Canadian Transplant Officials Visit UNOS

Five officials of Canadian Blood Services visited UNOS recently to learn more about the U.S. system of organ donation and transplantation. Canadian Blood Services has been working with the community to develop recommendations for a national organ and tissue donation and transplant system in Canada.

"As part of the global transplant community, we appreciate the opportunity to learn from our colleagues at UNOS and to share some of our own experience," said Tracy Brand, RN, BscN, Director of Organ Donation and Transplantation at Canadian Blood Services. "The advice and information provided by the UNOS team has been invaluable.”

“We are glad to provide our Canadian colleagues with information and assistance to support them in their ongoing development of a national network, and to learn from their experience as well,” said UNOS Executive Director Walter Graham. "While each national transplant system has unique circumstances, we all share many common issues and challenges in meeting the needs of transplant candidates."

UNOS’ Center for Transplant System Excellence coordinated the two-day visit, which included presentations from and discussion with representatives of many UNOS departments. The visitors were also honored guests at the Donate Life Partnership’s Tree of Life celebration, hosted Dec. 1 at UNOS' headquarters.

Canadians can have their say at the following link: Public Dialogue on Canadian Govt initiative to improve organ & tissue donation and transplantation

“You Have the Power to Donate Life – to become an organ and tissue donor Sign-up today!
Tell Your Loved Ones of Your Decision”

Australia, register at Australian Organ Donor Register

New Zealand, register at Organ Donation New Zealand

Canada - Ontario beadonor.ca
other Canadian provinces

South Africa, http://www.odf.org.za/

United States, donatelife.net

United Kingdom, register at NHS Organ Donor Register

Your generosity can save or enhance the lives of up to fifty people with heart, kidneys, liver, lungs, pancreas and small intestine transplants (see allotransplantation). One tissue donor can help by donating skin, corneas, bone, tendon, ligaments and heart valves

Has your life been saved by an organ transplant? "Pay it forward" and help spread the word about the need for organ donation - In the U.S. another person is added to the national transplant waiting list every 11 minutes and 18 people die each day waiting for an organ or tissue transplant. Organs can save lives, corneas renew vision, and tissue may help to restore someone's ability to walk, run or move freely without pain. Life Begins with You.