Navigating Forward Together: Reflections from
AOPO President Allison Erickson
It is a tremendous honor to serve as President of the Association of Organ Procurement Organizations (AOPO). When I attended my first AOPO Annual Meeting in 2012, I never imagined I would one day have the opportunity to lead this remarkable organization.
After more than 25 years in healthcare, I can confidently say that the organ donation community is among the most dedicated, compassionate, and mission-driven groups of professionals I have ever encountered. Every day, OPO professionals operate at the intersection of loss and hope, grief and generosity, compassion and innovation. It is work that changes lives in profound and lasting ways.
Sometimes, we are reminded of that impact through the stories of donor families and transplant recipients. Just a few weeks ago, I met a young heart transplant recipient who had spent months waiting in the hospital before receiving the gift of life earlier this year. Watching him enjoy a day on the golf course with friends was a powerful reminder of why this work matters. Behind every donation is a life saved, a family given hope, and a future made possible.
A Community That Continues to Advance
Over the past year, AOPO and its members have made significant progress despite a challenging environment marked by regulatory uncertainty, evolving expectations, and increased public scrutiny.
Together, we have continued to advance quality improvement initiatives, strengthen national data partnerships, and support the development of new performance measures that better reflect the realities of organ donation. We have deepened engagement with policymakers and federal agencies, ensuring the voice of the OPO community is represented in critical discussions about the future of the donation and transplant system.
At the same time, innovation continues to drive progress. In 2025, the nation surpassed 46,000 organs transplanted from deceased donors, moving closer to the shared goal of 50,000 annually. Advancements such as donation after circulatory death (DCD), normothermic regional perfusion (NRP), machine perfusion, and other emerging technologies are helping increase organ utilization and save more lives.
These achievements demonstrate what is possible when a community remains focused on its mission.
Navigating a Time of Change
The organ donation system is entering a pivotal moment. The implementation of the CMS OPO Final Rule and other policy changes have created unprecedented uncertainty across the field. Many OPOs face potential competition or decertification, while hospitals, transplant centers, and donor families seek stability and continuity in a rapidly changing environment.
The goals behind these reforms—greater accountability, improved performance, and increased transplantation—are goals we all share. OPOs have always been committed to saving more lives and maximizing every donation opportunity.
As we move forward, however, it is essential that efforts to improve performance do not unintentionally undermine the collaboration and trust that make success possible.
Three Priorities for the Year Ahead
As AOPO charts its course for the coming year, three priorities will guide our work.
Building Trust Through Transparency and Excellence
Trust is the foundation of organ donation. Every time a donor family says yes to donation, they place their confidence in our system and in the professionals who support them through one of life’s most difficult moments.
AOPO will continue advancing initiatives that strengthen transparency, improve data integrity, and support meaningful quality improvement. Our partnership with Econometrica and the development of new performance measures represent an important step toward a future defined by accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
Supporting and Empowering Our Workforce
Behind every donor, every transplant, and every innovation are dedicated professionals who make this mission possible.
Throughout my career, I have had the opportunity to witness the extraordinary work performed by OPO teams firsthand. Those experiences reinforced a simple truth: behind every metric and policy discussion are people carrying out deeply human work.
Our responsibility as leaders is to support, develop, and empower those teams. AOPO will continue investing in leadership development, professional education, and opportunities for collaboration so that current and future leaders are equipped to navigate an increasingly complex environment.
We also recognize the importance of creating spaces where professionals can connect, share best practices, and learn from one another. In the coming year, AOPO plans to expand opportunities for engagement through affinity groups, educational programs, and leadership initiatives that strengthen our community.
Strengthening AOPO as a Unifying Voice
AOPO’s role as an advocate has never been more important.
Over the next year, we will continue working with policymakers, regulators, healthcare partners, and stakeholders to ensure that accountability efforts are grounded in meaningful measures and fair processes. We will advocate for policies that support donation, transplantation, patient safety, and public trust while continuing to elevate the collective voice of the OPO community.
Our focus remains clear: increasing organ donation and transplantation while ensuring the system remains strong, collaborative, and responsive to the needs of patients and families.
Moving Forward Together
Growing up sailing taught me an important lesson: while you cannot control the wind or the weather, you can control how you respond.
The same is true today. We cannot control every challenge facing the donation and transplant community. We cannot control shifting regulations, media narratives, or external pressures. What we can control is our commitment to our mission, our willingness to adapt, and our determination to move forward together.
The past several years have tested this community in unprecedented ways. Yet through every challenge, OPOs have continued to serve donor families, support hospitals, and help save lives. Together, we have achieved 13 consecutive years of record-breaking transplant growth and continue moving toward the goal of 50,000 annual organs transplanted from deceased donors.
That progress is possible because of the people who make up this community.
I remain optimistic about what lies ahead. We have the expertise, the experience, and the resolve to navigate whatever challenges come next. Most importantly, we share a mission that is bigger than any one organization: giving hope to patients, honoring donor families, and saving more lives through organ donation and transplantation.
I look forward to navigating the year ahead together.
