Hospital Spiritual Care Laura Hoffman, Alpena Laura Hoffman is championing donation in ways that matter for families at MyMichigan Medical Center in Alpena. Laura organized the hospital’s first Honor Walk last year and invited the donor’s brother to raise the Donate Life flag.
Hospital Executive Leader Matt Wille, Traverse City President and CEO Matt Wille calls Munson Medical Center’s partnership with Gift of Life “one of the most profound ways in which we improve lives.” He attends Honor Walks and included a donation story in a staff video.
Medical Examiner Jo Catania, Grand Rapids As chief investigator at Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine (WMED), Jo Catania spent years fiercely advocating for tissue donation in the 12 counties the Kalamazoo office serves.
Honoring Life Through Donation Nick, Allison and Jade Townsend, Au Gres
Hospital of the Year Ascension St. John Hospital, Detroit Ascension St. John Hospital more than doubled its numbers, helping 20 organ donors save lives last year. It also was the first to update a policy allowing earlier conversations with families, giving them more time to consider donation.
Legacy Deb Dutton, Saginaw
Deb Dutton retired in February from Covenant HealthCare after 35 years. As the donation liaison for more than a decade, Deb introduced education, built programs and created a committee to improve the donation process and inspire her teams.
When Allison and Nick Townsend learned their daughter wouldn’t live long after her birth, they wanted her life to have meaning. Jade donated her placenta for healing, heart valves for other babies, and her brain for research.
LifeLINES | 2023
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