Jackson Health and Miami Transplant Institute Supports Living Donor Employees
Miami, FL. – Jackson Health System and the Miami Transplant Institute (MTI), an affiliation between Jackson Health System and UHealth – University of Miami Health System, are proud to announce they have joined the Living Donor Circle of Excellence. This program, an initiative of the American Society of Transplantation (AST), celebrates employers who implement internal policies that provide salary support to their employees who choose to be living organ donors.
“At MTI, we strive to find ways to treat the most complex patients, bringing together technical skill, medical expertise, and compassion,” said Luke Preczewski, vice president of MTI. “But none of this would be possible without organ donors. Living donation not only benefits the recipient of that donated organ, but also everyone else on the waiting list. We are proud to support Jackson employees who choose to give the gift of life by ensuring the time they need to take off from work does not create financial hardship. ”
John Gill, MD, Founder of the Living Donor Circle of Excellence said, “Living donors are heroes amongst us, their gift is life-saving for patients in need of a kidney or liver transplant and has a huge positive impact on society. Patients facing life-threatening diseases are able to live normal lives, raise their families, and participate in their communities. By supporting living organ donors, we are also building stronger communities.”
Today, more than 100,000 patients are waiting for a life-saving kidney or liver transplant. Of the transplants performed in 2021, living donors accounted for 24 percent of kidney transplants and 6 percent of liver transplants. Financial disincentives are a barrier for many potential living organ donors. Living organ donation typically includes a four- to six-week recovery period and many will use their vacation time or take unpaid absences during this period to donate.
The Circle encourages other employers to follow Jackson Health and MTI to help others in need of life-saving organ transplants.
You can learn more about AST’s Living Donor Circle of Excellence here.
About Jackson Health System
Jackson Health System is one of the nation’s largest and most respected public health systems, with a mission of providing one standard of high-quality care to all residents of Miami-Dade County. The nonprofit academic medical system is anchored by Jackson Memorial Hospital, which is home to Ryder Trauma Center and the Miami Transplant Institute. The system also includes Holtz Children’s Hospital/The Women’s Hospital at Jackson Memorial, Jackson Behavioral Health Hospital, Christine E. Lynn Rehabilitation Center for The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis at UHealth/Jackson Memorial, Jackson North Medical Center, Jackson South Medical Center, Jackson West Medical Center, multiple primary care and specialty centers, a network of UHealth Jackson Urgent Care centers, physician practices, and two long-term care nursing facilities.
About the Miami Transplant Institute (MTI)
MTI is one of the largest and most comprehensive transplant programs in the United States for both adults and children, with patients traveling from across the globe for every type of solid organ transplant. MTI is composed of a multidisciplinary team of surgeons, physicians, nurses, social workers, dietitians, pharmacists, advanced practice providers, bioengineers, as well as operating room, intensive care unit, inpatient, outpatient, and rehabilitation staff.
About the American Society of Transplantation
Founded in 1982, the American Society of Transplantation (AST) is a non-profit, 501(c)3 organization dedicated to advancing the field of transplantation and improving patient care by promoting research, education, advocacy, organ donation, and service to the community. The society is the largest transplant organization in North America (consisting of more than 4,000 professional members) and is recognized as the premier society for transplantation. AST members are sought out as transplant experts and advocates. Other transplant organizations, policy makers, regulatory agencies, payors, academic institutions, and the general public look to the AST for guidance, research, and resources related to transplantation. To learn more, visit: www.myast.org.
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