The Alliance is proud to announce the recipients of our fourth annual leadership awards, recognizing individuals who have been invaluable in their contributions to Alliance programs that advance the national community of practice. Today, five honorees were surprised by a virtual award presentation, with their physical awards also being delivered same-day with special assistance from NORA, the presenting sponsor of our 2024 Award Week Celebration. The Alliance team is proud to recognize and celebrate each honoree’s achievements below.
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.
This year’s honoree is Dr. Macey Levan, Associate Professor of Surgery and Population Health at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, and Director of the Center for Surgical and Transplant Applied Research Qualitative Core at NYU Langone Health. Dr. Levan has volunteered with The Alliance since 2020, and has been a highly-regarded speaker and faculty member of multiple Alliance events, including serving as the current chair of The Alliance National Innovation Leadership Council, and co-chairing the planning committee for The Alliance 2024 National Innovation Forum, exploring alternative therapies to traditional deceased human donor transplantation, including xenotransplantation, 3D bioprinting, cryopreservation and more. A living kidney donor herself, Dr. Levan’s research and involvement in the long-term health of living kidney donors and transplant patients has provided valuable insight for The Alliance’s diverse learning programs. Her analytical, balanced perspective has become a highly trusted and influential voice for our community.
Brendan Parent, JD, Director of Transplant Ethics and Policy Research at NYU Langone Health, shared, “Macey embodies several of the virtues that I think are absolutely critical for success. No one works harder than Macey. No one is more committed than Macey, and no one has a more well-rounded skillset and is more talented than Macey. And here’s the best part: she’s so easy to work with and be around. She’s an incredibly kind, compassionate human being.”
View the award presentation below:
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.
This year’s honoree is Katie McKee, Operations Administrator for the Mayo Clinic Transplant Center in Rochester, Minnesota. With multifaceted experience in both the donation and transplantation sectors of our professional community, Katie has served as an invaluable member and former chair of The Alliance National Donation Leadership Council, as well as numerous initiative-driven workgroups, including The Alliance Conversation Series Webinar Faculty. Colleagues consistently share that Katie is a true beacon of light and positivity in our community. As a donor family member and living kidney donor herself, Katie exudes a genuine compassion for others and exemplifies our community’s lifesaving mission. Katie’s enduring commitment truly embodies the spirit of collaboration and “all teach, all learn,” which lie at the core of The Alliance’s mission.
Brian Cruddas, Transplant Operations Administrator at the Mayo Clinic in Florida, shared, “This award highlights [Katie’s] outstanding dedication and years of service to the donation and transplantation community. [Her] kindness and compassion shine through in all the initiatives [she’s] involved in, initiatives that make a real difference and have impacted countless lives. [Her] leadership and unwavering commitment are truly inspiring, and this recognition is well deserved.”
View the award presentation below:
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.
This year’s recipient is Dr. Anji Wall, abdominal Transplant Surgeon and Medical Director of the Baylor Scott and White Transplant Center for Innovation, Science, Policy, Research and Ethics in Dallas. In her dual role as transplant surgeon and bioethicist, Dr. Wall has been a prominent leader in the evolution and implementation of normothermic regional perfusion practices across the United States. She has served on the planning committee for The Alliance’s 2023 National Critical Issues Forum on NRP and has presented at many subsequent national meetings on this topic, including exploring NRP in pediatric DCD cases at The Alliance National Pediatric Summit in 2023. Her expertise in both transplant surgery and bioethics have proven invaluable for the transplantation community, and her voice is widely sought as new innovations present unique and often challenging ethical issues.
In a congratulatory message, Dr. John Magee, 2024 Alliance Board Chair and Transplant Surgeon at the University of Michigan, shared with Dr. Wall, “Your work in normothermic regional perfusion is transformative, and you’ve assembled a great team of diverse leaders to move this forward across the United States. I have incredible admiration and respect for all you are doing and how you do it.”
View the award presentation below:
In 2023, The Alliance Team was pleased to introduce 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 emerging 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 insights and professional experience with others growing in the field. We are proud and honored to carry on his legacy through this esteemed recognition.
This year’s recipient of The Glenn Matsuki Excellence in Mentorship Award is Deepa Kurup, Senior Director of the UC San Diego Center for Transplantation. As a mentor, she gives her time and expertise to elevate the knowledge and skills of her colleagues across the country. Her mentees are quick to recognize her warm demeanor, positive attitude, and willingness to share valuable insights for their continued success. Her unwavering commitment to supporting emerging professionals in the field has significantly impacted the careers of more than 6 individuals to date. Deepa’s commitment extends far beyond traditional mentorship; she actively engages her mentees in meaningful initiatives, including one of The Alliance’s newest resources, The Transplant Quality Corner. One of her mentees even co-lead the development of two of our latest issues, showcasing the lasting influence of Deepa’s guidance.
Jason Saude, Clinical Nurse Manager of Lung Transplant at UC San Diego Health, shared, “Like Glenn, [Deepa has] shown a deep passion for mentoring and uplifting others, ensuring the next generation of leaders thrive in our field. On behalf of the UC San Diego Health Center for Transplantation, we are thrilled to celebrate [Deepa] on this well-deserved recognition.”
View the award presentation below:
The Alliance Transformational Leader Award recognizes lifetime career achievement in 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.
This year’s award is presented posthumously, recognizing Dr. Galen Henderson, Former Director of Neurocritical Care and Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer for Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Massachusetts. He also served as associate medical director for New England Donor Services and We are Sharing Hope South Carolina. Dr. Henderson’s decades-long contributions to the donation and transplantation community began with a seminal donation experience during his residency over 30 years ago. That single donor inspired him to serve as faculty in the National Organ Donation Breakthrough Collaboratives, where he received awards from three different secretaries of Health and Human Services for his contributions in brain death education and donation advocacy. Beginning in 2016, Dr. Henderson partnered with Dr. Christopher Michetti to serve as Senior Editor and Chief Faculty of what is now The Alliance Foundational Perspectives of Organ Donation Course and textbook – providing fundamental education on the organ donation process for hundreds of healthcare professionals including residents, fellows, nurses, donation champions and new organ procurement professionals. While we lost Dr. Henderson far too soon, his contributions have left an indelible and enduring impact on the future of donation education and advocacy across the country.
Alexandra Glazier, President & CEO of New England Donor Services, shared, “I asked Galen, ‘what would you tell yourself if you went back in time to when you were just starting medicine? What would you tell yourself to be thinking and watching for?’ And what he said was, I think one of the most important things is having mentors, sponsors, allies, teaching people how to build relationships because that’s what’s going to sustain you and help you in your career. Do those mentors and allies need to look like you? The answer is no. Do they need to be in your field? The answer is no. You can learn something from everyone, so spread yourself broadly. Talk to a lot of people and build bridges. And that’s exactly what Galen did. He built bridges. I know a lot of people have been positively impacted by Galen, and I am certainly one of them.”
View the award presentation below:
The Alliance team congratulates all honorees and thanks them for their immeasurable contributions to the field of organ donation and transplantation.
