Legacy Surgeon, Legacy Hospitals Receive National Honor

By Amber Shoebridge 

Transplant Surgeon and Surgical Director of Legacy Transplant Services Viken Douzdjian, M.D., was honored as a Regional Champion for his outstanding contributions on behalf of organ donors, donor families and transplant patients. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) presented the award at the sixth National Learning Congress for the Donation and Transplantation Community of Practice in Grapevine, Texas.

Pacific Northwest Transplant Bank nominated Dr. Douzdjian as the individual in Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) Region 6 (comprising Oregon, Southwest Idaho, Washington, Montana, Hawaii and Alaska) who has made a significant contribution in promoting donation and transplantation in his institution, his state and his region.

“For the past 10 years Dr. Doudzjian has tirelessly taken our phone calls, guided us through the challenges of donor management, and willingly procured livers and kidneys at all hours, in remote places and often under adverse circumstances,” explained Mike Seely, executive director of Pacific Northwest Transplant Bank, the not-for-profit organ procurement organization serving Oregon, Southwest Washington and Southwest Idaho. “[When we are] bombarded by the demands of multiple transplant centers, by hospital staff, by the often emotional challenges of organ donation cases, [we] can count on Dr. Douzdjian to respond with grace, clarity, wisdom and gentle humor.”

Also at the event, Legacy Emanuel was awarded the 2010 bronze Medal of Honor for Excellence in Organ Donation. From October 2008 to March 2010, 87 percent of potential internal organ donors at Legacy Emanuel became actual donors. The national goal is 75 percent. One of 307 hospitals nationwide to receive the organ donation recognition, and the only Portland hospital to receive a medal of honor, Legacy Emanuel has won the award five out of the last six years.

“We are proud to once again receive the Medal of Honor for Excellence in Organ Donation. This is a testament of the hard work and dedication of our staff in caring for all patients and families,” said Lori Morgan, M.D. and chief administrative officer of Legacy Emanuel. “We are humbled by the generosity and grace of families who are willing to think of others in their darkest hours and we share this award with them.”

Legacy Transplant Services, the kidney transplant program based at Legacy Good Samaritan Medical Center, was recognized as well with a bronze Medal of Honor for consistently having excellent transplant outcomes. And a silver Medal of Honor went to the Pacific Northwest Transplant Bank for excellent performance in organ donation.

“These organizations and individuals have all made a real difference by working to increase the number of organs available for transplantation,” said Mary K. Wakefield, Ph.D., R.N. and administrator of HRSA. “We are proud of their efforts. Together, they are helping to save and improve the lives of individuals across America.”

HRSA launched the Organ Donation Breakthrough Collaborative in 2003. The program is comprised of professionals and hospital leaders that work together to identify and share best practices for integrating organ donation into hospitals’ end-of-life continuums of care. To recognize hospitals for increasing and sustaining organ donation rates, the group created the organ donation medal of distinction in 2004. Visit www.organdonor.gov for information about the Organ Donation Breakthrough Collaborative.

As no transplantation program is possible without the generosity of donors and their families, Legacy Emanuel and Legacy Good Samaritan have recently adopted a national donor recognition program called Flags Across America. On the flagpole at Legacy Emanuel, and in the main lobby at Good Samaritan, a Donate Life flag flies the first week of each month to honor all organ, eye and tissue donors, as well as kidney recipients and living donors from the previous month.