MORGANTOWN — WVU Medicine joins the Center for Organ Recovery and Education to raise awareness about organ, tissue, and cornea donation and to inspire everyone to register to be an organ donor during National Donate Life Month.
According to CORE, close to 100,000 people in the United States are waiting for an organ transplant, including 2,500 people in western Pennsylvania and West Virginia. At least 20 people die daily without receiving a needed transplant. A patient is added to the transplant waiting list every 10 minutes.
“Our relationship with CORE has helped us develop the WVU Medicine Transplant Alliance and provide lifesaving care to our patients,” Michael Shullo, Pharm.D., associate vice president of transplant services for WVU Medicine and leader of the WVU Medicine Transplant Alliance, said. “We want to continue to encourage everyone to consider registering for organ donation.”
On an annual basis, roughly 11,000 people who are considered medically suitable to donate organs, tissue, and corneas die, yet only a fraction donate. Anyone can be a potential donor regardless of age, race, or medical history.
“This April, we are celebrating the generosity of donation that has grown from the public over the past 20 years,” David Fleming, president and CEO of Donate Life America, said. “National Donate Life Month is a time to educate about the donation cause, honor donors and donor families, and celebrate life made possible by the decision of individuals and the dedication of donation and transplant professionals.”
To view a video about a WVU Medicine dual-organ transplant recipient and the need for organ donors, click here.
To register as a donor, visit RegisterMe.org/WVUMedicine. For more information on the WVU Medicine Transplant Alliance, visit WVUMedicine.org/Transplant.
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