ANNUAL LEADERSHIP

In 2023, The Alliance Team introduced a new award, which celebrates the life and legacy of our late friend and colleague, Glenn Matsuki. The Glenn Matsuki Excellence in Mentorship Award honors a leader in the community of practice who supports the future of organ donation and transplantation by providing outstanding mentorship to the future leaders of our field. Glenn, whom so many in our community were honored to know, was a 27-year heart recipient and longtime member and advocate of the donation and transplantation community. He had a true passion for mentorship and was truly committed to sharing his insight and professional experience with others growing in the field. We are proud and honored to carry on his legacy through this esteemed recognition.

Recipients:

• 2025: Woodlhey Ambroise, MSHA, MBA, RRT, RCP, CPTC, Senior Director, Organ Operations and Surgical Recovery, LifeGift [view announcement]
• 2024: Deepa Kurup, RN, MSN, MBA, CPHQ, LSSBB, Senior Director of the Center for Transplantation – UC San Diego Health [view announcement]
• 2023: Brandon Williams, Director of Organizational Outcomes and Quality – LifeSource [view announcement]

The Alliance Rising Leader Award recognizes an outstanding member of The Alliance’s national workgroups and committees. Through proven commitment to advancing the national community of practice, this individual establishes themselves as an emerging leader in the field of organ donation and transplantation.

Recipients:

• 2025: Crystal Yancey, MBA, CCRN-K, CPTC, Clinical Operations Manager of In-House Coordinators for LifeShare of Oklahoma. [view announcement]
• 2024: Macey Levan, JD, PhD, Associate Professor of Surgery and Population Health at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, Director, Center for Surgical and Transplant Applied Research Qualitative Core – NYU Langone Health [view announcement]
• 2023: Matthew Kirschen, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology, Critical Care, Pediatrics and Neurology – Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia [view announcement]
• 2022: Michelle Reef, MA, Director, Hospital & Partner Relations – Gift of Hope Organ & Tissue Donor Network [view announcement]
• 2021: Ingrid Palacios, Multicultural Community Outreach Program Manager – New England Donor Services [view announcement]

*Note: Listings reflect the honorees’ respective names, titles, credentials and employer organizations as of the presentation of the award.

The Alliance Committed Leader Award recognizes a leader in the community of practice who commits significant time and expertise to the many bold initiatives underway at The Alliance. Through establishing valued relationships, this leader has taken on significant efforts to advance nationwide collaboration and engaged learning.

Recipients:

• 2025: Rondi Gelbard, MD, FACS, Professor of Surgery; Medical Director, Surgical Critical Care at the University of Alabama at Birmingham [view announcement]
• 2024: Katie McKee, MPH, Transplant Operations Administrator – Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN [view announcement]
• 2023: Lindsay Smith, RN, MSN, Director of Transplant Quality – Vanderbilt University Medical Center [view announcement]
• 2022: Schawnté Williams-Taylor, MBA, MSML, RN, CCRN-K, CPTC, Vice President of Family Engagement and Donation Services – LifeGift [view announcement]
• 2021: Joann Brooks, RN, BS, MSN, Interim Clinical Nursing Director – University of Michigan Transplant Center [view announcement]

*Note: Listings reflect the honorees’ respective names, titles, credentials and employer organizations as of the presentation of the award.

The Alliance Visionary Leader Award recognizes a leader in the community who guides The Alliance’s vision to ignite bold advancements in organ donation, transplantation and patient survival. As a valued thought leader, this individual has introduced important innovations to catalyze meaningful change for donation and transplantation.

Recipients:

• 2025: Andrea Tietjen, MBA, CPA, Assistant Vice President of Transplant Administration at Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center in New Jersey [view announcement]
• 2024: Anji Wall, MD, PhD, Transplant Surgeon, Medical Director, BSW Transplant Center for Innovation, Science, Policy, Research, and Ethics – Baylor Scott & White Health, Baylor University Medical Center [view announcement]
• 2023: Christopher Michetti, MD, Chief of Trauma and Trauma Medical Director – University of Maryland Capital Region Medical Center [view announcement]
• 2022: Linda Ohler, MSN, RN, CCTC, FAAN, FAST, Transplant Quality Consultant and Transplant Educator – George Washington University Transplant Center [view announcement]
• 2021: Dan Lebovitz, MD, Pediatric Intensivist – Akron Children’s Hospital [view announcement]

*Note: Listings reflect the honorees’ respective names, titles, credentials and employer organizations as of the presentation of the award.

The Alliance Transformational Leader Award recognizes lifetime career achievement and contributions to organ donation and transplantation. This award honors a leader in the community of practice who has demonstrated consistent commitment, resulting in effective collaboration, cascading of innovations and sharing of best practices for the benefit of restoring lives through transplantation.

Recipients:

• 2025:  Dr. Jon Snyder, PhD, MS, Director of Transplant Epidemiology at Hennepin Healthcare Research Institute.  [view announcement]
• 2024: Galen Henderson, MD, FNCS [Posthumous], Former Director of Neurocritical Care, Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer – Brigham and Women’s Hospital [view announcement]
• 2023: Nancy Foster, Vice President for Quality and Patient Safety Policy, American Hospital Association [view announcement]
• 2022: Dennis Wagner, MPA, Principal and Managing Director of Yes And Leadership [view announcement]
• 2021: Howard M. Nathan, President and Chief Executive Officer – Gift of Life Donor Program [view announcement]

*Note: Listings reflect the honorees’ respective names, titles, credentials and employer organizations as of the presentation of the award.