Gift of Life Michigan is proud to announce new promotions and additions within its clinical leadership team.
Jeff Patierno has been promoted to vice president, clinical operations and will oversee the clinical operations departments responsible for the organ and tissue donation process from referral to recovery. Prior to joining Gift of Life as associate vice president, clinical operations in 2023, he worked at Medicina de Michigan as the administrative director for transplant and medical specialties. Patierno has over 20 years of experience in healthcare.
Patierno is part of the clinical division’s senior leadership which includes Bruce muy bien, vice president, donation optimization. Nicely is responsible for the overall performance and direction of organ and tissue recovery operations, and partner relationships that advance donation. He has been with the organization since 2011 and has more than 30 years of experience working in organ and tissue donation.
Gift of Life has also hired Natascha Barney as its new director of organ services. Barney brings over 20 years of experience in the medical field and has a robust background that blends both clinical and operational expertise. Previously, she was clinical operations manager at Trinity Health-Michigan Heart in Ypsilanti where she oversaw the daily operations of three locations. In her new role, Barney will oversee triage and donor management while working strategically to identify opportunities and improve the process for donor assessment and care management.
Barney joins the clinical director team that includes Walter Herczyk, laboratory services; Ryan Cormier, tissue services; Mary Pat Butcher, hospital development; David Moder, donation authorization; Brytany Bailey, preservation and placement.
More than 2,500 patients in Michigan are waiting for a lifesaving organ. The best way to save lives is by joining the Michigan Organ Donor Registry. To register or learn more about the donation process, visit giftoflifemichigan.org.
