provides an gift of life."
Life Month. opportunity to help
New Yorkers learn more o
T join the registry go to www.donatelifecdt.com or
about organ donations," contact the NYS Department of Health at 1-866-
said Conte. "By enhanc- 693-6667 to request a registry card.
ing individuals under-
From the CEO, from page 1
2010. CDT will, in partnership with those honor each individual organ and tissue donor.
donor hospitals that choose to participate, spon- Upon being taken down, the flag will be sent to
sor a rose for each donor recovered at a donor the donor family with a letter of recognition.
hospital. The roses will be individually dedicat-
ed and placed in the memorial rose garden on CDT will provide the flags, the roses, and coordi-
board the 2010 Donate Life America float in the nate the process with the donor families. Donor
Rose Parade. A letter, signed by both myself and hospitals will be asked to provide their flag pole in
the hospital CEO, announcing the dedication April (and possibly year round) and to reach out
will be sent to the donor family prior to Christ- to their local media in late December and again in
mas, 2009. The second event will be to fly a April to get coverage of our organizations’ joint
Donate Life flag in front of the participating effort to honor all those who have given.
hospital for the entire month of April 2010
(Donate Life month). If you are a hospital CEO or a hospital key con-
tact for CDT, please be on the lookout for my
Additionally, hospital CEO’s will be asked to com- letter, which will be arriving in June. And please,
mit their hospital to an on going, year round pro- commit to joining CDT in honoring the donor
gram in which a Donate Life flag will be flown in families we jointly serve.
front of the donor hospitals for one week to
Contact CDT if you would like to:
• ENROLL in the New York State Organ and Tissue Registry
• OBTAIN INFORMATION or donor cards
• REQUEST SPEAKERS for schools, civic organizations or
health fairs
• BECOME A VOLUNTEER and help raise awareness of donation!
Call or write to:
The Center for Donation and Transplant
218 Great Oaks Boulevard, Albany, New York 12203
Or visit www.cdtny.org
6
The Legacy Volume 12, Number 2 Spring 2009
Donor Activity by Hospital
January 1 through March 31, 2009
93 total tissue donors, 7 total organ donors
A.O. Fox Memorial Hospital 3
Adirondack Medical Center 1
Albany Medical Center 12
Albany Memorial 3
Alice Hyde Memorial 2
Bassett Of Cooperstown 3
Benedictine Hospital 4
Binghamton General 1
Catskill Regional Medical Center 1
Champlain Valley 3
Columbia Memorial 2
Copley 1
Ellenville 1
Ellis 7
Fairview 1
Faxton - St. Lukes Healthcare 3
Fletcher Allen Health Care 7
Glens Falls 6
Lourdes Hospital 2
Nathan Littauer 2
Northern Dutchess 1
Northwestern Medical Ctr 1
Rutland Regional Med Ctr 2
S. W. Vermont 2
Samaritan 2
Saratoga 9
St. Elizabeth 2
St. Marys-Amsterdam 4
St. Marys-Troy 2
St. Peters 1
Tri-Town Regional Hospital 1
Wilson 8
0 2 4 6 8 10 12
Organ Donors Tissue Donors
7
Volume 12, Number 2 Spring 2009 The Legacy
P2301
Phone 518 262-5606, Fax 518 262-5427
218 Great Oaks Boulevard, Albany, New York 12203
Center for Donation & Transplant
Upcoming Events and Important Dates
June 7, 2009 ......................................Annual Donor Family and Recipient Family Picnic,
Saratoga State Park, NY
August 1, 2009...................................National Minority Awareness Day
November 1, 2009 ............................CDT Donor Memorial,
Albany, NY
March 31, 2010..................................Education Day & Awards Dinner,
Saratoga Springs, NY
Please contact CDT at 518-262-5606 for further information about upcoming events.
8
The Legacy Volume 12, Number 2 Spring 2009
