Incoming Board Leadership to Advance Equity, Access & Awareness in Organ Donation and Transplantation

DENVER – November 9, 2023 – Donor Alliance, the nonprofit organization saving and healing lives through organ and tissue donation and transplantation, is pleased to announce Donor & Family Services Manager Serena Altamirano will be advancing the organization’s mission within diverse communities on a national level. Altamirano was recently appointed to the 2023-2025 Governing Board of Directors for the Association for Multicultural Affairs in Transplantation (AMAT). The national organization is dedicated to supporting partners around the country in the transplant field as they work to support those waiting for a lifesaving organ transplant within multicultural communities.

“We are thrilled Serena will be sharing her talent, expertise and passion to propel Donor Alliance’s mission forward on a national scale,” said Jennifer Prinz, president and CEO of Donor Alliance. “As co-chair of Donor Alliance’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Advisory Committee, Serena has been instrumental in providing awareness around organ and tissue donation and transplantation among our dedicated workforce and in our region’s diverse communities.”

Donor Alliance’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Advisory Committee focuses on increasing diversity throughout the organization’s workforce, being an inclusive workplace, and facilitating annual cultural competency training. In addition, Altamirano and the committee support initiatives that engage with underrepresented communities in our region to create relationships, build trust, and start the conversation around the importance of registering as an organ, eye, and tissue donor.

Here in Colorado and Wyoming, there are nearly 1,500 people currently waiting for a lifesaving organ transplant. While people from all communities are in need of life-saving organ transplants, nationally, almost 60% of those on the waiting list are residents from multicultural communities. The highest percentages of populations waiting for a transplant are Hispanic, African American and Asian/Pacific Islander. Organ transplant candidates are not matched based on race or ethnicity; however, transplant matches made within ethnic groups can be even more compatible and successful.

Altamirano has also served on AMAT’s Latino Working Group for the last year. Now as an AMAT board member, Altamirano will play a crucial role in shaping the direction and impact of the national organization. Board members provide input on strategic organizational decisions, offer perspectives and insights as well as engage with stakeholders which include multicultural communities, healthcare professionals, and policymakers, to advocate for equitable access to transplantation services and raise awareness about the importance of organ and tissue donation.

“We are pleased to welcome Serena as one of our newest AMAT Board members,” said Mark Tudor, immediate past president of AMAT and CEO of ARORA. “The reality is more people are familiar with organ donation than tissue donation. That’s why Serena’s experience with tissue donation as a Donor & Family Services Manager for Donor Alliance will be such an asset to AMAT as we focus attention on the challenges of increasing tissue donation among people in minoritized communities.”

Donor Alliance remains committed to improving the quality of life of multicultural communities by creating a positive culture for organ, eye, and tissue donation.

About Donor Alliance

Donor Alliance is a non-profit organization dedicated to saving and healing lives through organ and tissue donation for transplantation in Colorado and most of Wyoming. As a federally designated organ procurement organization – one of 56 in the U.S. – Donor Alliance serves more than 6.3 million residents and 105 hospitals. Donor Alliance walks alongside the family during the organ recovery process and ensures their loved one’s gifts are safely received at transplant centers in a timely manner. In addition, the organization maintains partnerships with hospitals, educates residents on the life-saving benefits of donation, and manages the donor registries in the region, Donate Life Colorado and Donate Life Wyoming, which are symbols of the cause. For more information, please visit DonorAlliance.org.

About The Association for Multicultural Affairs in Transplantation (AMAT)

AMAT is dedicated to supporting partners in the transplant field as they save and heal lives within diverse communities. AMAT’s mission is to collaborate with organ donation and transplant professionals advocating for equitable access to transplantation services, raising awareness about the importance of organ donation and actively addressing the unique needs and challenges of multicultural communities in organ transplantation. Through advocacy, education, and outreach, AMAT strives to enhance the quality of life, foster sustainability, and nurture community partnerships. To learn more about or support AMAT, please visit www.amat1.org.