Center for Organ Recovery & Education

02/27/2026

CORE’s Michael Kenney, General Counsel, and Anita Gordon, Director of Tissue Procurement, joined leadership from MTF Biologics and Medtronic in Washington, D.C. to meet with legislators and staff to discuss the critical importance of tissue donation and thoughtful, science-based donor criteria.

Together, we were proud to represent The Association for Advancing Tissue and Biologics (AATB), advocating for policies that support donors, recipients, and the thousands of patients whose lives are healed and restored through tissue transplantation each year.

02/26/2026

College students in PA and WV — ready to make an impact on your campus? 💚

Join the 2026 College Challenge with the Center for Organ Recovery & Education (CORE) and help raise awareness about the need for organ, tissue, and cornea donors. Host events, share information, encourage others to sign up to be an organ, tissue, and cornea donor, and earn points for your team while competing against other schools.

📅 March 1 – April 30, 2026

Sign up today:
🔹 WV: https://core.org/community/community-education/core-college-challenge/

🔹 PA: https://donatelifepa.org/dlpa-college-challenge/

02/25/2026

Join the clinical team at CORE and make a difference every day.

We’re hiring for clinical positions that play a direct role in saving and healing lives through organ, tissue, and cornea donation. If you’re a healthcare professional ready to use your skills in a meaningful way, we invite you to explore opportunities with us.

View our open clinical positions and apply today: https://core.org/about-us/careers/

02/24/2026

Dr. Ashley Suah is a transplant surgeon and educator committed to advancing equitable access to lifesaving transplantation for Black patients and underserved communities. As one of only 13 Black female transplant surgeons nationwide, her work reflects both clinical excellence and a deep commitment to addressing disparities in care.

In her clinical practice, Dr. Suah performs complex abdominal transplant surgeries while also serving as a strong advocate for her patients. She prioritizes patient education, ensuring individuals and families understand their diagnosis, treatment options, and post-transplant care so they can make informed decisions throughout the transplant process.

Beyond the operating room, Dr. Suah is dedicated to medical education and mentorship. She actively supports the training and development of medical students, residents, and fellows, helping to strengthen the future of the transplant workforce.

Community engagement is a central part of Dr. Suah’s work. She partners with the National Kidney Foundation of Illinois and regularly visits community centers and churches on Chicago’s South Side to educate residents about kidney and liver health, disease prevention, and the lifesaving impact of organ donation. These efforts help bring trusted medical expertise directly into the community.

Dr. Suah emphasizes the importance of open dialogue and empowerment in healthcare. She encourages individuals to ask questions, learn the signs of kidney and liver disease, and feel confident navigating the transplant process. Through her presence, outreach, and advocacy, she helps build trust in healthcare systems and improves access to transplantation for Black communities.

Association for Multicultural Affairs in Transplantation

02/23/2026

We were pleased to welcome cornea fellows from UPMC for a tour of CORE’s eye bank and facility. The visit provided an overview of our processes and capabilities and opened the door for continued collaboration as they move through their fellowship and into future clinical practice. 👁️💚

02/19/2026

Dr. J. Keith Melancon is a nationally respected transplant surgeon and academic leader whose work has significantly advanced access to organ transplantation for patients facing complex medical and systemic barriers. He currently serves as Director of the George Washington Transplant Institute and Medical Director of the Ron and Joy Paul Kidney Center at George Washington University.

A specialist in kidney, pancreas, and liver transplantation, Dr. Melancon has dedicated his career to improving outcomes for patients who are traditionally considered the hardest to transplant. His clinical and research efforts focus on expanding equitable access to transplantation, particularly for minority patients who experience disproportionate barriers within the healthcare system.

Dr. Melancon has been a leading advocate for innovative approaches to transplantation, including ABO incompatible organ transplantation, paired kidney exchanges, and immune system desensitization strategies. These efforts have helped broaden transplant eligibility for patients who might otherwise have limited options.

Most notably, Dr. Melancon and his team were the first to successfully perform both a fully ABO incompatible deceased donor kidney transplant and a fully ABO incompatible living donor kidney transplant in a patient living with HIV. These groundbreaking procedures reflect his commitment to advancing science while centering patient access and outcomes.

Through his leadership, research, and clinical innovation, Dr. Melancon continues to push the field of transplantation toward more inclusive practices. His work underscores the importance of innovation in achieving equity and reflects the enduring contributions of medical professionals committed to transforming transplantation for underserved communities.

Association for Multicultural Affairs in Transplantation

02/18/2026

We are honored to be recognized by the Rotary Club of Pittsburgh as the Large Nonprofit recipient at the Pittsburgh Excellence in Ethics Awards.

Thank you to Rotary for celebrating ethical leadership across our region. We are proud to serve our community with integrity and compassion as we work to save and heal lives through organ, tissue, and cornea donation.

02/17/2026

“Kevin brought his gratitude to the Center for Organ Recovery & Education headquarters in Pittsburgh. Wearing his mail carrier outfit, he went room to room delivering Valentine’s cards made by students at nearby Dorseyville Middle School, handing them to donor families and staff, many of whom have personal ties to donation.”

Valentine’s Day is National Donor Day. It's a time to honor organ donors and the families who say yes in the midst of loss.

02/17/2026

CORE Advocates from across Pennsylvania and West Virginia came together for our 2026 Advocate Kickoff — and the energy in the room was unmatched.

From sharing powerful stories and sharpening our outreach skills to building connections and celebrating the impact of organ, tissue, and cornea donation, this weekend set the tone for the year ahead.

Because of our Advocates, more families are having conversations, more communities are learning the facts, and more people are choosing to sign up to be organ donors.

We’re ready for 2026. Let’s save and heal lives — together!

Become a CORE Advocate Here: https://core.org/volunteer/volunteer-application/

02/14/2026

"It means a lot to me and our family and his friends that his name is going to keep going on and he’ll be remembered for what he chose to do,” said Fields-Nichols. “He had actually chose that on his fishing license when he turned 15. He went to Cabela’s with my dad, and he chose to be an organ donor that day. And it means a lot to me to know that no matter what, even if he’s not here, his name will go on."

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WOWK)– The West Virginia Legislature is recognizing National Organ Donation Day on Friday by honoring Timmy “Bub” Fields, a 15-year-old organ donor from Nitro. …

02/14/2026

Today is National Donor Day! A day to honor the generosity of organ, tissue, and cornea donors, celebrate transplant recipients, and recognize the families who make lifesaving decisions possible.

You can help us make an even bigger impact!

📲 Share the message.
💬 Start the conversation.
❤️ Encourage others to sign up to be an organ donor.

You can sign up here: https://registerme.org/campaign/core

02/13/2026

Tomorrow is National Donor Day 💙💚

It’s a day to honor the generosity of organ, tissue, and cornea donors, celebrate transplant recipients, and recognize the families who make lifesaving decisions possible.

You can help us make an even bigger impact.

📲 Share the message.
💬 Start the conversation.
❤️ Encourage others to sign up to be an organ donor.

We’ve made it easy. Download ready-to-share social media materials here:
👉 https://core.org/about-us/newsroom/