The New York Organ Donor
Network made its inaugural visit to St. John’s University on
Thursday, March 8, 2012 to introduce an awareness of the need for
organ donors. Spearheaded by Karen Cummins, an alumna, the
Office of Community Relations has partnered with NYODN to promote
the need for organ donor registration. The idea is to educate
the University community about the lives that are lost each year,
as there are so few donors available, especially in New York
State. According to Joseph Sciame, Vice President for
Community Relations, “If people are aware that the lives of as many
as eight people may be saved by the generosity of one donor, they
may look at the possibility of becoming a registered
donor.” In addition, this is a positive way of alleviating the
decision to family members so that a person’s wishes are indicated
voluntarily on a driver’s license once the commitment is
made.
Professor Jane Paley, of the College of Professional Studies,
took on the project with the OCR of advertising the event and
encouraged potential donors to register during the initial kickoff
information session with a PR writing class of students. The
students may not have been enthusiastic about the project
initially, and not understanding the ramifications of such an
issue. After a NYODN representative, Angela Palmieri,
addressed the class and engaged the students in what it means to
patients on an organ recipient waiting list, the students were
fully committed to educating fellow St. John’s community members of
the need for participation in the project.
Student class members followed the afternoon presentation with
an evening session attended by a large group of people invited by
the students. Two volunteers of the NYODN, who themselves are
kidney recipients, addressed the audience. Many myths were
dispelled about transplant donor registration, and both men gave
very moving discussions about how their respective transplant saved
them from sure and painful death.
The film, “John Q” with Denzel Washington, was chosen to convey
the issue more poignantly. “John Quincy Archibald's son
Michael collapses while playing baseball as a result of heart
failure. John rushes Michael to a hospital emergency room where he
is informed that Michael's only hope is a transplant.
Unfortunately, John's insurance won't cover his son's transplant.
Out of options, John Q. takes the emergency room staff and patients
hostage until hospital doctors agree to do the transplant.”
(IMDb)
The evening’s success was seen immediately, as approximately a
dozen people signed up on site to have them named as potential
donors. One student attendee was the recipient of a kidney,
and as a young person who is able to attend University and continue
to have a full and productive life, it was important to her that
people are aware of the fullness of life that can be realized
because a stranger was willing to make family and friends aware of
a desire to help others.
The NYODN will be on campus again in the coming weeks to
register additional individuals and, with the help of the Public
Relations Writing Class, the potential number of lives saved will
increase. Currently, New York State has only 18% participation
and is the 48th state in rank of contributions. Once
again St. John’s University student community members are making a
positive and monumental contribution to the society in which they
live.
For more information regarding registering for the NYODN, contact Marge Cashin, Office of
Community Relations at 718 990-1941 or Newman Hall, Room
155.