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MTN Story of Hope: I.C. Collins

September 27, 2024/in

Blog,
News

/by Mitch Weber

Cornea and heart transplant recipient I.C. Collins

I.C. Collins is a cornea and heart recipient and a volunteer Ambassador for Midwest Transplant Network (MTN).

“You only get one life, and at any moment, it can be taken away.”

I.C. Collins had been healthy until a bacterial eye infection led to him struggling with his vision. Despite receiving aggressive vision treatment, he still had eye difficulties.

Meanwhile, he began suffering from what he believed to be seasonal allergies. Nothing helped, and doctors assumed he must have previously had COVID-19 and had lingering symptoms. One day, a coworker mentioned that he didn’t look healthy and insisted that he see a doctor.

A cardiologist informed I.C. that his heart was failing. He was placed on strong medication to try to heal his heart.

Amid the chaos of learning about his heart failure, I.C. received a corneal transplant for his injured eye; he eventually also received a heart transplant.

“You only get one life, and at any moment, it can be taken away,” said I.C.’s son I.C. Collins IV. “For him to get the heart and for his body to receive it so well, it’s an awesome thing.”

Since his transplants, I.C. has become a volunteer Ambassador for Midwest Transplant Network, educating others about the importance of organ, eye and tissue donation.

“I decided I wanted to try to help as many people as I can,” he said.

To donor families, I.C. has one simple message: “Thank you from the bottom of whoever my donor’s heart was.”

MTN Staff Spotlight – Andrea Starks

September 10, 2024/in

/by Mitch Weber

Andrea Starks is a Quality Assurance Coordinator at Midwest Transplant Network (MTN).

Meet Andrea Starks

She began at MTN as a temporary worker in March of 2007, with no prior clinical experience or knowledge of organ and tissue recovery, but quickly fell in love with the close-knit, family-like atmosphere. Now a full-time member, Andrea’s daily work involves gathering and sharing information to support healthy tissue donation and transplantation. She humorously likens her role to that of a sleuth, juggling many tasks.

Andrea’s time at MTN has profoundly changed her, making her more aware of the fragility of life and the importance of cherishing moments with loved ones. As a bone graft recipient herself, Andrea deeply values organ donation, as it gave her a second chance at life through donation.

Why did you want to work at MTN?

I lucked into MTN. My friend used to work here and asked if I could temp for about 12 weeks while someone was on medical leave…and I never left! I was a blank slate when I started; no clinical background and no organ/tissue recovery or transplant knowledge. I just knew I liked the close family feel/ mom and pop culture. I never guessed in a million years MTN would ask me to stay.

What is a day like for a Quality Assurance Coordinator at Midwest Transplant Network?

Lots of pokers in lots of fires! We spend all day collecting and sharing information to support healthy tissue donation and transplant. Lol–I never thought I’d be a sleuth in this lifetime but here I am being okay-ish at it!

Tell me about your experience at MTN and how it’s changed you.

There are good and bad traits I’ve picked up over the years: I’m more aware of death and how it sometimes happens confusingly fast so I definitely worry more. I’m paranoid my asthma is going to take me out at any moment! I also love harder and appreciate the act of giving and getting time with family and friends way more than anything else.

How do you live the MTN mission?

I love the idea of treating everyone with dignity and respect anyway. We don’t know anyone’s story until we are given those privileges. There are heroes among us everywhere!

What does organ donation mean to you?

I am a bone graft recipient who would have died without my donor’s gift. I was in a car accident in 2001. My face hit the door frame when I was thrown out of the car and fractured my 2 front teeth. The hairline fracture was missed when I was getting veneers. 10 years later, the infection broke through my gum wall. This infection had compromised the bone housing my front teeth—so, I got a bone graft to hold my implants. I get to live this wonderful life and be all the things to all my people because of this second chance. It means everything.

How do you spend your weekends?

Usually on the go! We have a 13-year-old son who plays soccer and has a small mowing business he takes very seriously. We also have a 12-year-old daughter who has a slight Target addiction and plays on 2 competitive soccer teams…lots of practice, lots of games! We also like to go to our parents’ too so kids can see their grands.

What’s the last adventure or vacation you’ve been on?

While in Florida, we took a pontoon out to Crab Island and spent the day paddle boarding and relaxing on a floating water pad. AND fighting jellyfish! They were everywhere and we all got stung! It was brutal and exciting!!

If you could spend your entire paycheck on something that’s not a bill, what would it be?

I’ve gotten sucked into the time warp that is Hobby Lobby too many times to not be embarrassed. I imagine endless possibilities of necessary items I could toss my whole paycheck at if bills weren’t chasing after me!

MTN Staff Spotlight – Ashley Woodin

August 14, 2024/in

/by Midwest Transplant Network

Ashley Woodin is a Laboratory Support Coordinator with Midwest Transplant Network since 2016.

August is National Multiethnic Donor Awareness Month, a collaborative initiative to save and improve the quality of life of diverse communities by creating a positive culture for organ, eye and tissue donation.

Midwest Transplant Network will recognize and support National Multiethnic Donor Awareness Month with original content featuring voices who represent diversity and the mission to give hope and share life. We hope you enjoy the perspectives of our friends!

Meet Ashley Woodin

Ashley Woodin is a Laboratory Support Coordinator and joined Midwest Transplant Network in October 2016 – one day after her birthday. She is a mom, a cyclist and enjoys new experiences. On any given day at MTN, you’ll see Ashley on her way to the outpatient lab, full of energy and always with a smile to help care for a person who is waiting for a transplant and needs a lab test.

What’s your career experience in health care?

Before I worked at MTN, I worked at North Kansas City Hospital as a cardiology technician. I saved two lives by noticing heart rhythm patterns from patient Holter monitors.

Where’d you go to college?

I have a Bachelor of Arts in biology and a master’s in healthcare administration, both from Park University.

Who is the first person you met in college? Are you still friends?

Serena Franklin. We’ve been friends for 15 years. She’s my best friend, and she works at MTN. She’s worked here for five years. When we’re at work, we are focused on work, but we are best friends.

You’ve been invited to career day at a middle school. How would you explain your job to the students?

Organ transplantation is like giving someone a special gift – an organ, like a heart or kidney – that helps their body work better. Donation is when someone decides to give their organs after they pass away to help others live longer and healthier lives. It’s a bit like being a superhero by saving lives even after you’re gone. Midwest Transplant Network is like a group of real-life heroes. We work to make sure organs from generous donors get safely to people who need them. It’s like a team of helpers ensuring that the gift of life reaches those who need it most.

How has working in this field influenced your perspective? What does organ donation mean to you?

As a Laboratory Support Coordinator, I support the transplant process and impact patient care and organ matching. My responsibilities include assisting with phlebotomy, managing lab supplies, and ensuring timely and accurate blood draws, collaborating with hospital coordinators, communicating with lab staff for urgent testing needs and more.

Working in this field has given me a unique perspective on the critical need for organ donations, the impact on recipients’ lives, and challenges within the healthcare system. It also gives insight into ethical considerations like equitable organ allocation, consent, and the balance between saving lives and respecting donor wishes. Also, the emotional aspect of organ donation. It’s a process that involves both the joy of saving lives and the grief associated with loss, creating a complex mix of emotions for both healthcare professionals and families involved.

Organ donation is a powerful means of giving someone a second chance at life. It’s a sense of fulfillment and purpose knowing that my work contributes to saving lives and improving the well-being of others.

August is National Multiethnic Donor Awareness Month. How would you use your experience as a Black woman working in organ donation to encourage people from diverse racial and ethnic communities to learn more and register as donors?

There is mistrust and a history of mistrust in healthcare among multiethnic communities, and I understand. I volunteered at MTN’s booth for Juneteenth at 18th & Vine to share information about organ donation. I had to ask myself “Why should they trust me?” while explaining what I know to be true about organ donation and sharing facts.

Also, knowing what I know…people are dying who look like me. Children who look like my kids are dying, so if we don’t step up and register to be an organ donor, we’re never going to give hope to someone else or give hope to another person in need. It’s important to be informed and educated about organ donation, to learn and understand, and trust your heart.

What’s your connection, or experience, with patients who come to MTN for tests? Can you share a story to explain?

I hear their stories, their struggles, trials and tribulations on their journey. They just want someone to listen. I’ve gotten close to a patient over the years, and I’ve learned about her life. She’s an author and a three-time kidney recipient.

Some of the patients have the most positive outlook, even though they’re waiting for a transplant and might not be doing so well. Or they received a transplant and now they’re much better and they’re still positive. For example, I have a patient who is doing much better after a kidney transplant. He tells me stories about going fishing with his grandkids and living his life.

And there are some patients who ask for me when they come in for tests, and that’s nice.

I like working on behalf of the patients, communicating with coordinators and doctors. I make sure I do my job well and completely because it means someone gets a second chance, and it means that someone needs me to be an advocate for them.

You’re a cyclist. What piqued your interest in cycling?

The freedom of movement, the joy of exploring new places, the physical benefits, and the sense of camaraderie within the cycling community. When you ride, you can let your mind go to a different place.

What’s been your longest ride distance?

The longest ride was 73 miles, the Bacon Ride in Iowa. It was a summer ride with stops along the way with music.

Most memorable ride – good or bad?

It was a 50-mile ride from Prairie Village, Kansas, to Lee’s Summit, Raytown and Independence in Missouri, then back to Prairie Village. I didn’t eat well. My legs cramped so bad, I stopped in Kansas City and got a ride back to my car. That was a bad bike ride.

What’s your advice for anyone who might want to try cycling?

My advice to newcomers is to start gradually, get the right equipment, and get fitted for a bike for your height and length of your legs. When you’re riding, find enjoyment in the process rather than being focused only on performance. And, pickle juice helps with leg cramps.

What’s the best concert you’ve been to?

Rob Zombie. It was theatrical and unexpected to me.

What songs are you listening to?

I like a mixture of genres of music. I’m listening to Billie Holiday, Chris Stapleton, John Coltrane and Elvis Presley. I’m not a music snob.

It’s summer. Do you have a favorite summer memory?

Taking my kids on trips over the years. I’ve taken my kids to lots of places, and we’ve been to Disney a few times. This summer, my daughter turned 16, and that’s exciting!

If you could spend your entire paycheck on something that’s not a bill, what would it be?

I’d travel! I’d go on a wine and food tour in Europe and take my mom with me.

Getting Their Flowers: MTN Staff Earn a DAISY Team Award

May 13, 2024/in

/by Nez Savala

The excitement in “We won a DAISY with WMC!!!!” says a lot.

The story behind the sentiment says even more.

In December 2023, a car accident sent Dwayne ‘D Dub’ Moenning to the emergency department at Wesley Healthcare in Wichita, Kansas. He was cared for by a Surgical Intensive Care Unit for about a week, but despite efforts to save him, he passed away. Moenning’s family chose to donate their son’s organs. And they wanted his classmates to attend his honor walk. The school is more than an hour’s drive to the hospital.

MTN’s Impact
Midwest Transplant Network staff Midge Dempsey, Family Services Coordinator II, and Nikki Dixon, Hospital Services Coordinator II, work in the Wichita satellite office. They served on the team that supported the Moenning family, and both made an impact.

Dempsey describes her job as supporting families “during one of the worst days of their lives by giving them hope and to allow them to experience joy amidst their pain.”

Dempsey explained that when the time came to approach the Moenning family about donation, they struggled with the decision, but after conversation and explaining the organ donation process, they “eventually verbalized how important it was for D Dub to save lives.” Soon, Dempsey was helping the family plan an honor walk and coordinating efforts to bring classmates and community members from their small town to the hospital.

“They were finding comfort in donation and how D Dub would be honored.”

Earning The DAISY Team Award
The DAISY Team Award is designed to honor collaboration by two or more people, led by a nurse, who identify and meet patient and patient family needs by going above and beyond the traditional role of nursing.

Wesley Healthcare presented The DAISY Team Award to a multi-disciplinary SICU team that included partners and others who had an instrumental role in the Moenning’s story. The ceremony was held May 8, in the heart of National Nurses Week.

“Earning a DAISY Team Award brings validation to my life and reminds me that I am following the path that has been paved for me. This award brings me joy because I know that I was able to provide someone with something they needed at a given time,” said Dempsey.

As a Hospital Services Coordinator, Dixon is responsible for “education, onboarding, policy development and problem-solving. Most importantly, I teach hospital staff when to refer patients to MTN and help facilitate the relationship between the hospital and Midwest Transplant Network.”

Dixon’s thoughts about the honor are similar. “Earning The DAISY Team Award as part of a hospital/MTN team is a blessing. We work very closely with the hospital team and winning an award together is a testament to that partnership.”

There’s another layer to the award for Dixon. “I spent my bedside nursing career in the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit at Wesley, so this hospital is dear to my heart. I am very proud to serve Wesley as their MTN Hospital Services Coordinator. Organ donation saved my late father’s life twice, so I am honored to be part of this mission.”

About The DAISY Award
The DAISY Award was established by the family of J. Patrick Barnes in honor of the care he received after being diagnosed with an autoimmune disease at the age of 33, in 1999. While he was hospitalized, his family “experienced the best of nursing.”

After Barnes died, his wife created the acronym DAISY – Diseases Attacking the Immune System – and the family created a not-for-profit organization, and The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses began at the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance at the University of Washington Medical Center. The DAISY Award is described as “the first program of its kind to give patients, families, and co-workers a way to express their gratitude to nurses for what they became nurses to do – provide compassionate care to patients and their families.”

The DAISY Award has become a strategic tool for nurse recruitment, retention and resilience that has been adopted by healthcare organizations and schools of nursing in the U.S. and around the world. Learn more about the program from The DAISY Foundation.

Two ladies holding certificates in front of a star-themed background.

Midge Dempsey and Nikki Dixon, Midwest Transplant Network, pose with The DAISY Team Award certificates they received at a ceremony at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita, Kansas.

Four ladies posing for a picture in front of a star-themed background.

Midge Dempsey, Jennifer Scheuber, Amy Keith, Wesley Medical Center, and Nikki Dixon are all smiles at The DAISY Awards celebration.

Wesley Healthcare recognized its Surgical Intensive Care Unit with The DAISY Team Award at a ceremony during National Nurses Week.

Midwest Transplant Network Presents Annual Awards for Organ, Eye and Tissue Donation Excellence

April 25, 2024/in

/by Nez Savala

Midwest Transplant Network staff members recognize their partners in saving lives through organ, eye and tissue donation by presenting the annual Excellence in Donation Awards to hospitals, individuals and organizations in our community.

Based on 2023 donation outcomes, Midwest Transplant Network presents the Excellence in Organ and Tissue Donation Awards to hospitals that had a higher-than-average number of families granting authorization for donation. The organization also gives these awards to exceptional partners in hospitals; licensing, treasury and Department of Revenue offices; medical examiner officers; funeral homes and beyond. These individuals made an extraordinary contribution to Midwest Transplant Network’s lifesaving mission.

Butterflies and Organ Donation

The butterfly holds deep symbolism in organ, eye and tissue donation. The butterfly is associated with hope, renewal and transformation; just as a caterpillar undergoes metamorphosis to become a butterfly, organ donation represents a transformative process for donor families and transplant recipients – the gift of life that brings hope to those in need.

Award honorees received a beautiful, pressed flower butterfly print by artist Ashley Foster. She believes that flowers symbolize joy, love and gratitude.

2024 Excellence in Donation Honorees

Midwest Transplant Network collaborates with 250 hospitals and recognized the following:

Organ and tissue excellence: Overland Park Regional Medical Center, Freeman Health System, Hays Medical Center, Lee’s Summit Medical Center, Saint Luke’s East Hospital, Capital Region Medical Center, Hutchinson Regional Medical Center.

Organ excellence: AdventHealth South Overland Park, Mercy Hospital Joplin, Centerpoint Medical Center, Stormont Vail Health Care, The University of Kansas Health System, Olathe Medical Center, Liberty Hospital, Saint Luke’s North Hospital.

Tissue excellence: Mosaic Life Care, AdventHealth Shawnee Mission, Salina Regional Health Center, The University of Kansas Health System St. Francis Campus, Kansas Medical Center, Nevada Regional Medical Center.

In addition to hospitals, Midwest Transplant Network collaborates with countless individuals and teams and recognized the following:

Individual and group honorees: Olivia Zhang, CST, University of Missouri Health Care; Amy Keith, BSN, Wesley Medical Center; Crystal Vail, RN, BSN, Freeman; Ciara Wright, Ph.D, The University of Kansas Health System; Johnson County Medical Examiner’s Office; Deborah Washam, RN, MS, Greater Kansas City Black Nurses Association; Anthony Harrington, MD, Blue Sky Neurology, Research Medical Center; Naftali Presser, MD, Research Medical Center; Bhargava Mullapudi, MD, Children’s Mercy Kansas City; Andrew Widman, volunteer Ambassador.

About Midwest Transplant Network

Midwest Transplant Network has been connecting lives through organ donation since 1973. As the federally designated not-for-profit organ procurement organization (OPO) for Kansas and the western two-thirds of Missouri, Midwest Transplant Network provides services including organ procurement; surgical tissue and eye recovery; laboratory testing; and 24-hour rapid response for referrals from hospital partners. Midwest Transplant Network ranks in the top 10% in the country among OPOs, which reflects the organization’s quality, professionalism and excellence in partnerships throughout the region. For more information, visit mwtn.org.

A butterfly made of pressed flowers in a photo frame.

A pressed flower butterfly print given to award honorees at MTN’s Excellence in Donation ceremony.

Guests seated at a table at an awards celebration.

Guests at MTN’s annual Excellence in Donation Awards ceremony smile for a photo.

Andrew Widman, MTN Ambassador, speaking at the podium at MTN’s Excellence in Donation Awards ceremony.

Excellence in Donation Awards ceremony guests participating in a bubble remembrance.

An Air Force pilot sitting in the cockpit of a military aircraft.

MTN Staff Spotlight – Kelly Timmermann

March 27, 2024/in

/by Midwest Transplant Network

Kelly Timmermann can fly. She’s a Corporate Pilot PIC I for Midwest Transplant Network. Her career began as an Air Force pilot and she retired as Lt. Col. Timmermann in late 2023.

March is Women’s History Month, designated by presidential proclamation in 1980. Now, Women’s History Month is an annual observance to highlight the achievements, contributions, influence and impact of women.

Midwest Transplant Network recognizes and celebrates the diversity of our staff. We appreciate sharing the stories of staff who represent different experiences that positively impact our culture and mission.

Kelly Timmermann, Corporate Pilot PIC I

Kelly Timmermann can fly. From the Air Force to Midwest Transplant Network, her career as a pilot has taken her around the world and across the country. In late 2023, Lt. Col. Timmermann retired from the Air Force after 23 years as a pilot, having experienced 13 deployments and 1,940 combat hours. She joined MTN in 2022 as a Corporate Pilot PIC I, responsible for transporting teams to cases in the mission of saving and enhancing lives through organ, eye and tissue donation.

In 50 words or less, explain your job in the Air Force like you’re talking to someone without a military background.

I began my Air Force journey as an intelligence analyst. After two years, I switched my career path to become a pilot. I primarily flew an air refueling airplane, the KC-135. But I also had the opportunity to fly distinguished passengers in the Gulfstream IV and Gulfstream V aircraft, with many leadership roles along the way.

What influence did female mentors, role models or colleagues have on your military service, education or life in general?

Most of my superiors, mentors and colleagues were men. I am incredibly grateful for the opportunities and leadership over the years. But you asked about women, and my very best friendships have been amazing women – family, Air Force friends, and high school friends. I’ve had a solid support network, sounding board, and sometimes a good kick in the pants (when warranted) from my ladies. Having someone invest in your success whole-heartedly is validating and empowering. I owe my success to those who believed in me.

March is Women’s History Month. What does it mean to you to have had a successful career as a pilot in the Air Force?

I am proud that I was able to choose a path in the Air Force that allowed me both professional and personal progression. Professionals of all backgrounds face difficult decisions to balance family and work-life. Women have the added consideration of bearing children. Choosing to be an Air Force pilot was one of the biggest decisions of my life. I knew it would mean frequent travel and moving, and I knew it was possible I would do it alone. It’s tough to meet people when you’re not in a place that’s home. I’m a little amazed and grateful that I was able to navigate a career, have a family and meet my goals as a pilot, but I did it!

What motivated you to become a pilot? What kept you motivated?

I didn’t consider a pilot career until I was in the Air Force. I knew it was a marketable skill and I was fascinated to find a professional path that would give me an office in an airplane! I’ve always been aware of long-term stability and choosing a job was another item for consideration. There is a huge need for pilots, and that equates to long-term stability. As for motivation, that’s the only way I know how to do things…to be motivated.

Where’d you train to become a pilot?

I trained for my private pilot’s license at Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska. My Air Force Undergraduate Pilot training was at Laughlin Air Force Base in Texas.

What’s your advice to women who want to pursue aviation?

Make it happen. If you are willing to work for it, it is achievable!

If your career imitated a movie, which movie would it be?

I couldn’t find one about determination and persistence without a heartbreaking tragedy to overcome. Haha!

If you hadn’t become a pilot, what would you have done for your career?

I do not know! I narrowed it down to psychology and counseling but was also interested in the medical field. See? Varied interests make it tough to decide, so why not fly?

A mother and two children gather around a cake with a sparkling candle.

Kelly Timmermann and her children are smiling in excitement at a sparkling candle in the center of a small cake.

Now that you’ve retired from the Air Force, do you have a retirement bucket list? What’s one thing you’d share from your list?

My husband is still in the Air Force, so we will make a bucket list when it is his time to retire. However, the short-term benefit is I only have one job, instead of a second job with the Air Force Reserve, and I spend the extra time with my two awesome kiddos.

From your perspective, how does your role at Midwest Transplant Network impact organ donation and transplantation?

We give MTN the ability to have someone spend an hour of travel instead of four hours of travel at the beginning and the end of a 24-hour shift. This is essential! I feel directly connected to perpetuating this awesome mission because the airplane helps lower attrition. Additionally, being able to take a team to an OR and then bring them home cuts a lot of stress and work from logistics planning. I know our staff are appreciative when the airplane is available to relieve the burden of travel and we are happy to be part of the mission.

What’s the most surprising thing you’ve learned about organ donation?

I was not familiar with organ donation at all, except that you’re asked the question at the DMV about becoming an organ donor. Learning about the process has helped me to stress to my family and friends how important it is to make your decision known for organ donation. It makes a difference and alleviates family stress when the worst happens.

Where are you from?

Salisbury, Missouri.

It’s March Madness! You’re hosting a Women’s Final Four Championship party. What snacks are you serving?

I’m serving hot wings, guac and chips, pizza, and everybody brings a favorite. Sharing is caring!

Kelly Timmermann poses in front of a U.S. Air Force plane.

A woman wearing a black ball cap that reads Afghanistan Veteran.

Lt. Col. Kelly Timmermann retired from the U.S. Air Force after a 23-year career as a pilot.

Rev. Isaac Ruffin, an African American male, wearing a colorful scarf representing Black heritage, standing in front of an art display of glass plates in various shades of primary colors.

Celebrating Black History Month: Rev. Isaac Ruffin

February 27, 2024/in

/by Midwest Transplant Network

Rev. Isaac Ruffin, a Family Services Coordinator II at Midwest Transplant Network, shares his perspective in honor of Black History Month.

For more than 19 years, the Rev. Isaac Ruffin, Family Services Coordinator II, has served Midwest Transplant Network (MTN) donor families with all of his heart and soul. He has a passion for walking alongside families who are experiencing an unexpected loss and offering comfort, lending a kind and listening ear, and sharing how donation can help extend their loved one’s legacy.

“For my generation, with all of the history we have seen, Black History Month is a celebration of the coming to fruition of a people,” shared Ruffin. “It is a time to be seen as equals and fulfill our dreams, hopes, aspirations and our true potential.”

He’s inspired by his grandfathers – one a pastor and the other a deacon. Through their ministry, they served congregations, raised large families and were role models of compassion and integrity.

While completing his Clinical Pastoral Education at Research Medical Center, Ruffin had the opportunity to work with MTN as a hospital chaplain in caring for several donor families. He was very aware of some of the cultural concerns about organ donation within the Black American community. “I want to serve others and build trust with underserved and diverse communities as a face within one of those cultures myself.”

He understands the impact donation can have on an individual, a family and a community as his brother received the gift of a transplant many, many years ago. His work with donor families has always been about giving back as a part of his personal ministry and for the gift his brother and their family received.

Known for his quiet, infinite readiness to serve others, Rev. Ruffin finds peace in creating memories of donor heroes with their families. Over his almost two decades of service, countless families have experienced the love he brings when supporting them in making the generous decision to donate life on their most difficult day. He has built many bridges of trust – one family at a time – significantly impacting and bettering our community. MTN is eternally grateful for Rev. Ruffin as his joyful presence has made the same profound difference in every one of us.

In recognition of Black History Month, Rev. Ruffin shares his favorite poem, “Still I Rise” by Maya Angelou.

Pilots standing in formation in front of a plane owned by Midwest Transplant Network.

MTN Aviation: Serving the Mission through Flight

December 21, 2023/in

/by Nez Savala

The grrrrrrrrr of a small plane speeding down a runway for takeoff; a shrill whistle and the clack, clack, clack of a freight train rolling down the tracks in the near distance; the whirling, choppy sound of an aircraft unseen.

These are the sounds of the Charles B. Wheeler Downtown Airport in Kansas City on a Wednesday morning, but the office of Midwest Transplant Network’s Aviation department is quiet. Inside the hangar, a plane sits at the ready to serve the mission of organ donation.

It’s 9 a.m. MTN Pilots Tom Carnahan and Tim Overman greet Genny Ly, a new Organ Procurement Coordinator, to show her the plane – an orientation to prepare for the moment she’ll be on a team that flies out for an organ recovery case.

Carnahan demonstrates how to open and close the door to board the plane, safety features inside the cabin, how to open the emergency exit and more. Walking around the plane, Carnahan points out areas along the wings to be careful; at the rear of the plane, he opens a small compartment revealing a cargo space for bags and equipment.

The plane, a Citation C3J+, has two seats in the front for pilots and eight seats in back. Most are window seats.

After touring the plane and the office, Overman and Carnahan chat with Ly before she goes to MTN’s headquarters to continue the day.

Mission Critical

“We are the only OPO in the country that owns and operates its aircraft. There are a few others who have a dedicated aircraft; however, they are managed by a charter service or other outside agency. The pilots and staff who work in MTN’s Aviation department are actual employees of MTN. MTN as an organization is also registered with the FAA as Part 91,” explained Lori Markham, RN, MSN, CCRN, Vice President & Chief Clinical Officer, MTN.

“Midwest Transplant Network is the sixth largest OPO by geography. With our aircraft, we’re able to respond quickly to donor hospitals anywhere in our service area. Because we can mobilize quickly, we are able to support our hospital partners, donor families and recover organs efficiently to maximize the gifts. Forty percent of overall donor patients are outside of the Kansas City metro, so having our own plane and pilots are critical.

“Otherwise, we’d rely on ground transportation – which could take hours – or we’d have to rely on charter or plane services that may not be readily available when needed.”

Being an MTN Pilot

Overman and Carnahan are two of nine pilots at MTN. It’s a fully staffed department, and both agree that having a full team makes a difference in work-life balance.

“It helps to be able to share the workload. We can make connections with each other, talk through needs, and it also means that the team can provide MTN full service.”

There are always two pilots on flights to transport a team and bring them back to Kansas City. The pilots know there is a time sensitivity with organs. The flight prep to get ready for a case includes weather and radars, wind speed and visibility, weight and balance for the plane to operate safely, filing a flight plan, determining alternate airports in case they can’t reach the actual destination and more.

Modern technology has made a difference in simplifying flight plans. “There were a lot of phone calls back in the day. Now we have GPS, digital apps and other tools, including the phone.”

Lemoine Davis, MBA, PMP, Manager, Aviation, leads the department.

“The MTN Aviation mission is ‘To provide safe, professional and efficient air transportation in response to MTN needs.’ Without the department, we would be strained to service our region as timelines to respond would be significantly increased or the cost to operate would increase as charters and ground transportation would be our only options.

“The training the pilots undergo regarding organ donation is informational, not technical. We provide a broad overview of the donation process and expand upon the areas they can, or might, influence. It gives the Aviation team an understanding of the importance of their role, the hazards associated with their cargo, and a general overview of how the aircraft is utilized,” said Davis.

Flexible and Responsive

Each day is different for staff at MTN, including pilots.

“A typical workday for our pilots includes coming on shift, either morning or evening, and waiting to be activated to fly within our service area. If during their shift they are not called out to fly, they could be fulfilling administrative duties or volunteering for an event within the organization. Our pilots are not required to work from the hangar as long as they can adhere to the two-hour callout timeline,” said Davis.

“The team who flies on the aircraft when transporting an organ can vary. Typically, we are flying the organ procurement team that includes an organ procurement coordinator, organ procurement preservation specialist, an organ procurement technician and/or family services staff.”

He described a recent fly-out to Joplin, Missouri, for a recovery.

“The pilots on shift flew the team out in the evening, waited on the ground for a few hours while the procedure took place, and later returned to Kansas City with the team who’d successfully recovered organs. They also brought back two additional passengers whose shift had ended.

“Overall, this took roughly four hours, which would’ve been significantly longer if they had to travel by car, or it would’ve cost more if MTN had to use charter services.”

MTN Aviation Fast Facts

1973 – Midwest Organ Bank created an in-house Aviation department at the urging of the Federal Aviation Administration to “ensure the safety of staff members and transplantable organs.”

2023 – Midwest Transplant Network is marking 50 years of Aviation and is the only organ procurement organization in the U.S. that owns and operates an aircraft. MTN staff can mobilize quickly to anywhere within the service area to support hospital partners and recover organs to maximize the gift of life.

Number of pilots: Five full-time and four part-time pilots
Range of experience: 8-48 years
Average experience: 20 years
Aviation career experience: military, private charter, private company, medical evacuation, regional airlines, flying bush planes in Alaska, or flying retired military aircraft.
Flight hours: Approximately 7.5 hours a week or 30 hours per month.
MTN service area: 150,000 sq miles covering the state of Kansas and western Missouri

A man standing next to the open door of a plane and talking to a woman.

Tom Carnahan, MTN pilot, and Genny Ly, organ procurement coordinator, stand outside the door of MTN’s aircraft during an orientation. The hangar door is open to a view of the downtown Kansas City skyline.

MTN’s airplane in the hangar, ready and waiting for its next flyout.

A pilot sits at the controls of a small plane.

Tim Overman, MTN pilot, sits at the controls of the plane to show the various screens of radar and other details necessary while flying a plane.

Midwest Transplant Network pilots in front of the MTN plane at the Charles B. Wheeler Downtown Airport in Kansas City, Missouri.