Pgm #62: Transplant life experience from two sides

Double lung transplant recipient and transplant coordinator nurse, George Alburger from Einstein Medical Center will offer a two pronged sharing.

Part 1: getting and responding to that difficult letter from donor family.
Part 2: the transition from recipient to transplant coordinator.

George Alburger, MSN, RN, was recently recognized by Gift of Life for his tireless work to improve the organ and tissue donation process throughout his nursing career, most recently as the Nurse Manager of the Surgical Intensive Care Unit at Einstein Medical Center Philadelphia. For the past ten years, Alburger has chaired the Collaborative Donation Team at Einstein Philadelphia which meets regularly to analyze and make recommendations for the donation process. He has developed and implemented numerous training programs for hospital staff and is currently spearheading Einstein’s donor designation campaign with the Hospital Association of Pennsylvania.

Alburger’s most significant contribution has been his dedication and advocacy for organ donation on the Intensive Care Unit. His commitment in the clinical setting has resulted in 336 patients receiving life-saving transplants from 126 organ donors at Einstein Philadelphia. Alburger has also been on the receiving end of this work, having received a lung transplant in 2010. He not only lends his professional expertise as a nursing leader but also as an active volunteer; he and his family have supported the Dash for Organ Donor Awareness through his “Air George” team, have participated in the Home Cook Heroes program, providing meals for families staying at the Gift of Life Family House while their loved one is in the hospital, and serving as a volunteer speaker at Organ and Tissue Donor Awareness Night with the Philadelphia Phillies.