Gift of Life Michigan is proud to announce that Ryan Cormier, Director of Tissue Services for the organization has been elected Chairperson of the Accredited Tissue Banks Council (ATBC). His term will begin later this year following the 2024 American Association of Tissue Banks (AATB) Business Meeting.
Ryan began his work with tissue banks in 2011, performing tissue recovery at Kentucky Donor Affiliates (KODA). From 2013-2015, he served in a comparable role at New England Donor Services (NEDS), before becoming Tissue Recovery Manager at Gift of Life Michigan in 2015. In 2020 he was promoted to Director of Tissue Services, overseeing both tissue recovery and the Donor Operations Center.
Ryan and his team at Gift of Life have doubled the volume of tissue over six years, breaking records for tissue donation within the organization along the way. He has been actively engaged in the tissue banking industry, driven by his unwavering commitment to advancing the industry’s collective mission.
In his role as chairperson for the ATBC, he hopes to foster stronger relationships between processors and recovery agencies and increase collaboration within the field.
“I envision the ATBC Council as a unifying force, bringing together various stakeholders across AATB membership to effect meaningful change,” he says. “Through collaborative efforts and shared purpose, we can further maximize the potential of tissue donation to save and heal lives.”
Since its beginning, AATB has been dedicated to improving and saving lives by promoting the safety, quality, and availability of donated human tissue. To fulfill that mission, AATB publishes standards, accredits tissue banks, and certifies personnel. The association also interacts with regulatory agencies and conducts educational meetings.
More than 1.5 million Americans receive a tissue donation graft each year. Many different types of tissues can be donated and transplanted to improve and save lives. From tendons and bones to heart valves and corneas, tissue donation can greatly improve a patient’s quality of life. Both skin and heart valves can also be life saving for patients in dire need.
By signing up on the Michigan Organ Donor Registry, you are also registering to become a tissue and eye donor. The best way to save lives is by joining the Donor RegistryTo register or learn more about the donation process, visit giftoflifemichigan.org
