Experts in health, policy, academia, faith-based organizations, and the corporate world will share the latest information on the necessity for organ and tissue donation among women in America. This one day Summit will take place at the Hubert H. Humphrey Building in Washington, DC, from 8:30am - 4:15pm.

While medical advances now enable more than 22,000 Americans per year to receive organ transplants that save or enhance their lives, not enough organs are available to help everyone in need. As a result, about 5,500 people die in the U.S. each year - about 15 every day - while waiting for a donated kidney, liver, heart, lung, or other organ. Today, more than 82,000 people are on the national organ transplant waiting list.

Although most Americans indicate they support organ donation, only about 50 percent of families asked to donate a loved one's organs agree to do so. Moreover, thousands of opportunities to donate are missed each year for two primary reasons: (1) families are unaware of their loved ones wishes and (2) potential donors are not identified for organ donation and their families are never asked. Focusing on known barriers to donation, HHS is taking action to achieve substantial increases in donation and transplantation.

This Summit is one of many important programs sponsored by the OWH, which was designed to promote women's health through research, health care services, and health education. The OWH has worked to be responsive to Secretary Tommy Thompson's "Gift of Life Donation Initiative" designed to make Americans aware of the need for organ, tissue, marrow, and blood donation with the intention of creating a "donation friendly America."

If you have additional questions, please feel free to contact Mary Rhoads at 202-414-0775 or via email at mrhoads@susandavis.com.

Click here to view the agenda

Click here to read NWHIC's FAQ on Organ Donation.