Education continues to be one of the most critical needs for transplant professionals and is the number one reason why people join AST. The American Transplant Congress and the American Journal of Transplantation are two significant offerings most often appreciated by members. But we don’t rest on our laurels — instead we strive to continue to find ways to update skills, highlight critical issues and, moving forward, serve as a resource for maintenance of certification.

Over the last year, we have moved entirely to a volunteer committee responsible for the oversight of all our...

We begin each year with the best of intentions. We make resolutions. We vow change. We commit ourselves to improvement.

I’ve seen you.

You're in my gym each morning before dawn, taking the boot camp session with the trainer, sweating, scoping out the maniacal fitness freaks to learn their secret. Often we don't share our development goals publicly because part of us realizes that it’s going to be difficult to keep these promises. It’s that same part of us that sneaks cupcakes after dark. Sometimes, life gets in the way.

Me? These days, I've learned not to make...

Perhaps you read the recent New York Times article by Kevin Sack entitled, “Hospitals Ordered to Do More to Protect Kidney Donors”. Were you as outraged as I was (and still am)?

The article highlights the UNOS Board meeting of November 12, in which the Board accepted a series of recommendations by the Living Donor Committee to provide for mandated and timed follow up of all living kidney donors with required acceptable percentages for immediate implementation, as well as the need...

There is a common saying in Washington, DC that, “all politics is local” – meaning that most elected representatives are forced to address the concerns of their home state constituents before all else if they’re to remain in office. The past few elections have challenged this contention though, and many larger national issues like terrorism and the economy have taken over the public consciousness.

But let’s not forget – YOU elected your representative in government. Aren’t you curious about what they’ve been up to? After all, you don’t hire a home contractor and then go on...