Lifebanc

Our CEO Gordon Bowen was featured on the The Bloomdaddy Show's "Everybody Has A Story" segment. ?? He chatted about career milestones, the evolution of #organdonation and more. Tune in 4:35 p.m. EST on WTAM 1100 for more!

Inviting all physicians and nurses at Lifebanc partner hospitals to our latest continuing education webinar: End-of-Life Family Communication. ??: November 21, 2024 ?: 1-2:00 p.m. EST Registration is required. Sign up today: https://bit.ly/3Z0YHpj #lifebanc #organdonation #continuingeducation #webinar

Don't forget to head to the Amherst Nothing Bundt Cakes grand opening this week! 10% of proceeds will benefit Lifebanc, and on Saturday, Nov. 16, 20% of sales at all Cleveland-area locations will also be donated to Lifebanc! ?? Amherst Grand Opening: ??: Nov. 11 - Nov. 17 ??: Amherst: 7574 Oak Point Rd There are grand opening events all week long, see the link in bio for a full list of fun! Treat yourself to a delicious dessert while supporting a wonderful cause and an incredible family. ???? And thank you to Dennis and Nothing Bundt Cakes for their generous contribution to our community. ?? More info: https://lnkd.in/gZCR3WYX

This morning, Lifebanc proudly presented Dennis Looney and Haley Sengaly from Nothing Bundt Cakes with a Challenge Coin at the Mayfield Heights grand opening celebration ???? Dennis and Haley received the Lifebanc Challenge Coin for their commitment to promoting organ, tissue, and eye donation in the community. Janette Looney, Dennis’s late wife and Haley's mother, was a donor whose legacy lives on through the more than 120 recipients. Marlene Shay, mother of this year’s Challenge Coin artist Adam Shay, also joined us. Our mission continues with the unwavering support of families and partners across Northeast Ohio. Thank you to everyone who champions the gift of life. Don’t forget to visit the Mayfield Heights Nothing Bundt Cakes grand opening this week—10% of proceeds will benefit Lifebanc and on Saturday, 20% of sales will be donated at the Mayfield, Mentor and South Euclid locations! ??

Reflecting on Four Decades in Organ, Eye, and Tissue Donation For nearly 40 years, I’ve had the privilege of working in organ, eye, and tissue donation across four states. Throughout this journey, one constant remains: the unwavering passion to save and heal lives. This field is not for the faint of heart—it's a 24/7 responsibility, demanding significant personal sacrifice. Yet, despite the challenges, it has been incredibly rewarding, and I wouldn’t trade this experience for anything. Success in this field requires a deep belief in the mission. Along the way, I’ve worked under good and challenging leaders and each experience shaped me into the leader I am today. My focus has always been on the mission of saving lives, whether leading Lifebanc or other organizations. This field often involves transforming loss into life-saving opportunities, a task that naturally leads to high turnover. One of the most important lessons I’ve learned is to concentrate on the 90% of employees who come to work every day motivated to fulfill the mission. As Quint Studer teaches, "Don’t waste energy on the bottom 10% of low performers—focus on the majority who are dedicated and driven." Another lesson is to avoid getting distracted by outside noise and disruptions. It’s easy to get caught up in external challenges, but turning those disruptions into renewed focus on the mission is essential. Every day, our work saves and heals lives, and this mission should always remain at the forefront. The U.S. leads the world in organ donation and transplantation, driven by groundbreaking innovation, research and a commitment to excellence. Lifebanc is part of a unique and elite group of organ procurement organizations in the U.S. Public trust and advocacy are critical to our success, but even more so is having a dedicated staff who live and breathe this mission. Over these 40 years, I’ve learned that it is the people—the champions of our cause, the tireless staff, and the committed donor families and community champions—who make all the difference. Their passion and dedication have made this journey worthwhile, and I am incredibly proud of what we’ve accomplished together. "I'm gonna make a change For once in my life It's gonna feel real good Gonna make a difference Gonna make it right" - Michael Jackson – Man in the Mirror

We are inspired by the story of Janette Looney who tragically passed away from a brain hemorrhage over Mother’s Day weekend. Janette and her husband Dennis own several Nothing Bundt Cakes locations in Northeast Ohio. As an organ donor, Janette's generosity saved and transformed the lives of 120 recipients through organ, eye, and tissue donation. Since her passing, the Looney family has proudly supported Lifebanc and its mission. ?? In honor of Janette, Dennis is continuing to expand their bakery legacy and recently opened a new location in Mayfield Heights. During the grand opening week, 10% of proceeds will benefit Lifebanc. Additionally, on Saturday, Nov. 2, 20% of sales at the Mentor and South Euclid locations will also be donated to Lifebanc! ?? Mayfield Heights Grand Opening: ??: Oct. 28 - Nov. 3 ??: 571 Golden Gate Plaza There will be grand opening events all week long, learn more on our website. Treat yourself to a delicious dessert while supporting a wonderful cause and an incredible family. ???? Help us spread the news by sharing this to post to with your friends! Thank you to Dennis and Nothing Bundt Cakes for their generous contribution to our community. ?? https://lnkd.in/gZCR3WYX

After an extensive national search, we are thrilled to welcome Katie Payne as our new Chief Executive Officer effective January 1, 2025! ?? Bringing more than a decade of healthcare experience to Lifebanc, Katie's life was forever changed when her family lost her older brother in a car accident and made the decision to donate his tissue. "I understand organ donation from a very personal standpoint, as well as professional and medical perspectives. I am so proud to accept this position and work alongside such a dedicated team," Katie said. We are confident that under Katie's leadership, we will continue to save and heal lives while growing as an organization. Please join us in welcoming Katie to the Lifebanc family! See the full post: https://lnkd.in/gkA_RW3j

The top ten fundraising teams are an elite group that is dedicated to the mission of organ, eye, and tissue donation and Lifebanc. We are grateful to all our fantastic teams that came together to meet our goal of $275,000. We look forward to seeing you next year in 2025! ??

This month, Lifebanc proudly awarded Challenge Coins to several remarkable individuals who continue to promote and support organ, eye, and tissue donation. ?? It was a genuine privilege to acknowledge Dr. Michael Joyce, our long-serving Tissue Medical Director, for his steadfast dedication to tissue donation and transplantation advocacy both on a local and national level. Carole Vaught, Director of Recovery Partners at Solvita, was honored for her enduring commitment to Lifebanc and her contributions to the donation community. We wish Carole the best in her upcoming retirement journey! We were also delighted to recognize Stacy Farhan from The MetroHealth System (Cleveland, OH), who has led the way in implementing electronic consults to make the donation process more efficient for the healthcare team. A sincere thank you goes out to Sergeant Mayra Valentino, Medical Records & Compliance Officer with the City of Cleveland - City Hall, who has ensured timely provision of essential medical information to Lifebanc for over twenty years, enabling individuals to become donors. Together, we continue to make a difference. ????

Navigating Challenges in Organ, Eye, and Tissue Donation Organ procurement organizations (OPOs) have been around for over 40 years, with fewer than 55 OPOs serving the United States. Our Lifebanc team serves as the critical link between donor families, donor hospitals, and transplant centers to ensure that organ, eye, and tissue donations happen every day. At the heart of our work is supporting the donor and their family. We also collaborate closely with hospitals and transplant centers to coordinate the donation process. It's important to note that Lifebanc staff are never off-call. Since we can’t predict when a death will occur or when a transplant will be needed, we operate 24/7, 365 days a year. Our team manages every aspect of the donation process—from screening referral calls and obtaining consent from donor families to optimizing organs and tissues and managing the recovery. We also handle the preservation, packaging and transportation of organs and tissues. Finally, we offer follow-up grief support and continued care to donor families for up to two years, if they choose. The work in the OPO field is deeply emotional. Every day, we strive to transform a donor hero’s tragic loss into life-saving and healing gifts for strangers. One of my proudest moments as CEO was watching our team navigate the unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. While many worked from home, our essential medical personnel continued to enter hospitals, recover organs and tissues, and save lives. Despite the hardships, we achieved record numbers of lives saved in both years. We continue to face challenges, including the lack of trust in organ, eye, and tissue donation within some communities, particularly communities of color. Overcoming this barrier through education and outreach remains essential. More recently, our industry has faced external disruptions and uncertainty. Still, Lifebanc remains committed to its mission. No matter the challenges, I know our team rises to the occasion with unwavering dedication. Ultimately, none of this would be possible without the generous and heroic donors and their families who say yes to donations. Their courage and selflessness make every miracle possible. It's the eye of the tiger, it's the thrill of the fight Risin' up to the challenge of our rival. Eye of the Tiger - Survivor