The Bridge The community newsletter of OneLegacy, the non-profit organ and tissue recovery organization serving the greater Los Angeles area. Summer 2010 7 Million Californians Have Said, ”Yes! I 3 Global Leadership Want to be a Donor!” Summit onate Life California, the state- 4 Organ and Tissue authorized organ and tissue Donation Data D donor registry, reached another milestone in early August as the number 5 El Puente Bilingual of registered donors hit the seven million Section mark, a national record. The news was announced by California Assembly 6 ‘Donate Life Film Speaker John A. Pérez (D-Los Angeles), Festival’ Shines Donate Life California, and the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) at 8 ‘Donate Life Run the Hope Street Los Angeles DMV Field Walk’ Bigger and Office, one of the state’s busiest. Better Than Ever The number of registered donors is especially important in the face of the Todd Sato 9 Donate Life disproportionate need for donated organs Ambassadors in California. Of the more than 107,000 By Sabrina Ho In Action patients currently listed on the National Organ Transplant Waiting List, over o say that Todd Sato had a lot 13 OneLegacy Tissue 20,000 (nearly 20 percent) are registered of heart is to tell only half the Operations with California transplant centers. T story. Todd was born with a “Organ donation is very personal congenital heart defect, a form of Blue 14 Hospital Referral to me. My mother, before her death, Baby Syndrome. He was rushed to Data was on kidney dialysis for several years,” Children’s Hospital where they hoped said Pérez. “As I sat with her during medication would keep his heart treatments, I saw people of every age, valves open until he was 11 months every background and all walks of life old. Not quite six months later, when trying to beat the clock and survive long Todd went in for his normal check enough to receive an organ transplant. To up, the doctors found that his valves these seven million Californians who have were closing and they had to operate. volunteered to save lives as organ and One month later, Todd would tissue donors, thank you. You are giving undergo the procedure known as hope to every one of those patients.” the Mustard Operation, named after the doctor who developed it, which “It was only four years ago that DMV corrects abnormal blood circulation and Donate Life California teamed up for by transposition of the great arteries. this effort by making donor registration This ‘fix’ lasted until Todd graduated available to every Californian who renews high school, which had been his wish. their driver license or I.D. card,” added Please see MILLIONS, Page 10 Please see TODD, Page 11 Southern California Coroner Offices and Global Leadership Summit Gathers Organ OneLegacy Work Together to Save Lives Donation Leaders From Across the Globe by Elena de la Cruz of potential organ and by Kari Williams tissue donors end up being he word “coroner” investigated by the coroner to he inaugural Transplant may not be associated varying degrees. In fact, over Donation Global Leadership with the business of 40 percent of organ cases Symposium (GLS) took place T and 70 percent of potential T giving life, but the critical May 10-13 in Del Mar, California to role they play in facilitating tissue donors recovered by give emerging leaders in donation from the gift of organ and tissue OneLegacy were at one point around the world focused information donation assures that they do a coroner’s case, and it is only on all aspects of the donation process exactly that: allow a second until coroners give clearance as well as leadership skills to help their chance or a better quality of that donation specialists organizations move forward. The GLS life to thousands of people. are allowed to proceed with was conceived by Tom Mone, CEO and Last May, Coroner offices coordinating recovery. Executive Vice President of OneLegacy; The Los Angeles County Department of Coroner was honored along in the seven counties that with their counterparts from Kern and Riverside counties at the annual The work involving Howard Nathan, President and CEO OneLegacy serves in Southern OneLegacy “Celebrating Our Partners” event held in May in Los Angeles. OneLegacy and the coroner’s of Gift of Life Donor Program; and California were recognized office is often a balancing act Susan Gunderson, CEO of LifeSource. for their role in saving lives The duty of the coroner is to inquire between attending both the The curriculum was based on the in their communities during the and determine the circumstances, desires of a donor or his family to help Transplant Procurement Management “Celebrating Our Partners” Donation (TPM) leadership training model from manner and cause of not only violent, those in need of transplants, and the Transplant leaders from around the world gather in beautiful Del Mar, California to learn and teach. and Transplantation Conference and but also sudden, unusual or unattended needs to determine the cause of death Barcelona, Spain. Awards Ceremony held in Los Angeles. Collaboration, Creating Donor organization and leadership skills had to deaths. Thus, a substantial portion Please see CORONER, Page 10 According to Mone, “U.S. donation professionals seldom have a chance to Hospital Partnerships in End of Life prevail in this exercise in order for it to experience the legal, cultural, and clinical Care, and Foundational Elements be successful. Kristina Wheeler, Organ differences that confront our field for OPO Performance. Breakout Procurement Supervisor at OneLegacy, Employee Spotlight: Jenna Graciano around the world. This was a unique and workshops gave the participants an participated in the exercise and said, s OneLegacy’s Manager of a little bit better. include developing the new employee remarkably successful chance for them opportunity to get hands-on experience “The biggest challenge [of the exercise] Training, Jenna Graciano likens Her personal training program. to learn from their colleagues while in training and education through an was not being able to see. How can you the organization’s work to a relay motto is “Seize interactive donation simulation lab, direct people if you can’t see? In order A “I always tell new staff that the sharing U.S. organizational management race. “The teamwork at OneLegacy is the Day!” and case study discussions about real-life to be a leader, you must have a vision of hospital plays the most important skills and their experiences with mature an amazing process. I used to run relay she’s serious donation scenarios, a session about the where you will be going.” role in the donation process because donation programs.” Participants from races, with each team member handing about it. Jenna Spain’s donation service model, and an without them and the relationships built 19 countries and presenters from off the baton to complete the race, each wakes up at overview of the Gift of Life Institute’s After four intense days, the by our Hospital Development team, around the world contributed to the playing a critical role to accomplish one 4 a.m. to ice- new WebInterview tool for practicing participants walked away armed with referrals wouldn’t happen. We work conference. goal. At OneLegacy, one department skate; a masters- family communication and consent knowledge and ready to share it with collaboratively to support the donation starts the donation process and hands level figure The program included plenary conversations online. Participants were their organizations. “The GLS was a process and I appreciate everything that off the baton to the next department skater, she competes at the national sessions such as Selecting and also provided with the opportunity fabulous experience,” said OneLegacy hospitals do to contribute toward our until the process is complete.” level and has qualified to compete Implementing Best Practices Through to discuss their own proven training Organ Procurement Supervisor Woodi mission.” internationally. After work she takes methods. Wooding. “I always enjoy learning what She ought to know. Not only has others are doing and how they are a yoga class or runs, with several When asked about what she loves Jenna taught running classes in the past, Ceferi Soler from Barcelona, Spain facing and overcoming the challenges marathons and 10K races on her docket about her job, Jenna said, “I love the but Jenna now oversees all education and Michelle Post from OneLegacy we all face. The difference here was each year. She takes time to relax by people we work with; each department and training for the various departments led the participants in an interactive bringing the international mix into it. hiking Torrey Pines and spending time is phenomenal and has so much to offer at OneLegacy. Jenna is also highly leadership and team building exercise We were able to collaborate with our with her family. to the mission of OneLegacy. I love motivated by teamwork; she confided in which attendees worked as a team to international colleagues and find new being a part of this organization; it’s full that she performed better in her relay Jenna’s drive translates well to her move “toxic waste”—represented by ways of facing old challenges. Plus, we of people who have so much passion races than in the individual events. work at OneLegacy. Her days are full heavy balls balanced on an upside-down had fun, made new friends and have for what we do.” coordinating training efforts that begin garbage can suspended by ropes held by already contacted them for ideas on The running analogy is not with writing policies and procedures blindfolded “helicopters”—from one meeting some of the challenges we face surprising once you get to know Jenna Team building was only one of the numerous and end in documentation.