Lung Transplant Research Ambassadors

It was my great honor to be included in a group of lung transplant recipients from across the continent who recently gathered in San Francisco to form an organization to promote the importance of research in lung transplantation. This is a photo of the lung recipients that attended and we are now all back at our respective transplant centers promoting the importance of research and participation in clinical trials.

Front, from left: Ana Stenzel, Stanford, Gloria Rodriquez, UCLA, Tina Orlita, Univ. of Chicago Medical Center, Bette Luksha-Gammal, Univ. of Florida, Doris Lowenthal, INOVA Health Systems, VA, Missy Peterson, Univ. of Colorado, Denver.
Back row, from left: Merv Sheppard, Toronto General Hospital, Chris Sanborn, Baylor Univ., Houston,Texas, Ben Mazzone, Loyola Univ, Chicago, Kip Peterson, Univ. of Minnesota Medical Center, John Sullivan, Univ. of Pittsburgh, Bill Berkson, Univ. of California, San Francisco, Angel Oliva, Tampa General Hospital, Sam Jones, Cleveland Clinic.
(Click image for larger photo)

I hadn't met any of the people in this photo before going to San Francisco but when I got there it was like a family reunion with everyone socializing and chatting as if they'd known each other for years. That's the special bond that forms with organ recipients.

I will be posting much more about the Lung Transplant Research Ambassadors, their mandate and how they came to be. But for now, I would like to thank Ana Stenzel for her initiative in organizing this with APT Pharmaceuticals and a huge thank you to APT Pharmaceuticals for sponsoring this event. APT currently is sponsoring a multi-center clinical trial with the objective of evaluating the effect of chronic rejection in recent recipients of a lung transplant.

“You Have the Power to Save Lives – Sign Your Donor Card & Tell Your Loved Ones of Your Decision”

Register to be a donor in Ontario or Download Donor Cards from Trillium Gift of Life Network
For other Canadian provinces click here

In the United States, be sure to find out how to register in your state at ShareYourLife.org or Download Donor Cards from OrganDonor.Gov

In Great Britain, register at NHS Organ Donor Register

In Australia, register at Australian Organ Donor Register

Your generosity can save up to eight lives with heart, kidneys, liver, lungs, pancreas and small intestine transplants. One tissue donor can help up to 100 other people by donating skin, corneas, bone, tendon, ligaments and heart valves