More than 60 professionals from across the donation and transplantation community convened in Atlanta for the inaugural Lung Donation and Transplantation Workshop, a joint program presented by The Alliance and the American College of CHEST Physicians (CHEST). The pre-meeting workshop, held ahead of The Alliance’s National Critical Issues Forum, brought together multidisciplinary leaders for a day of data-driven dialogue, clinical insight, and collaborative problem-solving focused on improving lung utilization and transplant outcomes.
A Shared Commitment to Advancement
This first-of-its-kind collaboration with CHEST underscored the shared mission of both organizations to strengthen clinical practice and patient outcomes through education, research, and innovation.
“The conversations throughout the day highlighted the tremendous value of partnership across clinical and operational boundaries,” said Deborah Levine, MD, Clinical Professor of Pulmonary Medicine at Stanford Health and Co-Chair of the CHEST-Alliance Meeting on Lung Donation. “By aligning the expertise of CHEST with The Alliance’s convening power, we are helping close the gap between recovered and transplanted lungs.”
A Dynamic Program and Collaborative Exchange
Led by moderators and panelists representing leading institutions such as Stanford Health, University of Toronto, Piedmont Hospital, UCHealth Anschutz, Mid-America Transplant, Gift of Hope, LifeGift, Donor Alliance, University Hospitals, Leuven Belgium, and the University of Minnesota, the workshop featured sessions that spanned:
- Data Deep Dive: Analysis of lung recovery and utilization trends presented by Jon Snyder, PhD of Hennepin Healthcare Research Institute.
- Multidisciplinary Dialogue: Perspectives from OPOs, transplant surgeons, and pulmonary specialists on addressing barriers to utilization.
- Collaborating for Improvement: Exploration of research models and protocol standardization across OPOs.
- Innovation in DCD Lungs: Examination of evolving practices in normothermic regional perfusion (NRP) and other preservation technologies.
- Interactive Case Studies: Engaging real-world scenarios challenging participants to apply evidence-based decision-making to complex donor cases.
Advancing the Field Together
The session concluded with a “Call to Action” led by Dr. Deborah Levine and Kevin Myer, President & CEO of LifeGift, summarizing key takeaways and identifying priorities for collective next steps. Participants emphasized the importance of continued collaboration, data transparency, and education to advance lung transplantation practices nationwide.
“The energy in the room reflected our community’s shared determination to expand access to life-saving lung transplantation,” said Myer. “Our partnership with CHEST demonstrates what’s possible when we connect experts from across disciplines around a common goal.”
Support for the program was provided by Paragonix, LifeGift and Verathon.
Looking Ahead
The workshop served as a prelude to The Alliance National Critical Issues Forum, themed “Partnerships to Grow Transplants in the Modern Era,” held October 7–8 at The Starling Hotel. Together, these convenings reinforce The Alliance’s commitment to building bridges between clinical, administrative, and policy leaders to accelerate progress toward a more equitable and effective transplant system.
For more information about future Alliance-CHEST collaborations and educational opportunities, visit www.organdonationalliance.org
