History

A Record Breaking Year!

Thanks to the generosity of our donor families, 2022 was a record breaking year for the number of lives saved and healed through organ and tissue donation.  We had 292 organ donors with 714 organs transplant and 553 tissue donors.

First university-based Student Organ Donation Advocates chartered at University of Alabama

Student Organ Donation Advocates inspires and supports student-led organ and tissue donation education and registration efforts on high school, college, and graduate school campuses. 

Support UAB’s Uterine Transplant Program, the 1st program in the Southeast and 4th program in the U.S.

This program allowed for the first birth via uterus transplant outside of a clinical trial.

First Student Organ Donation Advocates chapter chartered at Chelsea High School

Partnered with UAB on groundbreaking Xenotransplant Research

Donate Life Alabama distinctive license plate became available

The Alabama Organ Center changes its name to Legacy of Hope

Children’s of Alabama performs first transplant and opens  Pediatric Transplant Program

First small bowel-liver transplant performed in Alabama, UAB Hospital

500^th liver transplant performed in Alabama

National Conditions of Participation enacted; required hospitals to refer all deaths and imminent deaths to the local Organ Procurement Organization (OPO)

500^th heart transplant performed in Alabama

First double-lung transplant performed in Alabama, UAB Hospital

3,000^th kidney transplant performed in Alabama

First lung transplant in Alabama, UAB Hospital

FDA approves Viaspan that greatly extends the preservation of donated livers

2,000^th kidney transplant performed in Alabama

First pancreas transplant in Alabama, UAB Hospital

First heart/lung transplant in Alabama, UAB Hospital

Changed name to Alabama Organ Center

Required Request Laws require hospitals to develop policies to identify patients as potential donors and approach families about organ donation

National Organ Transplant Act (NOTA) establishes nationwide computer registry operated by the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS); authorizes financial support for Organ Procurement Organizations (OPOs); prohibits buying or selling of organs in the United States

FDA approves Cyclosporine, the most successful anti-rejection medication developed to date

First liver transplant performed in Alabama, UAB Hospital

First bone procurement completed by Alabama Regional Organ Center

First heart transplant performed in Alabama by Dr. Robert Karp, UAB Hospital

Alabama Organ Bank established

First kidney transplant performed in Alabama by Dr. Arnold G. Diethelm, Veteran’s Administration Medical Center, Birmingham