January, 2018
The Thomas E. Starzl Prize in Surgery and Immunology, previously known as the Annual Thomas E. Starzl Lectureship, was established in 1996 by the Department of Surgery at the University of Pittsburgh to honor the clinical and scientific contributions of Dr. Thomas E. Starzl.
The nomination window for this prize is now open. This prize is awarded annually to a national or international leader in the field of organ transplantation and immunology. The prize consists of a crystal award, an honorarium of $10,000, and travel expenses to the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine in the...
Read More...
This month, the Transplant Administrators Community of Practice (TxAdmin COP) will officially change its name to the Transplant Administration and Quality Management Community of Practice (TxAQM COP). With this change, rolling out incrementally over the next few weeks, the COP hopes to better serve the Transplant Quality Management community and provide its members with a professional home within AST.
Transplant Administrators are responsible for many aspects of transplant center operations, including quality and regulatory compliance. Increasingly, especially at medium and large-volume...
Read More...
The January 2018 PSRs/OSRs now reflect new posttransplant liver risk adjustment models, new waitlist transplant and mortality rate models, expanded offer acceptance reports, and updated organ yield models. For an in-depth look at these improvements, visit our
news page to read our previous announcements about...
Read More...
December, 2017
The American Society of Transplantation (AST) has earned the highest, four-star rating from online charity evaluator, Charity Navigator, for the third consecutive year.
The AST's strong financial health and commitment to accountability and transparency have earned it a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator.
Since 2002, using objective analysis, Charity Navigator has awarded only the most fiscally responsible organizations a 4-star rating. In 2011, Charity Navigator added 17 metrics, focused on governance and ethical practices as well as measures of openness, to its ratings methodology. These...
Read More...
This article was originally published on the
Washington Post.
By Marcello Tonelli and
John Gill
Marcello Tonelli is associate vice president of research at the University of Calgary. John Gill is a clinician scientist and professor of medicine at the University of British Columbia and a member of the board of directors for the American...
Read More...
November, 2017
On November 7, the House of Representatives passed the Veterans Increased Choice for Transplanted Organs and Recovery (VICTOR) Act of 2017.
This bill amends the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014. Under this bill, veterans will be eligible to receive hospital care and medical services through agreements with the Department of Defense, the Indian Health Service, federally-qualified health centers, or health care providers that participate in the Medicare program. Veterans who require an organ transplant and live more than 100 miles from a Department of Veterans Affairs...
Read More...
Today, the Veterans Transplant Coverage Act was passed in the House of Representatives. Under this modified act, the Veterans Affairs Department (VA) could pay for a living donation to a veteran by any live donor, including at facilities outside the VA that are part of the Veterans Choice Program.
Previously, the VA was not required to provide funding to living donors who were not eligible for VA health care. The department will now provide services to the donor before and after the procedure, subject to the availability of funds.
The American Society of Transplantation (AST) applauds the...
Read More...
October, 2017
Liver distribution proposal and webinar
The committee voted to reject the proposal as it was initially written in the version issued for public comment, then voted to support a revised version based on specific feedback requested during public comment. While certain components were generally supported, the consensus of public input recommended changes to other features.
The committee will bring the compromise proposal to the OPTN/UNOS Board of Directors in December. The revised proposal continues to address the essential elements of the public comment proposal, but with key modifications...
Read More...
Mount Laurel, NJ - October 23, 2017 – Today, the American Society of Transplantation (AST) launches a new fundraising initiative called
Power2Save to address the critical need for funding transplant research and to increase public awareness for organ donation. Approximately 50 percent of all transplanted organs will experience failure within five to ten years, typically due to organ rejection or complications from immunosuppressive drugs.
Organ transplants save patient lives by replacing critical body parts that are failing. However, these life-saving...
Read More...
September, 2017
On behalf of the AST, I would like to congratulate
Angelica Hale for her success on NBC’s America’s Got Talent. Last night on the show’s finale, Angelica came in second place, but her inspiring transplant story has touched millions.
At the age of 5, Angelica lost kidney function after double pneumonia. To keep her spirits up, her parents enrolled her in singing lessons, which would later lead to her incredible voice and involvement with America’s Got Talent. During this time, her mother, Eva, found out that she was a match to be her daughter’s...
Read More...
