National Minority Organ/Tissue Transplant Education Program

10/09/2026

National Minority Organ/Tissue Transplant Education Program (MOTTEP) is honored to recognize John Ruffin, PhD., with the 2026 National MOTTEP Zenith Award. At the National MOTTEP Gala on November 14th, we will honor individuals and organizations who have made outstanding contributions to the National MOTTEP and the transplant community.

As the inaugural director of the National Institute on Health and Disparities, Dr. Ruffin devoted his career to addressing health inequities, helping secure $16 million for National MOTTEP (1993–2010) and collaborating with founder Clive O. Callender, MD, FACS, to increase organ donation rates among minority communities. National MOTTEP gives the Zenith Award to Dr. Ruffin for his achievements in the area that represents transplantation's greatest need: the shortage of donors.

For more information about National MOTTEP, please visit www.NatlMOTTEP.org
To join us at the gala, please follow these links:
* Registration Link for Guests: https://buff.ly/v2i9PmY
* Registration Link for Sponsors: https://buff.ly/1ANmFQo

10/08/2026

Join us for the 35th Anniversary National Minority Organ/Tissue Transplant Education Program (MOTTEP) Gala on November 14th, which will recognize individuals and organizations who have made outstanding contributions to National MOTTEP and the transplant community.

The gala will host patients, families, medical professionals, organizational partners, thought leaders, business visionaries in the healthcare and pharmaceutical industries, and corporations dedicated to helping transplant patients and those waiting for an organ. The evening includes a VIP reception, a three-course plated dinner, live performances and a memorable awards ceremony honoring those who have helped National MOTTEP along this journey.

Funds raised through the 35th Anniversary National MOTTEP Gala support our outreach to raise awareness of the need for more diversity among organ donors, educational efforts to reduce the need for organ transplants, and patient advocacy work to ensure equitable access in the transplant system.

Register at www.NatlMOTTEP.org or https://buff.ly/oKyBacx

10/08/2026

10/08/2026

Learn more about how to become an at www.NatlMOTTEP.org

Being an organ, eye and tissue donor is Behavior!

10/06/2026

October is .
In 1986, Dr. Joel Cooper performed the world's first successful double-lung transplant on emphysema patient Ann Harrison. Forty years later, more than 3,000 of these transplants are performed annually in the US.
To learn more about organ donation, go to www.NatlMOTTEP.org. Sign up to be a donor at www.OrganDonor.gov.

10/05/2026

The shortage of organ donors is the biggest problem in transplantation today. Living organ donation is necessary to help shorten the wait and save the lives of thousands on the transplant waiting list.

Watch this video to learn more about the American Liver Foundation's Living Donor Network™, which connects non-directed (anonymous) living liver donors with transplant centers nationwide, helping more people get a lifesaving liver transplant.

Living Donor ALF Living Donor Network Animated Video 2026

For thousands waiting on a transplant, time matters. Living liver d...

09/30/2026

"For me, Hispanic Heritage Month is an opportunity to recognize where I come from and the people and experiences that shaped who I am. My journey into medicine was not separate from my community—it was born from my experiences within it," says transplant surgeon Elina Serrano.

Dr. Serrano wants to remind people "that Hispanic/Latino communities are not just populations experiencing healthcare disparities. They are communities full of resilience, talent, and people who can become leaders in changing the healthcare system."

Read Dr. Serrano's story:
: Hear from Elina Serrano, MD https://buff.ly/e6cdLng

09/28/2026

For 35 years, National Minority Organ/Tissue Transplant Education Program (MOTTEP) has addressed inequities in organ donation and transplantation by pairing culturally grounded donor education with prevention strategies that help reduce organ failure risk. Join us for the 2026 National MOTTEP Gala as we celebrate our achievements and support our work to reach more communities worldwide.

2026 National MOTTEP Gala Registration Links:
* Registration Link for Guests: https://buff.ly/WshEb30
* Registration Link for Sponsors: https://buff.ly/6QkOhC6

Visit www.NatlMOTTEP.org to learn more about our work

09/22/2026

In the US, around 100,000 people are waiting for a kidney while only 25,000 transplants occur each year. More than 7,000 people in the UK are on the kidney transplant list. To address the shortage of organs for transplant, doctors and scientists are exploring xenotransplantation – using organs from other species. The team at Mass General Brigham Hospital says their work shows pig organs can be used as a "bridge" until a human transplant becomes available.

While this is a promising achievement, the best results come from living kidney donors. At National Minority Organ/Tissue Transplant Education Program (MOTTEP), we are committed to raising awareness about the need for more organ donors - especially among minority communities. To learn more and to support or work with us, visit www.NatlMOTTEP.org.

Pig kidney works in human body for 271 days - is this the future of organ transplants? https://buff.ly/xchXIT6

A man has lived for a record nine months with a transplanted pig kidney while waiting for a human transplant.

09/19/2026

During we celebrate the rich diversity of Hispanic and Latin cultures, promote inclusivity, and recognize the profound impact of these communities on American society.
Nearly 103,000 people across the United States are on the waitlist for a lifesaving organ transplant. About 26,000 of those people are from Hispanic/Latino communities.
National Minority Organ/Tissue Transplant Education Program works to increase donor registration among Hispanic and other multicultural communities to help address disparities in organ transplantation and save more lives. Learn more and support our work at www.NatlMOTTEP.org