Dr. Pradeep Vaitla, MD FASN, has been appointed to the Pancreas Committee of Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN). In this role, Dr. Vaitla will represent Region 3, which includes Mississippi, Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, Arkansas, and Puerto Rico. His term will last 3 years and is set to begin on July 1, 2020.

The Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network is a unique public-private partnership that links all professionals involved in the U.S. donation and transplantation system. The Pancreas Transplantation Committee is charged with considering medical, scientific, and ethical aspects related to pancreas and islet organ procurement, distribution, and allocation. Committees work to build consensus within the transplant community on policies that affect transplant patients nationwide. By studying evidence-based research, the committee works together to continually improve national transplant policy. The goal of the committee’s work is to develop evidence-based policies aimed at reducing the burden of disease in pancreas and islet candidates and recipients, increasing pancreas and islet utilization, improving access to pancreas and islet transplantation as appropriate, and improving the health outcomes of pancreas and islet transplant recipients. To learn more, visit https://optn.transplant.hrsa.gov/.

We are very proud to have a department and UMMC faculty serve on this very important committee. Congratulations Dr. Vaitla!