Innovations in Advanced Organ Preservation: Next-Gen Kidney Perfusion
Kevin Cmunt
Organization: Strategic Advisor / Retired Donation Executive
Retired President and CEO of Gift of Hope & Retired Executive Director of ITF
In January 2022, Kevin stepped down as Executive Director for the Illinois Transplant Fund (ITF) a position he filled after 8 years as the President and CEO of Gift of Hope Organ and Tissue Donor Network 2012-2020 (Gift of Hope). As CEO, he oversaw a 70% increase in organ donation and 200% increase in tissue donation. He started ITF in 2015 to ensure access to transplant for patients in Illinois ineligible for subsidized healthcare. ITF has helped over 500 patients receive organ transplants, eliminating the disparity for the non-citizen residents of Illinois. He advocates for the donor families who make transplants possible and a is strong believer in equal access to organ transplantation.
Kevin is currently involved in a number of organizations and projects to improve organ donation and transplantation across the country:
• Organ Procurement and Transplant Network (OPTN) Expeditious Task Force Member
• National Faculty Member for the CMS Organ Donation and Transplant Collaborative (ETCLC)
• Coach for two ETCLC Teams
• Mentor for the Alliance and Speaker for the Alliance National Issue Forum
• Founder of the Better than Dialysis kidney utilization advocacy group
• Faculty Coach for the Gift of Life Philadelphia Leadership Academy
• Board Member for Humboldt Park Health
• Board Member of ITF
Prior to his work at Gift of Hope, Kevin was an Executive VP for AlloSource, a non-profit tissue bank. Kevin is the past President of the American Association of Tissue Banks and has served the community as a Board and Committee Member for various healthcare, government, and non-profit organizations.
Patient Groups: Adult
Areas of Practice: Adult, In-patient, Living Donation, Outreach, Pediatric & Neonatal, Post-transplant, Pre-Transplant, Procurement
Organs of Expertise: Heart, Kidney, Liver, Lung, Pancreas, Small Bowel
Partner Information
Lifelong Networks
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