St. Joseph Mercy Ann Arbor wins prestigious Gift of Life Michigan Hospital of the Year Award
April 8, 2019April 9, 2019
ANN ARBOR, MI— Gift of Life Michigan has chosen St. Joseph Mercy Ann Arbor to receive its 2019 Hospital of the Year Award, recognizing its extraordinary work to help fulfill the wishes of organ donors and their families.
It’s the first such award to be given by Michigan’s designated organ recovery program.
St. Joseph Mercy Ann Arbor was selected because it collaborates with Gift of Life at a very high level that includes – among other things – its willingness to do CTs and other tests on donors from hospitals statewide before they’re transferred to Gift of Life’s Ann Arbor Surgical Center. The hospital also serves a crucial role as Gift of Life’s backup blood bank and lab.
Gift of Life also selected Mary Johnson, Patient Resource Manager at St. Joseph Mercy Ann Arbor, for its Lifetime Achievement Award. Johnson has worked with Gift of Life for 44 years in various roles at the hospital, showing compassion, commitment, innovation, and a strong desire to honor life through donation.
Johnson and hospital leadership will accept their awards at the inaugural Gift of Life Champions Gala on April 5. They will join 16 Champions in other categories from across the state.
“We’re absolutely thrilled to host – for the first time – an event that will shine a light on the best of the best in the important work that’s carried out every day to save and transform lives through organ and tissue donation,” CEO Dorrie Dils said.
“We couldn’t do our work without incredible people like Mary Johnson employed at dedicated donor hospitals like St. Joseph Mercy
Ann Arbor,” Dils said. “It’s time to celebrate what they do every single day to help donors and families give their final gifts to others.”
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- As the state’s only federally designated organ donor program, Gift of Life Michigan is the intermediary between donors, their families and hospital staff. Gift of Life, in collaboration with Eversight, provides all services necessary for organ, tissue and eye donation.
- More than 3,000 patients in Michigan are waiting for a life-saving organ transplant.
- Anyone can join the Michigan Organ Donor Registry, regardless of age or health history. To sign up, visit golm.org or call 866.500.5801.