Gift of Life Institute

In just 3 weeks, the Class of 2024 of “The Art and Science of Leadership” program will reconvene in Philadelphia, PA at Gift of Life Donor Program headquarters for their Capstone presentations! 🎉 We can’t wait to see the results of their hard work over the past 6 months and celebrate their achievements! 🙌✨ #Leadership #ASOL #organdonationsaveslives

As we celebrate the vibrant cultures and contributions of the Hispanic and Latinx communities, consider taking the opportunity to deepen your understanding through initiatives like Gift of Life Institute’s “Reaching Across Cultures” training. During the development of this training, the Institute was respectful of the diversity of our colleagues and the individuals and families we serve. With this in mind, we developed “Reaching Across Cultures” in conjunction with Dr. Heather M Gardiner, Professor of Social and Behavioral Sciences at Temple University’s College of Public Health. This training highlights diverse perspectives and helps fosters meaningful connections across cultures. Click here to learn more: https://lnkd.in/eZHkkqjT

To celebrate the Institute’s 20th anniversary, we recently reached out to our partners in the OPO community and asked for their thoughts regarding the Institute. Thank you, Danielle Balbis and LifeQuest Organ Recovery Services for your kind words. We also thank you for inviting us to be a partner in educating your team.

In honor of World Mental Health Day, the Institute would like to express our gratitude to Gift of Life Donor Program’s social workers whose daily work includes helping donor families and sharing their knowledge with our OPO colleagues. We are grateful to have you as part of the team. #worldmentalhealthday2024

Peer support programs can be an integral tool for maintaining the health of an OPO team. Recently, faculty member Jennifer Timar had the opportunity to talk with Dr. Joanne Krug, a psychologist and founding member of the Eastern PA Regional Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) team. You can read more about their discussion regarding CISM here: https://lnkd.in/e9_rr3Kc

Happy World Teachers' Day to our incredible Faculty members at Gift of Life Institute. We want to recognize their profound impact on donation and transplantation professionals' educational development. Every day, we are inspired by their hard work and dedication in improving donation and transplantation education worldwide. #organdonationsaveslives

We would like to thank our colleagues at Legacy Donor Services Foundation for inviting us to be a partner in educating their team and to Gift of Life Institute faculty Jennifer Timar for helping them to advance their mission of “connecting individuals through the acceptance of a loving gift that can be cherished by those in need.” The primary objectives for September “Fundamentals and Foundations of Dual Advocacy” workshops were to: 1) identify, discuss, and apply the core concepts and fundamental conversational elements of Dual Advocacy in a variety of scenarios; 2) utilize effective transition statements, both designated and non-designated, and; 3) use story and inspirational information to offer donation to families in a way in which they might find meaning in saying yes.   If you’d like to learn more about Gift of Life Institute’s offerings for your team, please reach out at info@giftoflifeinstitute.org.

Please join us in congratulating Robert Norden, Senior Instructional Curriculum Designer, on 13 years with the Institute. Bob shares, “Working at the Institute has made me appreciate these words of wisdom from Mahatma Ghandi even more: ‘Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.’” Bob, we appreciate your talent in developing our educational materials which help others to learn and save lives! 

Please join us in congratulating Jennifer Timar for 20 years of service to Gift of Life! Jen shares, “When I embarked on my nursing career several decades ago, I could never have envisioned the journey leading me to where I stand today. At the onset of my career with the Gift of Life Donor Program, I grappled with comprehending the intricate process of organ procurement and transplantation. Like many, I sought a vocation that imbued me with a profound sense of purpose. Transitioning into the role of a transplant coordinator, I have grown into a medical professional affecting tangible change. Presently, as a faculty member at the Gift of Life Institute, I am wholeheartedly committed to honing the expertise of colleagues in the organ procurement sphere. The profound insights provided by donors, recipients, and their families have been a privilege to assimilate and disseminate, extending their enduring legacies and connecting us all in a larger mission.” Jen, we truly value your expertise and are so grateful to have you as part of our team.

In honor of World Gratitude Day, we at the Institute are grateful for many things. We are grateful for our talented and dedicated team members and collaborators, and especially grateful to our colleagues who invite us to partner in educating their teams. We are honored to partner in educating such an array of devoted professionals who save lives every day. #organdonationsaveslives