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Kayla Mraz

CTP
In 2025, I am answering the call to... lead change, elevate standards, and honor every donor.
Job Title: Surgical Services Manager
Organization: Live On Nebraska
Age: 31
Years in Donation and Transplantation: 10
What makes your career in organ donation and transplantation special? My commitment to honoring donors and their families through compassionate, hands-on leadership. I've had the opportunity to be involved in every aspect of the organ recovery process‚ from the operating room to Administrator on Call‚ which allows me to approach each case with a holistic and respective perspective. For me, this work goes beyond just operations; it's deeply personal. I make sure every donation is handled with clinical precision and heartfelt purpose. My ability to balance technical expertise with empathy allows me to lead with impact, inspire my team, and maintain the highest standards of care. As part of the AOPO IMPACT Committee, I also contribute to national efforts aimed at improving equity and access in donation and transplantation. To me, this isn't just a job‚ it's a calling, fueled by the lives saved and the legacies honored through donation.

Biography

Kayla Mraz, CTP, is the Surgical Services Manager at Live On Nebraska, where she leads a high-performing team committed to excellence in organ recovery, innovation in clinical operations, and respectful donor care. With more than a decade of experience — and seven years in surgical leadership — Mraz has become a key figure in advancing donation practices both within her organization and across the broader field.

She was nominated for The Alliance 40 Under 40 by David Robles, Director of Hospital and Family Services at Live On Nebraska. “Kayla’s leadership and innovation are unmatched,” Robles shared. “She has not only shaped our internal systems but also contributed meaningfully to national efforts to elevate standards and outcomes in donation.”

Mraz played a pivotal role in developing and implementing the import and fly-out recovery process at Live On Nebraska, partnering with local transplant surgeons to improve coordination, safety, and efficiency for donor procedures. Her efforts have strengthened surgical logistics and enabled smoother collaboration between procurement and transplant teams.

She has also been instrumental in supporting the organization’s Non-Heart Beating Donation (NRP DCD) practices in partnership with the University of Nebraska Medical Center Transplant Institute — contributing to one of the highest-performing Tier 1 OPOs in the country. Her attention to detail and process integrity have earned her a leadership role in quality assurance and regulatory compliance.

Beyond her organization, Mraz is an active member of the AOPO IMPACT Committee, where she helps shape national dialogue around surgical innovation and practice improvement. She has supported dozens of organ recovery fly-outs and brings field-tested experience to every clinical and strategic decision.

Kayla Mraz exemplifies a new generation of leaders in donation and transplantation — those who combine clinical precision, systems thinking, and an unwavering respect for the donor journey. Her work continues to shape standards of care, operational excellence, and collaborative impact across the field.