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Alin Gragossian

DO, MPH
In 2025, I am answering the call to... show that empathy belongs everywhere in donation and transplantation.
Job Title: Associate Medical Director
Organization: Donor Network West
Age: 37
Years in Donation and Transplantation: 3
What makes your career in organ donation and transplantation special?

What makes this work special is that it's personal. I'm not just a critical care doctor who manages donors or cares for patients‚ I'm also alive today because of a heart transplant. I've been on both sides of the ICU bed, and that changes everything.

I understand the fear, the waiting, the hope. I started sharing my story just to make sense of it all, but it turned into something bigger. Now it has turned into a way to connect with others and advocate for empathy in medicine. Organ donation saved my life, and now I get to spend my career helping others through it. That's not something I take lightly.

Biography

Alin Gragossian, DO, is Associate Medical Director at Donor Network West, where she brings unparalleled perspective and passion to the field of organ donation and transplantation. As both a physician and a heart transplant recipient, Dr. Gragossian blends personal experience with clinical expertise to advocate for empathy, transparency, and connection in donation practices.

Gragossian was nominated by Aninda Dutta, Vice President of Business Intelligence and Data Solutions at Donor Network West. “Dr. Gragossian has an incredible personal story, which she fearlessly shares with the world to raise awareness about organ donation,” wrote Dutta. “Her authenticity and courage have inspired countless people – from healthcare professionals to the general public – to see donation through a more human lens.”

Dr. Gragossian’s professional and public impact are deeply intertwined. A critical care physician turned organ donation advocate, she regularly speaks at national conferences and media outlets, using her voice to elevate awareness and bridge the gap between clinicians and recipients. At Donor Network West, she plays a key leadership role in medical operations, offering clinical guidance while helping to shape organizational messaging and outreach with warmth and credibility.

Her work is grounded in a deeply personal mission. “What makes this work special is that it’s personal,” she says. “It’s not theoretical—I’ve lived it.” Dr. Gragossian’s firsthand experience has become a beacon for others navigating the transplant journey, and her presence within the field reinforces the emotional gravity and transformative power of organ donation.

In every setting—whether guiding organizational strategy, comforting donor families, or speaking to audiences across the country—Dr. Alin Gragossian brings authenticity, insight, and purpose. Her career is a testament to resilience, advocacy, and the essential role of empathy in saving and healing lives.