The second pillar of the 50K goal is to reduce health inequities to improve accessibility to organ transplants in diverse and underserved communities.
%
increase in multiethnic transplants from deceased organ donors over the last 5 years
HBCU Programs
AOPO is collaborating with Historically Black College and University (HBCU) Medical Schools to develop pilot programs aimed at increasing the number of Black health professionals in the organ donation and transplantation field, as well as public outreach programs to provide education to communities of color. AOPO, member OPOs, and Meharry Medical College contributed donations to help start the pilot programs.
National Black Nurses Association Partnership
AOPO sponsored the National Black Nurses Association’s Annual Institute & Conference with the innovative Barbershop Health Talk session. The session included a panel of industry-leading organ donation experts discussing the significance of organ, eye, and tissue donation within the Black community.
National Organ, Eye, and Tissue Multicultural Action Group (NMAG)
NMAG, a network of national stakeholders, is working to reach diverse and underserved communities to provide education on organ donation and encourage individuals to register as organ, eye, and tissue donors. NMAG hosts National Minority Donor Awareness Month every August to reach multiethnic communities.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Assessment Tool
The AOPO DEI Committee administered a DEI Assessment Tool for OPOs to determine opportunities for learning and development in efforts to achieve organ donation and transplantation equity in the U.S. The survey is a baseline assessment of OPOs to identify gaps in programs, services, policies, and relationships with diverse communities.