Wendi C. Thomas: Memphis, Mid-South Transplant Foundation #1 for black organ donors

Commercial Appeal | Wendi C. Thomas


Photo by Brandon Dill: Wilson was 19 years old when she died from a blood clot in July 2011.

Memphis is No. 1 on a list we should be proud of.

Of the country's 58 organ procurement organizations, the Mid-South Transplant Foundation ranks first in the continental United States for the highest percentage of black donors.

The foundation's African-American consent rate has soared from 27 percent in 2007 to 69 percent in 2012.

This means that when a potential organ donor is identified, seven out of every 10 African American families approached agree to donate their loved ones' organs.

The credit, the foundation's executive director Kim Van Frank said, goes to the "like requester" program started in 2008.

When the donor family is black, Jewish or Latino, the foundation sends a "like requester," or a person of the same race, religion or ethnicity to talk to the family. All of the foundation's staff have been trained to be sensitive to cultural issues, but they've found it helps when the requester looks like the family.

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