In April, Jamaica Hospital Medical Center celebrated National Donate Life Month. The hospital participated in a public education campaign to raise awareness about the importance of registering to become an organ donor.
Community outreach efforts included collaborating with LiveOnNY and Queens Borough President Melinda Katz to promote the initiative and encourage New Yorkers to sign up for the organ donor registry.
To mark the end of the month-long campaign, Jamaica Hospital hosted a special flag raising ceremony to pay tribute to organ donor families and recipients. LiveOnNY President Helen Irving joined hospital leadership and staff as well as Borough President Katz and organ donation advocate Jimmy Nolan, in raising the nationally recognized Donate Life flag in honor of Michael Nolan -Jimmy’s brother.
Michael Nolan who tragically passed away a few years ago was on his way to becoming a professional baseball player when his life was taken. He was a registered organ donor and by giving the gift of life he saved the lives of six people. While the loss of their loved one has been difficult, the Nolan family takes pride in knowing that Michael’s legacy continues.
In addition to hosting the flag raising ceremony, Jamaica Hospital was selected by the Hospital Association of New York (HANYS) as one of two hospitals to participate in a video advocating organ donation. In the video the hospital’s President and CEO Bruce J. Flanz, Chairman of Family Medicine and Palliative Care Alan Roth and Medical Director of Long Term Care Anthony DiMaria each shared their thoughts on why more New Yorkers should enroll as organ donors.
To see the full video, click here https://hanys.wistia.com/medias/b8prgr1yxt