In recognition of National Donate Life Month in April, Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital is highlighting its strong commitment to organ and tissue donation through outstanding participation in LifeLink® of Georgia’s Pediatric Donation Symposium. Seven Phoebe team members joined nearly 60 healthcare professionals from across the state for this important educational event recently, reinforcing the hospital’s dedication to compassionate, collaborative donation practices.

The symposium brought together both in-person and virtual attendees for a day focused on strengthening partnerships between hospitals and LifeLink to ensure every potential donation opportunity is recognized and handled with the highest level of care, compassion, and respect for patients and their families. Phoebe’s strong representation reflected the organization’s dedication to education, teamwork, and excellence in patient-centered care.

“This type of learning opportunity is essential to ensuring our teams are prepared to support families during incredibly difficult moments. Participation in events like this reinforces our commitment to honoring patients’ wishes and saving lives through donation,” said Deb Angerami, Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital CEO.

The program was chaired by Dr. Nga Pham, Pediatric Intensivist at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Arthur M. Blank Hospital, whose leadership guided meaningful discussions among multidisciplinary healthcare teams. Under her direction, participants explored the pediatric donation process, best practices for identifying potential donors, and the importance of timely, clear communication between hospital staff and LifeLink coordinators.

Throughout the day, sessions emphasized how collaboration between hospitals and LifeLink supports families through end-of-life decisions while maintaining the highest standards of clinical care. Attendees examined the different pathways for organ and tissue donation, and the critical role hospital teams play in ensuring a compassionate, respectful process from start to finish.

The educational discussions also highlighted the growing national need for organ donation. Every eight minutes, another person is added to the transplant waiting list. More than 100,000 people in the United States are currently waiting for a lifesaving transplant. Tragically, approximately 5,600 people die each year while waiting, equating to 13 lives lost every day. One organ donor, however, can save up to eight lives, restore sight to two individuals through cornea donation, and help heal up to 75 people through tissue donation.

“Education and collaboration are essential to ensuring every potential donor opportunity is recognized and honored. This symposium allowed healthcare professionals to deepen their understanding of the donation process while reinforcing our shared mission to save and heal lives through organ and tissue donation,” said Kim Kottemann, Professional Programs Liaison.

LifeLink of Georgia is the federally designated organ procurement organization partnering with hospitals across Georgia to facilitate organ donation and transplantation. Through continued collaboration and education, LifeLink and healthcare organizations like Phoebe remain dedicated to honoring donor decisions and supporting families with compassion and integrity.

For more information about organ and tissue donation, contact LifeLink of Georgia at (800) 544-6667 or visit www.LifeLinkFoundation.org.