Let’s explore transplant together
Congratulations on deciding to learn more about kidney transplant and living donation. Whether you are a patient, family member, friend, potential donor, or healthcare provider, we are here to help.
Explore Transplant is a national consortium of leading experts in transplant, health literacy, and research. Our commitment is to provide you with the best education and decision-making tools available.
Latest news
💚 Meet Dr. Valinda Bell-Jones, DNP, RN — from transplant recipient to trailblazer in peer support.
A living donor kidney transplant recipient, DNP-prepared nurse, and national advocate, Dr. Bell-Jones is transforming lived experience into lasting impact. After earning her Doctor of Nursing Practice in December 2025, she partnered with Dr. Amy Waterman’s Patient Engagement (PE) Lab to design a Kidney Transplant Peer Mentor Educational Intervention—a project rooted in compassion, evidence, and patient empowerment.
✨ Her vision?
Peer support as a standard of care.
Education that meets patients where they are.
And transplant systems that center lived experience alongside clinical excellence.
From joining a kidney chain to serving as Vice President of the OPTN Board of Directors, Dr. Bell-Jones continues to lead with purpose—bridging advocacy, research, and real-world change.
📣 Her advice to future collaborators: “Just do it.”
Read her full blog here: exploretransplant.org/meet-dr-valinda-bell-jones-dnp-rn-from-transplant-recipient-to-trailblazer-...
#PatientEmpowerment #PeerSupportMatters #TransplantAdvocate #LivingWithTransplant #KidneyTransplant #PatientCenteredCare #NurseLeaders #HealthEquity #PELab #TransplantInnovation #LivedExperienceLeads
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
💚 Meet Jane — a living kidney donor who gave the gift of life to a complete stranger.
After reading a newspaper article, Jane asked herself a simple but powerful question: “Why not?”
Healthy, informed, and full of compassion, she chose to donate her left kidney in 2018—because she believed everyone deserves a little luck in life.
✨ Her life after donation?
Just as full as before. Kayaking. Biking. Running a 5K. And living proof that living donation can be safe, supported, and deeply meaningful.
Jane’s message is simple:
If we all help someone a little—or a lot—the world becomes a better place.
🎥 Watch Jane’s full story and others like hers through the LivingDonationStorytellingProject.com and see how everyday people are making extraordinary impact.
#LivingDonation #LivingKidneyDonor #DonationStory #GiveLife #TransplantStories #OrganDonationAwareness #LivingDonorStrong #ShareYourStory #HealthcareHeroes #OneActCanSaveALife #LivingDonationStorytellingProject
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
🚀 Meet Dr. Kenneth J. Woodside — Bridging science, systems & stories in transplantation!
As Surgical Director of Sharing Hope South Carolina and Faculty Collaborator with the Patient Engagement Research Lab, Dr. Woodside brings decades of experience—and heart—to improving access to life-saving transplants.
From expanding the use of higher-risk organs to mentoring future transplant leaders, his mission is simple but powerful: make transplantation more equitable, innovative, and connected.
💬 “I hope we increase not just access to transplant, but understanding across the entire transplant ecosystem.”
✨ Read his full story and discover how collaboration and compassion are shaping the future of transplant care : exploretransplant.org/meet-dr-kenneth-j-woodside-uniting-transplant-systems-with-vision-data-and-...
#TransplantCare #OrganDonation #TransplantAccess #TransplantResearch #HealthcareInnovation #HealthEquity #LivingDonation #PatientEngagement #TransplantCommunity #SavingLives #LeadershipInHealth #SharingHope #TransplantInspiration
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
✨ “It’s an important time to be innovative.” — Dr. Amy Waterman
Organs + innovation + people = a future of better lives.
Dr. Waterman shares how the transplant field is evolving right now—and how technology, compassion & patient voices must lead the way. From AI risk models and remote care to patient-informed education and living donor programs, she’s creating the roadmap.
🌱 Let’s reimagine transplantation together. Read how and why: www.organdonationalliance.org/alliance-news/be-innovative-in-this-time-of-transition-in-transplan...
#OrganDonation #TransplantCare #InnovationInHealth #PatientStories #DonateLife #LivingDonation #AIHealthcare #HealthEquity #PatientEngagement
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
“After my transplant, my life changed completely.”
Meet Arturo from Texas, who received a double lung transplant 10 years ago after battling pulmonary fibrosis. His journey wasn’t easy — at one point, pneumonia put his transplant hopes at risk. But with faith, family, and the support of his doctors and nurses, Arturo pulled through.
✨ Today, he’s full of energy — back to working, running, and playing with his grandchildren. His message to others waiting for a transplant:
💬 “Have faith, don’t give up. Trust your doctors, trust God, and stay strong — you can overcome this.”
Watch Arturo’s full story and more inspiring transplant journeys at Health Stories for You.
🔗 HealthStories4U.org & livingdonationstories.org
“Después de mi trasplante, mi vida cambió por completo.”
Conoce a Arturo de Texas, quien recibió un trasplante doble de pulmón hace 10 años después de luchar contra la fibrosis pulmonar. Su camino no fue fácil — incluso enfermó de neumonía y pensó que nunca recibiría sus pulmones. Pero gracias a su fe, su familia y su equipo médico, Arturo logró salir adelante.
✨ Hoy es un hombre lleno de vida y energía, trabajando y jugando con sus nietos. Su mensaje para quienes esperan un trasplante:
💬 “Tengan fe, no se rindan. Confíen en sus doctores, en Dios, y manténganse fuertes.”
Mira la historia completa de Arturo y otras inspiradoras en Health Stories for You.
🔗 HealthStories4U.org y livingdonationstories.org
.
.
.
.
#LungTransplant #TransplantJourney #DonateLife #OrganDonation #HealthStoriesForYou #TransplantStrong #HopeAndHealing #HistoriasDeSalud #TrasplanteDePulmón #FeEsperanzaYVida
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
💖 “My life has begun again.”
Meet Mandy from Texas, who received a life-saving heart transplant 5 years ago. Before her transplant, Mandy lived in fear—afraid to leave her house, exhausted from heart failure, Transient Ischemic Attack (TIAs -known as strokes), and being shocked repeatedly by her ICD.
✨ Today, everything is different. She hikes, travels, and celebrates life’s milestones—watching her sons graduate, seeing one get married, and celebrating her 30th anniversary.
Her message to others waiting for a transplant: Be patient. The hardest part is not knowing when your gift will come—but when it does, it’s worth the wait.
➡️ Watch Mandy’s full journey and other inspiring patient stories at Health Stories for You.
🎥 healthstories4u.org
🎥 livingdonationstories.org
.
.
💫 Like, share, and help spread the word about this beautiful journey!
.
.
.
👫Tag someone who needs to hear this!
.
.
👍 LIKE, COMMENT, SHARE, AND FOLLOW to get more inspiring stories! #healthstories4u
.
.
.
.
🎥 healthstories4u.org
🎥 livingdonationstories.org
.
.
💫 Like, share, and help spread the word about this beautiful journey!
.
.
.
👫Tag someone who needs to hear this!
.
.
👍 LIKE, COMMENT, SHARE, AND FOLLOW to get more inspiring stories! #livingdonationstorytelling
.
.
.
.
#HeartTransplant #DonateLife #TransplantStrong #HealthStoriesForYou #OrganDonation #HopeAndHealing #TransplantJourney #PatientVoicesMatter
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
Imagine if you had honest stories from people—donors and recipients—that help you decide whether living kidney donation could be right for you. That’s what we’ve been building.
At Houston Methodist, Dr. Amy Waterman’s team is using AI to understand real fears & questions that show up in people’s online searches, and our Living Donation Storytelling Library (200+ videos in English, Spanish, and French) allows you to watch first-hand accounts from people just like you.
Proud to be working alongside Amy on the Digital Storytelling Project, helping make these stories available, real, and helpful—for those thinking about donation, their families, or anyone who just wants the facts.
🔗 Read the full article & see how AI + real stories are helping support living donors: read.houstonmethodist.org/artificial-intelligence-helps-support-potential-living-kidney-donors-o#...
.
.
.
To learn more about the library, visit the website: The Living Donation Storytelling Project here: livingdonationstories.org/
.
.
.
#LivingDonation #KidneyHealth #AIforHealth #PatientStories #DonateLife #TransplantEducation #HealthEquity #DigitalStorytelling #HoustonMethodist
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
🏃♀️💚 Houston showed up BIG for the 2025 LifeGift 2nd Chance Run!
On September 13, 2025, Houston Methodist Patient Engagement Lab joined hundreds of runners, transplant recipients, living donors, donor families, and supporters to celebrate the gift of life and honor those impacted by organ, eye, and tissue donation.
✨ Why We Run:
💚 To honor the selfless donors who gave the gift of life
💚 To celebrate the courage of transplant recipients and those waiting
💚 To support donor families and uplift their loved ones’ legacies
💚 To raise awareness about the power of donation and encourage others to register
🙌 Huge thanks to the many vendors, volunteers, and community partners who came out to cheer, support, and make this day unforgettable.
Let’s keep spreading the word: One donor can save up to 8 lives and enhance many more. 💚
Help inspire others to say YES to donation!
.
.
.
#LifeGift #2ndChanceRun #DonateLife #OrganDonation #TransplantStrong #GiftOfLife #LivingDonation #HoustonEvents #DonateLifeTexas #LifeGiftHouston #TransplantAwareness #CommunitySupport #RunnersOfHouston
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
💙 “Hello, my name is Jan…” That’s how her powerful story begins. After being diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and told she had only 3–5 years without a lung transplant, Jan refused to give up. With the love of her husband, children, grandchildren, and friends, she held onto hope.
In August 2016, at age 65, Jan received her life-saving single lung transplant. Today, she’s living proof that strength, faith, and family support can carry you through the hardest times. 🙏💪
✨ Watch Jan’s full journey and hear more stories of resilience and hope at Health Stories for You.
🎥 healthstories4u.org
🎥 livingdonationstories.org
.
.
💫 Like, share, and help spread the word about this beautiful journey!
.
.
.
👫Tag someone who needs to hear this!
.
.
👍 LIKE, COMMENT, SHARE, AND FOLLOW to get more inspiring stories! #healthstories4u
.
.
.
.
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
🌟 The Human Side of AI: Transforming Transplant Care 🌟
At the Alliance National Innovation Forum, Dr. Amy Waterman introduced a human-technology co-care model that blends AI with compassionate, human-centered medical care.
✨ Key highlights:
✅ Using AI to personalize support tools for patients
✅ Scraping 200K+ online comments to understand real patient concerns
✅ Creating 3 donor profiles – Caretakers, Purpose Seekers, and Pragmatists – to better connect with what motivates people to give the gift of life
✅ Predictive models to help high-risk patients complete transplant evaluation
This work proves that when AI is grounded in empathy, it can expand access, reduce barriers, and improve outcomes for transplant patients everywhere.
🔗 Read the full piece and learn how this innovation is shaping the future of donation and transplantation: www.organdonationalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Illuminating-Innovation-The-Human-Side-o...
#AIHealthcare #OrganDonation #TransplantInnovation #PatientCenteredCare #machinelearning #digitalhealth #HealthTech #kidneytransplant #InnovationWithImpact #humansideofai #TheAlliance
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
Transplant news
INSIGHTS FROM KIDNEY RECIPIENTS, LIVING DONORS AND TRANSPLANT PROFESSIONALS
Meet Dr. Valinda Bell-Jones, DNP, RN: From Transplant Recipient to Trailblazer in Peer Support
Living Donor Kidney Transplant Recipient | DNP-Prepared Nurse | Advocate for Patient Empowerment A New Chapter in a Lifelong Mission After earning her Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree in December 2025, Dr. Valinda Bell-Jones is now actively seeking employment in the field she’s most passionate about—kidney transplantation. While she paused her professional work to pursue her studies, she never …Read more
Meet Christina Goalby: A Life’s Work in Kidney Health Education and Advocacy
Senior Leader at Health Literacy Media and the Patient Engagement Lab A Dual Role, One Mission Christina Goalby brings a rare blend of experience, passion, and vision to her roles at both Health Literacy Media (HLM) in St. Louis and Dr. Amy Waterman’s Patient Engagement (PE) Lab at Houston Methodist Hospital. In both institutions, Christina leads efforts focused on kidney transplant and living donation education …Read more
Meet Dr. Kenneth J. Woodside: Uniting Transplant Systems with Vision, Data, and Heart
Surgical Director, Sharing Hope South Carolina | Faculty Collaborator, PE Lab A Lifelong Commitment to Transplant Dr. Kenneth J. Woodside serves as the Surgical Director of Sharing Hope South Carolina, where he plays a leading role in advancing organ recovery and transplant services across the region. His journey in transplant began remarkably early—at just 19 years old—and has since evolved into a career …Read more