OneLegacy to Host Nation’s Largest Donation and Transplantation Symposium October 24 in Pomona

LOS ANGELES--()--OneLegacy announced today that it will host its eighth annual “Donation and Transplantation Symposium” October 24 at the Sheraton Fairplex Hotel and Convention Center in Pomona. With attendance expected to exceed 1,000 hospital and transplant professionals, it will be the biggest gathering of its kind in the country.

OneLegacy is the largest organ, eye and tissue recovery organization in the world. Last year it achieved a record-setting performance in lives saved with nearly 1,500 transplants from a record number of organ donors. Still more than 22,000 California residents are waiting to receive lifesaving hearts, lungs, livers, kidneys and other organs; but there are simply not enough individuals saying “yes” to donation to meet the growing need.

“This symposium will help address that ongoing challenge by providing hospitals the tools and information they need to raise public awareness and ease the donor management process,” said Kathy Vasilopulos, OneLegacy’s vice president of organ operations. “Attendees will hear from and interact with respected healthcare professionals, organ procurement specialists and donor recipients who will share messages designed to positively impact donation activity at their own hospitals and in their own communities.”

Among the inspirational speakers will be Mary Reuland, mother of former NFL tight-end Konrad Reuland who died of a brain aneurysm in December 2016 but whose generous gift of heart, kidneys and liver donations gave three recipients a second chance at life. One of the recipients was baseball Hall of Famer Rod Carew, who received Konrad’s heart and right kidney.

In keeping with the symposium’s theme of “The Gift of Time,” the all-day session will focus on fine tuning the donation process and aligning all of the components to work in one smooth and timely rhythm. The theme parallels the recently unveiled Donate Life float that will be featured at the 2018 Tournament of Roses parade.

“The Gift of Time celebrates the power of kindness and the generous acts of people throughout the world who are making a positive difference in the lives of others,” said Vasilopulos. “Perhaps no act is more emblematic of this than becoming an organ or tissue donor: A single organ donor can save the lives of up to eight people and improve the lives of as many as 75 more by donating their corneas and tissue.”

Physicians, nurses, transplant center staff, pastoral care professionals, palliative care professionals and social workers are among those expected to attend the October 24 Donation and Transplantation Symposium.

About OneLegacy

OneLegacy is a nonprofit organization dedicated to saving lives through organ, eye and tissue donation in seven counties in Southern California: Los Angeles, Orange County, Riverside, San Bernardino, Ventura, Santa Barbara and Kern. Serving more than 200 hospitals, 11 transplant centers, and a diverse population of nearly 20 million, OneLegacy is the largest organ, eye and tissue recovery organization in the world. For more information, call OneLegacy at 800-786-4077, or visit onelegacy.org.

Contacts

For OneLegacy
Ross Goldberg
818-597-8453, x-1
ross@kevinross.net

Release Summary

OneLegacy announced it will host its eighth annual “Donation and Transplantation Symposium” October 24, Sheraton Fairplex Hotel & Convention Center.

Contacts

For OneLegacy
Ross Goldberg
818-597-8453, x-1
ross@kevinross.net