PUBLIC STATEMENT
Media Contact:
Jenny Daigle | jdaigle@aopo.org
Organ Donation Leaders Gather in Orlando for AOPO’s 43rd Annual Meeting
McLean, VA (June 18, 2026) – Next week, the Association of Organ Procurement Organizations (AOPO) will host its 43rd Annual Meeting from June 21-23, 2026, in Orlando, Florida. More than 900 organ donation and transplantation professionals nationwide will come together to exchange ideas, showcase groundbreaking research, and advance efforts towards achieving 50,000 organs transplanted from deceased donors in 2026.
“This is a transformative year for our nation’s organ donation and transplantation system,” said AOPO CEO Steve Miller. “Our community is focused on the future, setting higher clinical standards and developing improved performance measures to hold ourselves accountable to the millions we serve. We are committed to building a stronger system that saves more lives, supports more donor families, and upholds public trust.”
The conference kicks off on Sunday, June 21, with dedicated programming designed to foster collaboration and address complex challenges in the field across multiple specializations. Highlights include a Donation Services Workshop discussing key opportunities across Organ Procurement Organization (OPO) teams in hospital development, donor family services, clinical operations, and education and training.
The three-day program is packed with expert-led plenary and breakout sessions. Topics will range from explorations of compassionate donor family communications to national policy discussions, including a dedicated presentation on AOPO’s OPO Performance Measurement Project to strengthen system accountability.
Throughout the event, AOPO will welcome 65 partner organizations showcasing technologies, products, and services that support OPOs in advancing their lifesaving mission. In order to support the continued professional development of the organ and tissue donation workforce, AOPO is proud to offer continuing education credits for the 2026 Annual Meeting, including Category 1 CPTC credit hours, CTBS credit hours, Nursing credit hours, and Certificates of Attendance.
As the organ donation and transplantation system continues to evolve, AOPO is pleased to welcome its previously announced 2026–2027 Board of Directors. The new leadership team will be led by incoming President Allison Erickson, who will officially assume her new role at the Annual Meeting and deliver her Incoming President’s Address on the afternoon of June 23.
The new leadership team will also include President-Elect Harry Wilkins III, MD, Secretary/Treasurer Sharon Bayliss, At-Large Member Leonard Licina, and AOPO OPO Representative Santokh Gill. The Board’s experience and leadership will help guide the association with a focused commitment on strengthening public trust, advancing performance measurement, and improving donation outcomes.
The meeting comes at a pivotal time for the donation and transplantation community. Following a record-setting year in which more than 46,000 deceased donor organs were transplanted and over 40,000 lives were saved, the field continues to build momentum toward saving even more lives.
For more details on the event, please visit aopo.org/annual-meeting.
Each person who becomes an organ, eye, and tissue donor can save up to eight lives and heal more than 75 people. AOPO encourages everyone to learn more and consider signing up as a donor. You can register today by visiting RegisterMe.org/AOPO50K.
About the Association of Organ Procurement Organizations (AOPO)
AOPO leads the nation’s organ donation community to save and improve lives through organ, eye, and tissue donation. Founded in 1984, AOPO advances organ donation and transplantation by driving continual improvement of the donation process, collaborating with stakeholders, and sharing successful practices with its 47 member OPOs. AOPO envisions a future where every opportunity for donation results in lives saved. Visit aopo.org to learn more.