As an experienced leader in the OPO community, Jan Finn is skilled in guiding organ and tissue donation increases through data-driven decisions and a strong improvement focus. Her successful strategies — such as building a strong foundation through relationships with hospital leaders, staff, and physicians — have proven to be a cornerstone of Midwest Transplant Network’s (MTN’s) culture. Finn worked purposefully with MTN’s team during the Organ Donation Breakthrough Collaborative to engage the entire donation service area (DSA) in increasing the number of organ transplants. MTN still adheres to key, high-leverage changes, including a robust donation after circulatory death program, an on-call critical care team of physicians who manage every organ donor, and a DSA-wide donation and transplantation advocacy council representing large donor hospitals meeting quarterly to refine effective donation practices.
Finn began her career as a Registered Nurse in Joplin, Missouri, which led her from being a director in the critical care environment to working for MTN. In her early years at MTN, the combined hospital development/organ procurement/community awareness role taught her about each of the OPO’s now-specialized roles. As President & Chief Executive Officer for MTN, Finn is responsible for building the right culture, which she believes starts with a highly effective, innovative, and cohesive leadership team who recognize the importance of how to keenly focus staff on doing the right things. A tenant of MTN’s leadership team is a biannual leadership development institute aimed at expanding knowledge, ensuring consistency, and a building resolute strategic plan. These efforts have helped MTN rank in Tier 1 for performance and place among the top of all OPOs based on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services reports for number of organ donors and number of transplants.
Finn currently serves as the Board Chair for The Alliance, an independent nonprofit committed to increasing organ availability and eliminating deaths on the organ transplant waitlist; on the Board of Trustees and as the Chair for the Donation Board of Trustees for MTF Biologics; as a member of the Missouri Governor’s Organ Donation Advisory Committee; and offers service to the community as a board member for Friendship Inn of Kansas City and the Gift of Life Foundation in Overland Park, Kansas. Her recent national tenures as the President of the Association of Organ Procurement Organizations and the President of the North American Transplant Coordinators Organization helped shape her commitment and leadership ability as well as an appointment to Advisory Committee on Organ Transplantation; UNOS, the United Network for Organ Sharing Board of Directors and numerous other leadership roles.
Finn’s prior service to the donation community includes teaching at the NATCO introductory course, serving on numerous UNOS committees, helping lead the Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) Breakthrough Collaborative as a faculty member and later serving as HRSA’s National Improvement Leader. Finn is passionate about donation and enjoys water skiing and spending time on the beach in Florida. She is an honored donor family and recipient family member who lives in Lee’s Summit, Missouri, with her husband, Larry, and perfect little dog, Fitzgerald Grant. She is a proud grandmother of five and raised two sons who grew up learning all about organ and tissue donation.