Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness

Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness (OTDA) is an initiative that aims to raise awareness about organ and tissue donation to students. Organ and tissue donation improves health and saves lives – with one organ donor saving up to eight lives while tissue donation enhances the lives of up to 75 individuals. This year, transplant recipients and physicians will share their stories to gain an understanding of the process behind organ and tissue donation and transplantation. Further, we aim to provide talks about ongoing research in Canada on transplant surgery.

While there has been an increase in organ and tissue donation rates in Alberta since 2011, the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a 14% decrease in solid organ transplants in 2020. As of 2021, there were 4043 Canadians on the waitlist to receive a transplant and 250 Canadians died while waiting. Therefore, we will host events that educate students on organ and tissue donation and encourage them to sign up for the Alberta Organ and Tissue Donation register.