Did you know New York is ranked last in the entire country for the percentage of residents registered as organ donors? Even more concerning is the fact that a New Yorker dies every 18 hours while waiting for an organ donation. In response to these alarming statistics Jamaica Hospital Medical Center partnered with LiveOnNY-a federally designated organ procurement organization to help raise awareness and increase the number of organ donors.
On October 6th both organizations participated in New York’s first ever Organ Donor Enrollment Day. This campaign was executed with one goal in mind: to enroll as many willing New Yorkers as possible in one day to become registered organ donors. Staff and volunteers from LiveOnNY and Jamaica Hospital rallied passersby in the main lobby and cafeteria of the hospital to sign up.
Key figures who represented Jamaica Hospital at the event were William Lynch, Executive Vice President and COO; Dr. Alan Roth, Chairman of Family Medicine and Palliative Care and Dr. Anthony DiMaria, Vice President and Medical Director of Trump Pavilion. Each of which have been instrumental in developing our partnership with LiveOnNY and advocating for this important cause.
Dr. Anthony DiMaria understands first-hand the importance of organ donation. He spoke openly to the media and shared his personal experience of being a New Yorker who received a much needed organ donation. “I was going out—down to the end when I was informed that I was going to receive a heart,” said Dr. DiMaria. “I’ve said it before but I’ve been given life twice.” He also went on to tell reporters that his donor was a man from the Dominican Republic and that he still to this day keeps in touch with the donor’s family. The media fondly dubbed him as “The Italian with the Dominican Heart.”
Jamaica Hospital been an advocate for organ donation for many years, we have been “sounding the alarm for donor registration for decades,” stated Mr. Lynch. It is our goal to continue these efforts and help save lives.
To read and watch the media stories of Jamaica Hospital’s and LiveOnNY’s Organ Donor Enrollment Day, please click the links below:
http://www.timesledger.com/stories/2015/41/organdonor_2015_10_09_q.html
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