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Transplant Community Unites to Educate Capitol Hill Staffers About the 'Gift of Life'
Transplant Community Unites to Educate Capitol Hill Staffers About the 'Gift of Life'
WASHINGTON, Feb. 12 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today, Capitol Hill
staffers, who play a significant role in preparing federal legislation,
received an educational briefing from representatives of key transplantation
groups. The American Society of Transplantation (AST), The National Kidney
Foundation (NKF), United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), and Association of
Organ Procurement Organizations (AOPO) partnered with the Congressional Organ
and Tissue Donation Awareness Caucus to present, Giving the Gift of Life: Why
Organ Donation Matters. Finding a way to provide organs for the more than
100,000 Americans awaiting a life saving donor organ is one of the nation's
greatest challenges. Each day, approximately 18 people die awaiting an organ
transplant because the demand far outweighs the supply required to extend the
gift of life through solid organ transplantation.
Congressional staffers listened to an overview of pertinent
transplantation issues presented by David Cohen, MD, AST. Other distinguished
speakers included: Timothy Pruett, MD, UNOS President; Lori Brigham, Executive
Director AOPO, and Forest Hamlin, spouse of an organ donor.
"This is an extraordinary event. The AST applauds the revitalization of
the Congressional Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness Caucus," noted AST
Public Policy Committee Chairman David Briscoe, MD. "I am encouraged by the
enthusiastic response to this session and anticipate that it will positively
impact the federal government's role in transplantation policy."
The Congressional Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness Caucus (COTDAC)
seeks to increase organ and tissue donation and awareness of the national
organ shortage, both within Congress and in the general public. The Caucus
will support federal and private sector efforts to increase donation and
transplantation, and to educate all Americans on the importance of committing
to become organ and tissue donors. The Caucus will advocate on behalf of
policy initiatives that improve and enhance the effectiveness of
transplantation.
For more information about transplantation policy issues, visit
http://www.a-s-t.org.
Contact: Beth Drost
(215) 884.6499
SOURCE American Society of Transplantation
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Copyright © 2008, NewsBlaze,
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