ANN ARBOR—Gift of Life Michigan is pleased to welcome donation and transplantation leaders from across the nation to the annual meeting of the Association of Multicultural Affairs in Transplantation (AMAT). The group’s 23rd annual conference is Sept. 22-25 at the MGM Grand Detroit.
Gift of Life Michigan and the Gift of Life Foundation are both major sponsors of the AMAT conference. Gift of Life is the state’s organ and tissue recovery program, while the Foundation is dedicated to promoting and supporting Michigan’s donation and transplant community. In addition, the current AMAT president is Remonia Chapman, program director of the Gift of Life Minority Organ Tissue Transplant Education Program, based in Detroit.
“Detroit is a perfect choice for this year’s meeting, given its great history and the diverse multicultural composition of the southeast Michigan community,” said Richard Pietroski, CEO of Gift of Life Michigan.
He added: “We are very grateful to the work of the AMAT leaders and members, including our own Remonia Chapman. Organ and tissue donation and transplantation cuts across social, racial and demographic classifications, but to accomplish our common goals, we need messages and efforts that resonate with all aspects of society. AMAT helps pave the way for these efforts. Its work allows the entire donation community to better serve all of society.”
In Michigan, more than 3,500 people are currently waiting for a life-saving organ transplant. Nearly 37 percent are African-Americans, while another 4 percent are either of Hispanic or Arabic origin.
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EDITOR’S NOTES:
- Anyone can sign up to be an organ, tissue and cornea donor, regardless of age or health history. Go to https://giftoflifemichigan.org/ or call (866) 500-5801.
