Governing Board Officers:
Chair: Warren R. Maley, MD, Nicoletti Family Professor of Transplantation Surgery Surgical Director, Live Donor Liver Transplantation, Jefferson Health
Dr. Maley serves as the director of the Jefferson Transplant Institute, Division of Transplantation and Live Donor Liver Transplant Program at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital. He is also the Nicoletti Family Professor of Transplantation Surgery at Jefferson Medical College and surgical director of the Liver Transplant Program. Dr. Maley has performed extensive research in the fields of liver transplantation and surgical therapy to improve patient safety and care. He is a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society, the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, the American Society of Transplantation and the American Society of Transplant Surgery.
Dr. Maley received Doctor of Medicine and Bachelor of Science degrees from the University of Pittsburgh. He has published research studies in such leading journals as Transplant Proceedings, Transplantation, Liver Transplantation and Annals of Surgery, and he has authored or co-authored eight book chapters.
Vice Chair: Linda Barrasse, MD, Donor Mom, Cardiologist with Lankenau Heart Group, Main Line Health
Dr. Barrasse has worked in private practice as a cardiologist in Scranton, Pennsylvania since 1987. Active in local and national organizations, she serves as a cardiology expert for the Pennsylvania Chapter of the American College of Cardiology. She is a fellow of the American College of Cardiology (FACC) and a fellow of the American College of Physicians (FACP). Her special interests involve non-invasive aspects of cardiology, as well as cardiovascular issues surrounding pregnancy.
Dr. Barrasse is a graduate of the School of Medicine at Jefferson Medical College. She completed her internship and residency in internal medicine, as well as a fellowship in cardiology at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital. Dr. Barrasse is also a donor mother and strong advocate for organ donation. Her son, Cody, was fatally struck by a car in the midst of protecting a friend. Cody was able to save many lives through his generosity as an organ and tissue donor.
Immediate Past Chair: Barbara Wadsworth, DNP, MBA, RN, FAAN, FNAP, FACHE, Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer, Main Line Health
Ms. Wadsworth has more than 26 years of experience in nursing and has held a variety of leadership and management positions in Virginia and Pennsylvania. She received a Doctorate in Nursing Practice in health systems leadership from Vanderbilt University.
Ms. Wadsworth recently completed the Robert Wood Johnson Nurse Executive Fellows program and was appointed as an Academy of Healthcare Executives Fellow. She is a member of the American Nurses Association, PA State Nurses Association, Sigma Theta Tau and the American Organization of Nurse Executives. She has also served on the board of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Organization of Nurse Leaders, the Immaculata University MSN Advisory Board, the La Salle Nursing and Allied Professionals Board and the Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau Nursing Leadership Committee.
Secretary & Treasurer: Margaret A. Belfield, BSN, MSN, Former Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer, AtlantiCare, member of Geisinger Health System
Ms. Belfield was the chief operating officer of AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Ms. Belfield previously served as vice president and administrator of AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center’s City Campus, where she provided oversight for the building of the George F. Lynn Harmony Pavilion, the Level II Trauma Center and the Emergency Center. She has also overseen the clinical operations of AtlantiCare’s Special Care Center (SCC).
Ms. Belfield earned a Master of Science degree in nursing administration from San Diego State University and has a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing from Northern Michigan University.
Honorary Chairman & Co-Founder: Clyde F. Barker, MD, Chairman Emeritus, Department of Surgery and Transplant Surgeon, Professor of Surgery, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Co-Founder, Greater Delaware Valley Society of Transplant Surgeons
Dr. Barker initiated the transplant program at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (HUP) in 1966 and helped build it into the largest program in the area. Dr. Barker’s recognitions include the presidency and the Medallion for Scientific Achievement of the American Surgical Association, and the presidency and the Pioneer Award of the American Society of Transplant Surgeons. He has served as chairman of Gift of Life Donor Program’s Governing Board four times since 1974.
In 2010, Dr. Barker received the Medawar Prize from the International Transplant Society. In 2009, Dr. Barker received the Lifetime Achievement Award of the Society of the University Surgeons and the Thomas E. Starzl Prize in Surgery and Immunology of the Starzl Institute at the University of Pittsburgh. He has authored more than 400 scientific papers.
Governing Board Members:
Lynn Fallon, President and Co-Founder, CTI Clinical Trial and Consulting Services
Ms. Fallon is president & co-founder of CTI Clinical Trial and Consulting Services. She has over 30 years of clinical, academic and industry experience. Since starting CTI, Ms. Fallon has led the development and expansion of the company, including having responsibility for all aspects of the Global Regulatory & Scientific Affairs, Medical Affairs and Real World Evidence Departments.
Ms. Fallon supports many other business units, including the training department, clinical team, business development and proposal operations. Ms. Fallon’s teams support clients through regulatory authorities, clinical programs and commercialization.
Prior to CTI, Ms. Fallon held positions at both Wyeth Pharmaceuticals and Fujisawa Healthcare, and she held clinical positions at Albert Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia, including serving as transplant administrator, transplant coordinator and clinician. Ms. Fallon is currently a board member of multiple corporate and non-profit organizations. Ms. Fallon received her Bachelor of Science in nursing from the University of the State of New York.
Timmy Nelson, Kidney Recipient and Gift of Life Ambassador
Mr. Nelson has been a member of the Medical Advisory & Policy Board since 2020. Mr. Nelson has assisted with outreach in the community by speaking at events like the Fatherhood Conference at Community College of Philadelphia, conferences at houses of worship, student summits for local high school students, and social media events such as town hall health forums co-hosted with iHeart Media. In April, he traveled to Washington, D.C. with Gift of Life staff to speak to government officials on the importance of supporting measures on behalf of organ and tissue donation awareness. In addition to sharing his story so that more people will be inspired to register as organ and tissue donors, Mr. Nelson also educates patients in dialysis facilities about getting listed on the transplant waiting list with Quality Insights Renal Network 4. As an active volunteer at the Gift of Life Donor Program, Mr. Nelson has displayed great work ethic, compassion and dedication.
Niels D. Martin, MD, FACS, FCCM, Vice Chair for Diversity & Inclusion, Dept. of Surgery, Section Chief, Surgical Critical Care Program Director, Traumatology & Surgical Critical Care Fellowships University of Penna. Medical Ctr. — PENN Medicine
Dr. Martin is Vice Chair for Diversity & Inclusion in the Department of Surgery, Section Chief of Surgical Critical Care, Program Director for the Traumatology & Surgical Critical Care Fellowships, and an Associate Professor in Surgery at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Martin also serves as Medical Director of the Trauma & Surgical Intensive Care Unit at the Penn Presbyterian Medical Center. He is a board-certified Diplomat of the American Board of Surgery for both Surgery and Surgical Critical Care, as well as a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and a Fellow of the American College of Critical Care Medicine.
Dr. Martin received his undergraduate degree from Rutgers University and his Doctor of Medicine degree from Robert Wood Johnson Medical School at Rutgers University. After completing a general surgery residency at Thomas Jefferson University and a fellowship in traumatology and surgical critical care at the University of Pennsylvania, Dr. Martin spent five years on the faculty at Thomas Jefferson University prior to his current faculty appointment at Penn.
Statement from Dr. Martin, “I have clinical, educational, and research interests that involve caring for injured and critically ill surgical patients. More specifically, I focus on innovating clinical trials and outcomes research in clinical efficacy, quality, and safety. In these endeavors, I have served as primary investigator in numerous clinical trials and performed extensive retrospective outcomes work. I have partnered with many collaborators including outside institutions, foundations, and industry. I have been formally included in over 15 funded grants, many as primary investigator. I have presented my research work to numerous national & international organizations and published in a variety of prominent medical journals. Currently, I have over 100 peer-reviewed publications.”
David J. Reich, MD, FACS, Chief, Multiorgan Transplantation and Hepatobiliary Surgery, Professor and Vice Chair of Surgery, Drexel University, College of Medicine
Dr. Reich is director of the Tower Health Transplant Institute, system chief of Multiorgan Transplant and Hepatobiliary Surgery at Tower Health and professor of surgery at Drexel University College of Medicine. He specializes in liver and kidney transplant and complex liver surgery and tumor treatments.
Dr. Reich is a recognized clinician, administrator, educator and scientist. He has published extensively and lectured internationally, including on pioneering organ donation after cardiac death and machine perfusion technologies for organ preservation. He is an authority on healthcare governance and practice, spanning QI, healthcare economics, strategic and leadership development, legislative/regulatory advocacy and medical education/training.
Dr. Reich was treasurer and chaired the Finance Committee of the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) from 2017 to 2019, which is an organization that manages the U.S. organ transplant enterprise under federal contract. He has served at UNOS for many years, including as a member of the Board of Directors and Executive Committee, chair of the IT Committee, Region 2 councilor, and member of the Corporate Affairs, Membership and Professional Standards, and Liver Transplant Committees. He chaired the American Society of Transplant Surgeons Legislative and Standards Committees and the Quality and Pay Reform MACRA Task Force, and served on the Fellowship Training and Workforce Committees. He chaired the Surgery Committee of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases and served on the Steering, Education and Scientific Program Committees. He is a member of the Board of Directors of Transplant Recipients International Organization.
Dr. Reich earned a BA from Columbia University and MD from McGill University. He performed his surgical residency at Beth Israel Medical Center and transplant surgery fellowship at the Mount Sinai Recanati Miller Transplant Institute. He is certified by the American Board of Surgery, is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, and is a Castle Connolly Philly Magazine Top Doc for 2010 through 2021.
Diane Wilson, Chief Operating Officer, Tissue Services, Community Tissue Services (CTS)
Mrs. Wilson received her associate degree in nursing from Everett Community College in Everett, Washington and later earned her Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in nursing and health from the University of Phoenix.
Mrs. Wilson’s work in tissue banking began in 1988 through Community Tissue Services (CTS). In 2005, she was honored with the prestigious Kenneth Sell Award which is given to individuals who have made a significant contribution to the field of tissue banking. In 2009, Mrs. Wilson was elected president of AATB. She is currently the chairman of the Board for the Joint Restoration Foundation (JRF). She has co-authored tissue bank standards for the Association of Orthopedic Nurses (AORN) and the American Association of Blood Banks (AABB).
President and CEO
Richard Hasz, Jr., MFS, CPTC, President & CEO, Gift of Life Donor Program
Mr. Hasz leads the largest and one of the oldest organ procurement organizations in the U.S. He began working at the organization in 1993 as a transplant coordinator, went on to serve as vice president of clinical services for 22 years and assumed this role on January 4, 2022. Mr. Hasz is also the president of Gift of Life Howie’s House and Gift of Life Transplant Foundation.
Read Richard Hasz, Jr.’s full bio here.
Medical Advisory and Policy Board Leadership:
Chair: Peter Lalli, PhD, Director, HLA, Atrium Labs, Director, Donor and Product Testing Laboratory, Eurofins Labs Director, Director, Histocompatibility Laboratory, Lehigh Valley Health Network
Dr. Lalli received his doctorate in immunology from Case Western Reserve University where he studied the role of complement proteins in T cell activation during transplant rejection. He went on to complete a fellowship in histocompatibility testing at Allogen Laboratories at Cleveland Clinic. After completing his fellowship, he moved to Philadelphia to work with LABS, Inc. and the Gift of Life Donor Program, running the HLA and infectious disease testing laboratory. In 2013, Dr. Lalli became the director of the histocompatibility and flow cytometry laboratories at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. He also serves as the director for the histocompatibility laboratory at Lehigh Valley Hospital in Allentown, Pennsylvania. In addition to his clinical roles, Dr. Lalli is the chairman for the UNOS/OPTN Histocompatibility Committee.
Vice Chair: Michael Marvin, MD, Chair, Department of Transplantation and Liver Surgery, Geisinger Medical Center
Dr. Marvin currently leads the liver and kidney transplant program at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville. He earned his medical degree from the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Columbia University. He completed his residency in general surgery and a fellowship in transplant and hepatobiliary surgery, both at Columbia University Irving Medical Center.
Dr. Marvin has published more than 60 papers and book chapters, and he serves as clinical professor of surgery at the Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine in Scranton. He has held many leadership positions in national societies, including but not limited to: the American Society of Transplant Surgeons, United Network for Organ Sharing and American Society of Transplantation.
Christian Bermudez, MD, Immediate Past Chair, Chief of Thoracic Transplantation, University of Pennsylvania
Dr. Bermudez has been on the faculty of the University of Pittsburgh since 2006 and was chief of cardiothoracic transplantation from 2013 through 2015. His research has focused on methods to improve organ preservation for cardiothoracic transplantation and the study of short-midterm cardiopulmonary support systems to be used as a bridge to cardiopulmonary transplantation. He has published 88 peer reviewed papers and received his medical degree from the University of Concepción School of Medicine.
Representatives of Transplant Centers:
Matthew H. Levine, MD, Associate Professor of Surgery and Transplant Surgeon, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
Jason A. Rolls, MD, Associate Chief of Kidney Transplant, Christiana Medical Center
Dr. Rolls is certified by the American Board of Surgery and the American Society of Transplant Surgeons and is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons.
Dr. Rolls earned his MD from Columbia University. He went on to complete his residency in general surgery at Cornell Campus of The New York Presbyterian Hospital and returned to Columbia for his transplant surgery training. Prior to joining ChristianaCare, Dr. Rolls served as a transplant surgeon in Detroit, Michigan
Nikolaos Chandolias, MD, Surgeon, Transplant Specialist, Einstein Healthcare Center
A graduate of the University of Athens Medical School, Dr. Chandolias was trained in general surgery at Rhode Island Hospital/Brown University and Albany Medical College and subsequently completed a multi-organ transplant surgery fellowship at University of Minnesota. After joining the faculty at Albany Medical College, Dr. Chandolias had primary involvement in the establishment of a pancreas transplant program.
He has been involved in clinical transplant outcome research in the field of pancreas transplantation and is currently completing a Master of Public Health (MPH) program with the University of Massachusetts focusing on the socioeconomic impact of renal living donation. Dr. Chandolias is a multi-organ transplant surgeon in the field of kidney, liver and pancreas.
Vice Chair: Michael Marvin, MD, Chair, Department of Transplantation and Liver Surgery, Geisinger Medical Center (see above)
Adam Bodzin, MD, Assistant Professor, Transplant Surgery, Jefferson Health
Dr. Bodzin focuses on abdominal organ transplantation including liver, kidney and pancreas transplantation. He is also involved in research and has focused much of his interest on hepatocellular carcinoma with current ongoing research studies. Additionally, he is the assistant program director for the General Surgery Program and focuses a significant portion of time in resident education. He is currently a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and is a member of the American Society of Transplant Surgeons as well as the Americas Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association.
Dr. Bodzin received his Bachelor of Arts from Cornell University and his Doctor of Medicine from Boston University. He has published his research in a number of leading journals such as Hepatology, Liver Transplantation, Annals of Surgery and Journal of Cellular Physiology.
Jamie M. Glorioso, MD, Asst. Professor of Surgery, Lankenau Medical Center
Dr. Glorioso is an abdominal transplant surgeon at Lankenau Medical Center and is an assistant professor in the Division of Transplantation at Thomas Jefferson University. Her clinical practice focuses on liver, kidney and pancreas transplantation as well as hepatobiliary surgery. Dr. Glorioso received her Bachelor of Science in biology at the University of Mary Washington prior to attending medical school at the University of Toledo. She completed her general surgery training at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota and her abdominal transplant fellowship at Johns Hopkins. She is a member of the American Society of Transplant Surgeons serving on the Pipeline Taskforce. She has published over 20 peer reviewed manuscripts and 5 book chapters. Her research is found in leading journals including Liver Transplantation, Journal of Hepatology and American Journal of Transplantation. Her research has focused on artificial liver support for treatment of acute liver failure and transplantation of Hepatitis C positive organs to seronegative recipients.
Christine Du, MD, FACS, Transplant Surgeon, Lehigh Valley Hospital
Dr. Du’s focus and expertise is in living kidney donation, kidney transplantation, minimally invasive nephrectomy and peritoneal and hemodialysis access. Dr. Du received her undergraduate degree from the University of Rochester and her MD from Drexel University. She completed her residency program at Lehigh Valley Hospital and her fellowship in abdominal organ transplant and hepatobiliary surgery at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. Dr. Du is board certified by the American Board of Surgery.
Claude A. Beaty, Jr., MD, Pediatric Cardiology, Thoracic Surgery, Nemours A.I. duPont Hospital for Children
Dr. Beaty is a congenital cardiothoracic surgeon. He earned his medical degree from Johns Hopkins University and completed his residency program in general surgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital. He later completed his residency in thoracic surgery at The University of Michigan Department of Surgery and residency in congenital surgery at The University of Michigan C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital. He has published over 25 peer reviewed manuscripts. Dr. Beaty has previously been honored with The Irene Piccinini Investigator in Cardiac Surgery and William Stewart Halsted Award.
Balakrishnan Mahesh, MD, Associate Professor of Surgery, Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center
Sunil Karhadkar, MD, FACS Associate Professor of Surgery and Transplant Surgeon, St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children
Dr. Karhadkar earned his medical degree from University of Mumbai. He completed residency programs in surgery and urology at King Edward Memorial Hospital in Mumbai, India. Dr. Karhadkar later completed a surgery residency at Sinai Hospital of Baltimore and transplant surgery fellowship at University of Maryland. He is board certified by the American Board of Surgery and the American Society of Transplant Surgeons.
He has received more than 20 academic honors and awards and is a member of multiple professional organizations including the American Society of Transplant Surgeons, the American Society of Transplantation and the American Association of Academic Surgeons.
Norihisa Shigemura, MD, PhD, Surgical Director of Lung Transplantation, Temple University Medical Center
Dr. Shigemura’s daily practice involves the care of the sickest patients with advanced lung failure. His research and clinical interests are both focused on improving outcomes and developing new therapeutic concepts for patients with advanced lung failure by using not only surgical techniques or evolving technologies, but also regenerative medicine, stem cell therapy and tissue engineering. He is an active teacher of residents and fellows and has also lectured nationally and internationally on surgical techniques used in lung transplantation, management for highly complicated patients with advanced lung failure and pre- and post-transplant.
In 2016, Dr. Shigemura received the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Research Award for the innovative work of dual ex vivo lung perfusion technique using human lungs. He is a frequent reviewer for the American Journal of Transplantation, Journal of Heart and Lung Transplantation and Annals of Thoracic Surgery. He is also currently the Associate Editor of Transplant International which is an official journal of the European Society of Organ Transplantation (ESOT) where he is in charge of cardiopulmonary diseases in clinical and basic science.
Throughout his career as a researcher and clinician, Dr. Shigemura has been consistently passionate for breaking through the current limitations and innovating new treatments for advanced lung failure. He trusts his outstanding efforts will continue to advance the teaching, research and service missions in clinical chest medicine and ultimately improve patient care and human life.
Christian Bermudez, MD, Immediate Past Chair, Chief, Thoracic Transplant Surgery, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center (see above)
Manish Gupta, MD, Associate Surgical Director, UPMC Pinnacle-Harrisburg Hospital
Categories of Representation:
Hospital Administrators:
Charles Barbera, MD, MBA, MPH, FACEP, President & CEO, Reading Hospital – Tower Health System
Dr. Barbera is board certified in emergency medicine, and was named to Becker’s Hospital Review 2023 list of “Physician Leaders to Know” for his dedication to improving and optimizing healthcare in our community. Dr. Barbera has more than 25 years of experience in senior clinical and executive roles within the Tower Health system.
As president and CEO of the 714-bed Reading Hospital, he oversees hospital operations, clinical outcomes, employee and physician engagement, and community service. Dr. Barbera played a pivotal role in developing Reading Hospital’s trauma center, community paramedic program, pediatric emergency department, psychiatric emergency department, and telemedicine efforts.
He has received the Berks County Medical Society William J. Alexander Award for Contributions to Medicine and Community Service and has served as president of the Pennsylvania College of Emergency Physicians and the Berks County Medical Society.
Kimberly Talley, MSN, RN, CRNP, Vice President, Patient Care Services, Inspira Health
Kimberly Talley is vice president of Patient Care Services for Inspira Medical Centers Vineland and Elmer, Inspira Health Center Bridgeton, and Inspira Health Center Woodbury’s inpatient behavioral health program.
Talley brings a wealth of clinical and leadership experience to Inspira, with particular expertise in strategic development, operations, evidence-based practices, lean principles, the science of high reliability, and partnerships. Her focus on delivering patient-centric care and elevating the patient experience fully align with Inspira’s strategic initiatives.
Talley most recently served as the vice president of Patient Care Services for the Christiana Care Health System in Delaware, including its Level I Trauma Center Newark campus, and Level III Trauma center Wilmington campus. From 2004 to 2012, Talley served as director of surgical services for Hahnemann University Hospital in Philadelphia.
Talley earned her Bachelor of Science in nursing at Medical College of Pennsylvania/ Hahnemann University Hospital and her Master of Science in nursing at Drexel University in Philadelphia. She is an advanced practice nurse practitioner and a Fellow of The Healthcare Management Academy. Talley previously served as adjunct clinical nursing faculty at the Drexel University College of Nursing and Health Professions, and the Community College of Philadelphia.
Lanyce Roldan, MSN, RN, Executive Director, Medicine Service Line, Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health
Ms. Roldan provides strategic leadership for the organizational structure, operations, program development, staffing requirements, productivity and quality management for nursing care delivery within the health system. Ms. Roldan joined Lancaster General Hospital in 1971 as a staff nurse and was tapped progressively for nurse manager and leadership roles in her more than 35 years with the health system. Most recently in the role of interim nursing officer, Ms. Roldan enhanced LG Health’s nursing leadership’s relationship with counterparts at Penn Medicine and led collaborative efforts to increase the overall quality and coordination of care.
Ms. Roldan, who holds a BSN from the Indiana University of Pennsylvania and a master’s degree in health systems management from the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, works closely with senior management to advance clinical quality throughout LG Health.
Voluntary Health Organization
Brian W. Frazee, President & CEO, Delaware Healthcare Association (DHA)
Mr. Frazee’s unique blend of experience spans political, policy, advocacy, and association leadership. In his role as president of DHA, he works with the First State’s hospitals, health systems, and healthcare-related organizations to tackle complex challenges facing healthcare and to advance the well-being of Delaware’s communities through innovation, collaboration, and excellence.
He most recently served as Vice President of Government Affairs for the Maryland Hospital Association (MHA), where he led advocacy efforts on behalf of Maryland’s 60 hospitals and health systems for eight years.
Prior to joining MHA, Frazee served as Director of Public Policy for the Maryland Association of Community Services, an association of more than 100 nonprofit providers supporting people with developmental disabilities.
He also served as an Associate with an Annapolis-based lobbying firm, worked in the office of a Maryland Senate Chairman, and managed the Southern Maryland Democratic Coordinated Campaign in 2010. His leadership in Maryland’s advocacy community led him to being elected President of the Maryland Government Relations Association.
Tissue/Eye Bank:
George Herrera, Vice President, Donor Services, MTF Biologics
Mr. Herrera is vice president of donor services for MTF Biologics. His primary responsibility is to oversee the services that MTF Biologics provides to its recovery partners (organ procurement organizations and tissue banks, both domestically and internationally) that work with MTF Biologics to provide allograft tissue services to their communities. He is also responsible for the four tissue recovery programs that MTF Biologics operates, as well as overseeing its donor screening and acceptance operations, birth tissue donation program, donation communications and public/media relations, and the Donation Board of Trustees.
In 2021, George begins his twenty-eighth year in the field of organ and tissue donation and transplantation and his thirty-first year in non-profit management. He has held leadership positions in various organizations in the field, including the American Association of Tissue Banks and Association of Organ Procurement Organizations. George’s education includes a Bachelor of Science in marketing and management from Tulane University and a Master of Business Administration from the University of New Orleans.
ICU or Emergency Room:
Michael G. Benninghoff, DO, Medical Director, Wilmington ICU and Critical Care Medicine, Christiana Care Health System
Dr. Benninghoff graduated from Muhlenberg College in Allentown, Pennsylvania with a bachelor’s degree in biology and natural sciences before attending Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine to complete his Master of Science in biomedical sciences and physiology. Dr. Benninghoff continued his medical education at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine earning his medical degree in 2001. During his internal medicine residency at Abington Memorial Hospital in Abington, Pennsylvania, he served as chief resident in his third year. He went on to complete a pulmonary/critical care fellowship at Penn State College of Medicine, Milton S. Hershey Medical Center in Hershey, Pennsylvania in 2005.
Dr. Benninghoff is board certified in internal medicine, critical care medicine and pulmonary medicine. His professional memberships include the American College of Chest Physicians, Society of Critical Care Medicine, American College of Physicians, American Osteopathic Association and the American Thoracic Society.
Dr. Benninghoff joined Christiana Care in 2008 and is currently the medical director for the Wilmington Hospital Intensive Care Unit. He was the recipient of the Physician Ambassador Award for the Wilmington Hospital ICU in both 2010 and 2012 and has received awards for teaching including the Specialist of the Year Teaching Award in 2010 and the Clinical Pearls Teaching Award in 2011.
Steven Zanders, DO, FCCP Medical Director of Neurocritical, Neuroendovascular and Stroke Care, Associate Medical Director, ICU UPMC-Central
Steve Zanders is Medical Director of Neurocritical, Neuroendovascular and Stroke Care as well as Associate Medical Director of Intensive Care Medicine (ICU) Systems at UPMC-Central. Dr. Zanders is board-certified in Neurocritical Care, Critical Care, and Internal Medicine with a certificate of completion in critical care ultrasound and basic echocardiography.
Dr. Zanders has spent more than 18 years in critical care as a bedside intensivist and in various administrative and leadership roles. He has been instrumental in the development of advanced resuscitation protocols and helped to develop several critical care Programs as well as organ donor management programs. He is the medical liaison for organ donation services at UPMC-Central.
Steve has received several awards for teaching and patient care. He is the author of several publications and chapters involving critical care themes. His areas of interest are medical and nursing education and mentoring, protocols, and procedures development, OB/GYN and Neurologic/Neurosurgical critical care as well as ventricular assist devices.
Some of his interests and passions are exercising with his wife—swimming and cycling, as well as spending time with his family.
Neuroscience Field:
Jacqueline S. Urtecho, MD, Assistant Professor, Neurointensive Care, Depts. Neurology and Neurological Surgery, Div. of Neurotrauma and Critical Care, Jefferson Health
Dr. Urtecho is a neurointensivist in the Division of Neurotrauma and Critical Care at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital and an assistant professor within the departments of Neurological Surgery and Neurology at Sidney Kimmel Medical College within Thomas Jefferson University. In addition to her duties as a neurointensivist, she is a tele-consultant for the Jefferson Tele-Stroke and Tele-ICU programs.
Dr. Urtecho received her Doctor of Medicine degree from Temple University, where she stayed to complete her residency in neurology. She went on to complete her fellowship in neurointensive care at Thomas Jefferson University where she continued as faculty upon graduation. She is an active member of the Neurocritical Care Society, Society of Critical Care Medicine, American Academy of Neurology and the American Heart Association. Dr. Urtecho has co-authored five book chapters and is currently involved in research concerning neuroprognostication after cardiac arrest and brain death. Her collaborative research has been presented at the International Stroke Conference, the Annual Meetings of the American Academy of Neurology and Neurocritical Care Society and has been published within critical care medicine, neurosurgery, and neurocritical care journals.
Histocompatibility Field:
Peter Lalli, PhD, Chair, Director, HLA, Atrium Labs, Director, Donor and Product Testing Laboratory, Eurofins Labs Director, Director, Histocompatibility Laboratory, Lehigh Valley Health Network (see above)
Public:
Cherri Gregg, Esq., WHYY Radio Host
Cherri Gregg is an afternoon drive host/news anchor for WHYY radio. Prior to her current position, the award-winning journalist covered civil rights, social justice, race and public affairs issues impacting marginalized communities in the Greater Philadelphia region and spent nearly a decade on air at KYW Newsradio. She served as the station’s Community Affairs reporter and was the creator, host and executive of the weekly syndicated radio show and podcast, Flashpoint with Cherri Gregg. Under her leadership, the show earned two regional Edward R. Murrow Awards in 2021. Cherri, who is also a licensed attorney, is a past president of the Philadelphia Association of Black Journalists. She is also a founding Board Member of the Law & Justice Journalism Project.
Gary L. Collins, MD, Chief Medical Examiner, Delaware Medical Examiners’ Office
Dr. Collins is the chief medical examiner for the State of Delaware in the Medical Examiner Unit of the Delaware Division of Forensic Science. He has held that position since October 2014.
Dr. Collins was born in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. He is a graduate of the Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of the West Indies in Kingston, Jamaica. He completed his residency in anatomic and clinical pathology at the University of South Florida College of Medicine in Tampa, Florida. Dr. Collins then moved to the Philadelphia area where he did his fellowship in forensic pathology at the Philadelphia Medical Examiner’s Office. He then spent 7 years at the Philadelphia Medical Examiner’s office, in the role of assistant medical examiner, and later on was promoted to the position of deputy chief medical examiner. During his time in Philadelphia, Dr. Collins was active in teaching medical students, interns and pathology residents and held adjunct faculty appointments with the Drexel University Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine. He is board certified in anatomic pathology, clinical pathology and forensic pathology and is active in continuing certification. He is an advocate for the advancement of forensic pathology and takes every opportunity to encourage students to enter the field of medicolegal death investigation and forensic pathology.
Organ Donor Family Member or Living Donor:
Markita Lewis, Donor Mom
Markita Lewis is a proud donor mother. In June 2014, her 13-year-old son Marquis Wood had an asthma attack and was able to save three lives through organ donation. Markita has been able to meet all three of her son’s recipients: Noah, the heart recipient, Nathan, the liver/kidney recipient and Keith, the other kidney recipient. Markita has served as the chairperson of Hearts of Gold, Gift of Life’s Donor Family Support Group, for the past 3 years where she welcomes new donor families and makes a safe space for them to cry, laugh and share stories about their loved ones. Markita lives in Philadelphia. She is also the proud mother of Amaya, Kyon and grandson Kysir Marquis.
Individuals awaiting organ transplant or organ recipient or family member of either:
Joseph Gargiulo, Liver & Kidney Transplant Recipient, Former Director of Secondary Education, West Shore School District, Lemoyne, PA
Diagnosed with polycystic kidney disease in 1993, Mr. Gargiulo was forced to go on dialysis while serving as the school principal of West Shore High School.
He received his first kidney transplant in 1997. In 2003, Mr. Gargiulo received his second kidney transplant and a liver transplant. Both took place at Hershey Medical Center.
As a result of his transplants, Mr. Gargiulo is in good health and lives every day to the fullest. He and his wife enjoy being new grandparents, a job he never would have been able to experience without organ donation. Mr. Gargiulo volunteers for the Boy Scouts, is a church cantor and participates in local theater productions. In all that he does, he incorporates his advocacy for organ donation.
Lynette S. Luckers, EdD, LPC, NCC, Founder & President, Marion Luckers Kidney Foundation, Family Member, Advocate, Delaware County Community College, Dean of Counseling & Completion
Lynette S. Luckers is the founder and president of the Marion Luckers Kidney Foundation. She created the non-profit in 2011 after losing her mother in 2009 to renal kidney failure. Her mother battled diabetes for almost 20 years and succumbed to a heart attack two days after burying Lynette’s grandmother. Stress and grief can genuinely have an impact on one’s overall health. Lynette’s mother was a dialysis patient for over five years and was uninformed that she could be on the transplant list. Lynette took an active approach to educating herself about the transplant process and attempted to convince her mother to consider being placed on the transplant list. However, her mother’s health deteriorated, and the physicians did not believe her heart would sustain surgery. This ignited Lynette’s passion for spreading awareness about kidney disease prevention and supporting individuals and families coping with the diagnosis.
The Marion Luckers Kidney Foundation educates the public on kidney disease awareness and prevention, the organ donor process, and supporting research on kidney disease. The foundation supports family members who have a loved one suffering from kidney disease or who has lost a family member or a friend who suffered from this disease. Since 2017, the organization has provided 21 grant scholarships to graduating high school students in the Philadelphia surrounding area pursuing post-secondary education and to students currently attending Community College of Philadelphia.
Professionally, Lynette has 18 years of experience working in higher education and is currently the Dean of Counseling and Completion Services at Delaware County Community College. Previously, Lynette was the Acting Department Head of the Counseling Department and Associate Professor/Counselor at Community College of Philadelphia. She is a grief and recovery specialist and holds a certificate in personal coaching and trauma awareness. Lynette holds a Bachelor of Arts in social work from Bloomsburg University and a Master of Science in counseling with a concentration in college student personnel; she earned a Doctor of Education in administration and leadership at East Stroudsburg University. Lynette was the recipient of the Bloomsburg University Alumni Association’s Maroon and Gold Excellence Award, the American Association for Women in Community Colleges 40 under 40, and the KYW Newsradio Women’s Achievement Awards Rising Star Honoree.
Lynette is also a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., National Negro Council of Women, and a Ministry Leader at the Church of Christian Compassion in Philadelphia, PA. She served as the Gift of Life Donor Program Ambassador and a Patient Ambassador for Dialysis Patient Citizens. Lynette is passionate about educating multicultural communities about health disparities and working with young girls to cultivate their personal and social development.
Neal Stansbury, MD, Heart Transplant Recipient, Orthopedic Surgeon, Lehigh Valley Health Network
Dr. Stansbury is an Orthopedic Surgeon at Lehigh Valley Health Network, and routinely uses Tissue Allografts in his surgical practice. Dr. Stansbury serves as the Medical Director of the Outpatient Orthopedic Surgery Center at Lehigh Valley Health Network–Tilghman. He received a heart transplant in 2018 and has remained active with Gift of Life as a Volunteer Ambassador. Dr. Stansbury competed at the 2022 Transplant Games of America, winning a gold medal in cycling.
Dr. Stansbury holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of California, Irvine, and a Doctor of Medicine from Drexel University College of Medicine.