Woodlhey Ambroise is the Senior Director of Organ Operations and Surgical Recovery at LifeGift, where she has demonstrated exceptional leadership and strategic vision since joining the organization in 2012 as a Donation Clinical Specialist. Over the years, she has progressively advanced to her current executive role, overseeing two departments of more than 50 professionals committed to the critical functions of initial ventilated referral triage, organ allocation for transplantation and research, local organ recovery processes, and preservation efforts.
Throughout her leadership tenure, Woodlhey has exemplified a collaborative and innovative approach, transforming operational workflows to maximize organ utilization and enhance efficiency. Under her guidance, LifeGift’s organ placement center expanded from just seven coordinators to over 22 highly trained professionals, reflecting her ability to recruit, develop, and inspire teams to perform at the highest level. She has successfully led initiatives to streamline expedited allocation and recovery processes, resulting in increased organ availability and utilization.
Woodlhey’s leadership is characterized by her strategic planning skills, her capacity to foster cohesive team environments, and her commitment to continuous quality improvement. She excels at navigating complex logistical challenges, leveraging data-driven insights, and building partnerships that support operational excellence in the transplant community.
Her educational background includes a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a minor in Biology from St. Thomas University in Miami, Florida. She earned her medical degree from the Universidad Autónoma de Tamaulipas School of Medicine in Tamaulipas, Mexico. Additionally, she holds a Master of Science in Healthcare Administration and a master’s in business administration from Texas Southern University in Houston, Texas. As a registered respiratory therapist and a foreign medical graduate Woodlhey possess extensive critical care experience. She brings a comprehensive understanding of patient care and critical care complexities that inform her leadership approach.
Active in numerous professional organizations, Woodlhey is a member of the Alpha Kappa Sorority, Inc., and has served as a national speaker for the Association of Organ Procurement Organizations (AOPO). She has co-authored multiple posters, delivered presentations at prominent conferences—including AOPO, AMAT, AST, and NATCO—and contributed to several planning committees. She was appointed Vice Chair of the Clinical Development Committee for the Association for Multicultural Affairs in Transplantation (AMAT), Chairperson of AMAT’s Advisory Board, currently chairs LifeGift’s Multicultural Advisory Committee. Her influence extends to the OPTN where she is a member of the Expeditious Task Force and the Pediatric Transplant Committee.
Beyond her professional achievements, Woodlhey is deeply passionate about organ donation and transplantation advocacy. Her diverse expertise, leadership acumen, and unwavering dedication drive her to introduce innovative ideas and perspectives that promote systemic change and advance the organization’s mission of saving lives through organ donation.
