Donation and Transplantation Update: Current Snapshot and Future Outlook

Diana Buck has spent 40 years in not-for-profit leadership roles, the past 20 years in the field of tissue banking. Currently, as the Senior Vice President of Tissue Donation Services at New England Donor Services, (formerly New England Organ Bank) Diana is committed to mentoring the next generation of leaders in her organization and beyond. Diana has been an active and engaged member of AATB, volunteering time in support of a variety of projects, maintaining her CTBS and as an elected member of the AATB Board of Governors since 2013.

Kathryn Colby, MD, PhD, is the Director of NYU Langone’s Eye Center and the Elisabeth J. Cohen, M.D. Professor of Ophthalmology and Chair of the Department of Ophthalmology at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine. Dr. Colby pioneered the Descemet stripping only (DSO) procedure for Fuchs dystrophy, which is the most common reason for a corneal transplant in the United States. DSO allows a patient’s own cells to rejuvenate their cornea, rather than relying on a donor cornea. In addition to her clinical work, Dr. Colby has authored more than 100 scientific studies and 7 books, and contributed chapters to 24 books. She lectures around the world on a variety of corneal topics. Dr. Colby has held leadership positions in several national and international societies and is currently serving as Vice Chair of the EBAA Research Committee. Dr. Colby is devoted to enhancing the status of women in ophthalmology.

President and CEO of the Eye Bank Association of America.

Donna Drury, MBA, CEBT, CTBS, is the Executive Director of the Transplant Services Center at The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, Texas.  She has over 28 years’ experience in eye and tissue banking and is certified as both an Eye Bank Technician and a Tissue Bank Specialist.  Her professional activities include current service to the Eye Bank Association of America as the Immediate Past Chair of the Board of Directors.  She has previously served as Chair of the Meetings Committee and Technician Education Committee, member of the Medical Advisory Board and the Accreditation Board as well as service on various other committees.  Ms. Drury holds a B.S. in Biology from Texas Woman’s University and an MBA in Healthcare Management from University of Dallas.

G. David Fleming joined Donate Life America as the organization’s Executive Director in February of 1998 and now serves as the corporation’s President and Chief Executive Officer. David is a graduate of the College of William & Mary and began his professional journey with a career in finance and accounting before gaining experience in advertising and public relations. Though David has worked in the field of organ, eye and tissue donation for over 20 years, his true understanding of the power of donation and transplantation did not come until his mother’s death in 2004 from acute liver failure.

Kelly Ranum is the Executive Director at Louisiana Organ Procurement Agency (LOPA), the organ procurement organization (OPO) for Louisiana. She began her OPO career as a recovery coordinator at LOPA and within five short years she named CEO. Ms. Ranum has held various active roles within AOPO as an Executive Committee Liaison to many of the councils as well as membership to the AOPO Legislative & Regulatory Affairs Committee and the Nominating Committee. She will serve a three-year term as President-Elect, President, and Immediate Past President, respectively.