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
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.
NASEM Report
The National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) Report, requested by Congress and sponsored by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), is a holistic evaluation of the organ donation and transplantation system. The findings provide a roadmap for OPOs, donor hospitals, transplant centers, and federal entities to improve equity, use more donated organs, and advance system performance.
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 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.