On September 9, 2022, the United States achieved its 1 millionth organ transplant. Of the million U.S. transplants performed, more than half have occurred since 2007, a sustained trend of system-wide increases made possible by the ongoing expansion of more equitable organ allocation policies, an increasing focus on non-traditional donors, collaborative efforts to increase donation, the continuous evolution of organ preservation techniques and other scientific breakthroughs.
New England Donor Services takes particular pride in this milestone because NEDS was founded as the nation’s first independent organ recovery agency by Dr. Joseph Murray, the Nobel Prize winning surgeon who performed the world’s first transplant in 1954. NEDS, together with its transplant center partners, remains a national leader in saving lives through the gift of life. We extended our deepest gratitude to the thousands of donors and donor families whose generosity and selflessness made these life-saving gifts possible.
Visit LivingItForward.org to read the stories behind the 1 million.
