Donate Life: Organ Donation and Transplant Experts

April is Donate Life Month, a time to honor the generosity of organ donors, celebrate the lives saved through transplantation and raise awareness about the life-saving difference organ donation makes. Across the nation, more than a 100,000 people are waiting for an organ transplant that could save or transform their lives. 

Here to talk with us about the importance of organ donation is Dr. Emily Joachim, a Froedtert & MCW transplant nephrologist. 

Why is organ donation so important? 

Organ donation is really important because it gives a lot of people a second chance at life. There are a lot of people with life-limiting, very serious medical conditions where transplant is either the only option or the best option for them. 

For someone who chooses to become an organ donor, what does that process look like? 

Yeah, so for someone who's looking to donate, it's a quite simple process. You can register to be an organ donor through your local DMV, through the Wisconsin State Registry or through the National Donate Life Registry. 

If you're interested in being a living donor, say donating a kidney, the process starts with a comprehensive evaluation with our team to make sure that kidney donation is a safe option for you. 

Why should someone choose the Transplant Center at Froedtert Hospital for their care? 

As one of only three transplant centers in Wisconsin, the Transplant Center at Froedtert Hospital is a nationally and locally recognized center for transplant. We have been doing transplants for over 50 years and we have a very comprehensive team that is able to take care of both donors and recipients and guide them through the entire process from pre-transplant or pre-donation through the surgery process and all of the follow-up and recovery. Doctor, thank you so much for being with us. For more information on organ donation and transplants, visit froedtert.com/donatelife.