September, 2020
Our dear friend and colleague, John S. Najarian, passed away on September 1, 2020. He was an esteemed colleague, a talented scientist and a pioneer in the field of transplantation.
Dr. Najarian was an incredibly successful and innovative organ-transplant surgeon and served as Chairman of the Department of Surgery at the University of Minnesota from 1967 until 1993.
Dr. Najarian's legacy covers a number of areas including kidney transplants for Type 1 diabetes, pediatric transplantation and pioneering islet cell transplants, among many other things. Dr. Najarian and his team contributed...
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The AST was saddened to hear about the recent passing of transplant surgeon, George Melville Williams, MD (1930 – 2020). Dr. Williams passed away on August 26, 2020, at the age of 89.
Dr. Williams initiated a transplantation program and became Chief of Transplantation and Vascular Surgery at Johns Hopkins. He also held leadership roles in several medical societies, which included being the first UNOS president and a former president of the American Society of Transplant Surgeons.
View Dr. Williams' full obituary...
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August, 2020
In light of the current global pandemic, the
Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients (SRTR) will be modifying the evaluation metrics for transplant programs and organ procurement organizations. Following the declaration of a national public health emergency on March 13, 2020, COVID-19 has had a large impact on the transplant system. The reports scheduled for release in January 2021, with data presented through June 30, 2020, will be the first to cover the performance period after March 13, 2020.
The SRTR ...
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July, 2020
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services today released its first monthly update of data that provides a snapshot of the impact of COVID-19 on the Medicare population. For the first time, the snapshot includes data for American Indian/Alaskan Native Medicare beneficiaries. The new data indicate that American Indian/Alaskan Native beneficiaries have the second highest rate of hospitalization for COVID-19 among racial/ethnic groups after Blacks. Previously, the number of hospitalizations of American Indian/Alaskan Native beneficiaries was too low to be reported.
The updated data...
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The full House Committee on Energy and Commerce unanimously passed H.R. 5534, the Comprehensive Drug Coverage for Kidney Transplant Patients Act (referred to as the "Immuno Bill"). Prior to the unanimous Committee vote on July 15, 2020. Congressman Dr. Michael Burgess (R-TX) made remarks publicly recognizing the work of the American Society of Transplantation (AST), the American Society of Transplant Surgeons (ASTS), and American Association of Kidney Patients (AAKP). Congressman Burgess further requested that a joint letter of support from AST, ASTS, and AAKP be entered into the official...
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June, 2020
As a fundamental extension of the AST mission, we stand resolute in our commitment to eradicate systemic racism in all forms, eliminate racial disparities, elevate collegial diversity, deconstruct barriers to a culture of racial equality, and hold the transplant community accountable to zero-tolerance for racism.
While recent tragic events in the Black community have catalyzed our society, we recognize the longstanding and historical patterns of neglect, abuse, and maltreatment perpetrated on people of color, especially Black Americans. We unequivocally affirm that Black lives matter....
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Critical Path Institute(C-Path) announced today that its
Transplant Therapeutics Consortium (TTC) has received a positive response to its
Letter of Intent (LOI) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) detailing the decision to accept the iBox Scoring System (Composite Biomarker Panel) into the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) Biomarker Qualification Program (BQP).
The iBox Scoring System is a risk prediction...
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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Mark Deierhoi, M.D., a stalwart in the rich history of transplantation of the University of Alabama at Birmingham and the state of Alabama, died Thursday, June 4, at his home in Birmingham. He was 68 years old.
“It is with a heavy heart that we must inform you of the passing of a cherished member of our UAB Surgery and Comprehensive Transplant Institute family, Dr. Mark Deierhoi,” wrote Herbert Chen, M.D., chair of UAB’s Department of Surgery, and Jayme Locke, M.D., chief of UAB’s Division of Transplantation and director of the UAB’s Comprehensive Transplant Institute, in...
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In addition to the COVID-19 crisis, our country is now hurting in a very different way. The very city we were to be gathered in for this year’s ATC and many others around the country have erupted with demonstrations in the wake of George Floyd’s death.
The American Society of Transplantation and the American Society of Transplant Surgeons share the belief that all human life is sacred. We are devoted to saving, preserving, and improving life regardless of race, color, creed, gender, age, sexual orientation, or place of origin. Racism needs to be recognized & eradicated. Please join us in...
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The American Society of Transplantation (AST) announced the recipients of its 2020 Achievement Awards at the recent American Transplant Congress (ATC), which was held virtually on May 30 – June 1. The recipients were awarded for their achievements and contributions to the AST and the field of transplantation.
The AST also recognized its 2020 research grant recipients.
AST Achievement Awards
Senior Achievement Award
Jon A. Kobashigawa, MD
Cedars-Sinai Smidt Heart Institute
Mentoring Award
Christin Rogers Marks,...
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