Banner – University Medicine announced on March 30 a series of activities and milestones in recognition of national Donate Life Month, which takes place in April. The hospital is focusing on raising awareness about organ donation and transplantation through patient stories, clinical achievements, and community events.
Donate Life Month aims to draw attention to the ongoing need for organ donors. Banner – University Medical Center Tucson recently performed a living donor kidney transplant using robotic-assisted surgery, marking its fourth such procedure. Emilie Leahy traveled from Hawaii to donate a kidney to her father, Randall Welch, who came from South Dakota after his kidney function declined in 2023. “I’ve had a lot of distance between my dad and myself since we moved to Hawaii,” said Leahy. “We’ve kind of lost personal touch, and this is kind of brought us closer.”
A hero walk was held at the hospital following the procedure to honor both Leahy and the clinical team involved. The use of robotic-assisted surgical systems represents an advancement for Banner Health’s transplant program.
The third annual Living Donor Appreciation event will take place on April 3 at the University of Arizona Health Sciences Innovation Building. Olympic gold medalist Crissy Perham will be featured as a speaker alongside George Orozoco and LeeAnn Larson, who participated in a paired kidney exchange earlier this year. Orozoco said about his experience: “What a great gift to give… You don’t have to be a match. You don’t have to be the same blood type.”
On April 8, Donate Life Month flag raising ceremonies will be held at both main campus and South Campus locations in Tucson as part of efforts to honor donors.
Ramesh Batra, MD, division chief of abdominal transplant surgery at Banner – University Medical Center Tucson, said that more than 2,100 people are currently waiting for kidney transplants in Arizona while only about 700 procedures are performed annually.
Banner Health provides substantial community benefits through its nonprofit activities according to the official website. The organization operates facilities across several states including Arizona, California, Colorado, Nebraska, Nevada, and Wyoming according to the official website. Banner Health ranks among the largest nonprofit health systems nationally according to its official website and aims “to simplify health care to improve quality of life” as stated on its official website.
