Donor Alliance, the nonprofit organization saving and healing lives through organ and tissue donation and transplantation, announce Donor and 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.
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