Leading Science and Medical Personnel Gather to Discuss Medical Advances and Challenges in Organ Donation

Leading Science and Medical Personnel Gather to Discuss Medical Advances and Challenges in Organ Donation
2007 International Organ and Tissue Donation Congress to Meet in Philadelphia November 11 to 14

PHILADELPHIA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The International Society of Organ Donation and Procurement (ISODP) and the International Transplant Coordinators Society (ITCS) will host the 2007 International Organ and Tissue Donation Congress, November 11-14 in Philadelphia, PA. The event, which is coming to the United States for the first time in 10 years, will bring together preeminent international science and medical professionals to discuss medical advancements and challenges in organ donation.

More than 75 speakers from 26 counties will participate and 170 scientific abstracts will be presented. The program supports an interchange of improvement models regarding care and management, as well as socioeconomic, ethical, and regulatory issues relevant to solid organ and tissue donations, procurement and preservation. Discussion topics include best practices and strategic systems, consent and legislative models, preservation, transplant tourism, financial incentives, donation after cardiac death, expanded donor criteria and tissue banking models.

The Gift of Life Institute of the Gift of Life Donor Program, one of the largest organ procurement organizations in the world, will host the meeting of more than 400 international organ and tissue procurement and transplant professionals.

Howard M. Nathan, President and CEO, Gift of Life and incoming President, ISODP noted, “We are very excited to be hosting this important forum to highlight new perspectives and state-of-the-art practices while addressing the many scientific, medical and ethical issues arising globally. Our ultimate goal is to save more lives.”

Attendees include internationally-renowned transplant surgeons, fellows, transplant coordinators, nurses, critical care physicians, and hospital specialists who are interested in clinical and research aspects of donation, procurement and preservation.

The Congress will be held at the Loews Philadelphia Hotel, 1200 Market Street, Philadelphia. For information, visit: http://www.isodp2007.org/. Complimentary registration is available to media.

For the complete scientific program, visit: http://www.isodp2007.org/secondary.cfm?section=Program

ISODP (http://www.transplantation-soc.org/) fosters, promotes and develops all aspects of organ and tissue donation and procurement.

ITCS (http://med.kuleuven.be/itcs/home.html), a society of transplant coordinators, provides a structure to respond to transplant coordination issues at international meetings.

Gift of Life Institute (http://www.giftoflifeinstitute.org/), an international training center for donation professionals, offers comprehensive, interdisciplinary resources for skill-based learning, continuing education, collaborative research and consulting services.