Howard Nathan, Gift of Life Donor Program CEO, Juniata College: “My transition from a young man around your age who had never even ridden a subway, let alone boarded an airplane, to someone whose work – and passion – have taken him to more than 30 countries, began in 1978. I happened to see an ad for this unusual-sounding job – organ transplant coordinator. I applied. I interviewed. I even offered to work the first three months for free, when I saw that the transplant surgeons I interviewed with weren’t really sure about me. I persevered – fought – for this job that combined my passion for medicine and people. … Suddenly my life was a 24/7 stream of phone calls, rapid response … and urgent coordination designed to recover organs and tissues from those whose lives had tragically ended so that others might miraculously live. A life, in other words, of second chances. … Congratulations to each one of you. And as you leave here today, ask yourself how many lives will you change? How many genuinely wonderful lives?”
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