Quality has become one of the fastest-evolving areas of professional practice in organ donation and transplantation, driving improvements in patient safety, organizational performance, and regulatory readiness across transplant programs and OPOs. Reflecting that evolution, The Alliance will convene the Fall Meeting of its National Transplant & Donation Quality Collaborative on Monday, September 14, bringing together quality leaders from across the country to advance practical strategies, share emerging best practices, and strengthen a growing national community of practice.
Building a National Community of Practice & Professional Home
Established to strengthen quality as a recognized specialty within organ donation and transplantation, the Collaborative brings together professionals from OPOs, transplant programs, and healthcare systems to exchange best practices, develop practical resources, and foster collaboration around shared quality challenges. Through ongoing meetings and educational initiatives, the Collaborative supports professional development while helping organizations build stronger systems that ultimately improve outcomes for donors, recipients, and their families.
“The Quality Collaborative was founded on the belief that advancing quality requires more than regulatory compliance. It requires a community of professionals committed to learning from one another and continuously improving together,” said Celeste Braly, Director of Transplant Quality and Compliance at UW Health and member of the Collaborative’s Steering Committee. “Each Collaborative meeting provides an opportunity to share experiences, develop practical solutions, and strengthen the relationships that help move quality forward across the donation and transplantation continuum.”
From Quality Theory to Practical Application
Held as a specialty pre-meeting preceding the National Critical Issues Forum, the September meeting will focus on practical leadership strategies that support high-performing organizations and sustainable quality improvement. The program reflects the Collaborative’s commitment to equipping quality professionals with actionable tools they can implement within their own organizations while fostering dialogue among peers facing many of the same operational and clinical challenges.
Participants will begin the afternoon by exploring practical approaches to leading teams through organizational change, recognizing that successful quality initiatives depend not only on sound methodology, but also on effective leadership, communication, and employee engagement. A subsequent session will examine strategies for managing difficult conversations related to quality and patient safety, providing participants with practical techniques for navigating complex situations while fostering accountability, transparency, and trust.
The meeting will then transition into interactive breakout sessions that allow participants to apply these concepts in real-world settings. One breakout will focus on conducting effective root cause analyses and event reviews, while another will explore communication strategies that promote trust and psychological safety, both essential characteristics of high reliability organizations. The meeting will conclude with a collaborative discussion focused on key takeaways and individual commitments participants can implement following the Forum.
Advancing Excellence Across the Donation and Transplantation Continuum
While the September meeting provides an opportunity for Collaborative members to connect in person, it also represents another milestone in a broader, ongoing initiative dedicated to advancing excellence in donation and transplantation. Through regular educational programming, shared resources, and peer-to-peer engagement, the Collaborative continues to build a national network of professionals committed to strengthening quality systems, improving organizational performance, and enhancing patient outcomes.
By creating opportunities for quality leaders from OPOs and transplant programs to learn together, the Collaborative encourages the exchange of proven practices while helping organizations address increasingly complex operational and regulatory challenges. The result is a stronger, more connected community of professionals working toward a shared goal of continuous improvement across the donation and transplantation continuum.
“One of the greatest strengths of this Collaborative is the willingness of its members to openly share both successes and lessons learned,” says Ashley Cardenas, Transplant Administrator at Renown Transplant Institute and a member of the Collaborative’s Steering Committee. “Quality professionals rarely face challenges that are unique to a single organization. When we bring diverse perspectives together, we accelerate learning, strengthen our collective expertise, and create solutions that ultimately benefit patients, donor families, and the entire donation and transplantation community.”
Meeting Information
The National Transplant & Donation Quality Collaborative Fall Meeting is one of four specialty pre-meeting programs offered in advance of the 2026 National Critical Issues Forum, taking place September 15-16 in New Orleans. The Collaborative meeting will be held Monday, September 14, from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. CT.
Attendance is limited to registered National Critical Issues Forum attendees. Participation in the Collaborative meeting requires separate add-on registration during the Forum registration process, and space may be limited. Click here to learn more and register.
