Columbia, S.C - We Are Sharing Hope SC (SHSC), South Carolina’s federally designated organ, eye and tissue recovery organization, partnered with Artivion, a leading cardiovascular and thoracic tissue processor, to host a first-of-its-kind global wet lab. The wet lab is a hands-on training that allows participants to observe real biological procedures to advance donation education and practice. South Carolina coroners, pathologists, medical examiners and recovery professionals observed the training at SHSC's Columbia office, which was also broadcast internationally.
The lab focused on cardiovascular tissue recovery, including the heart for valves and the descending thoracic aorta (DTA). Artivion’s pathologist, Dr. Mitchell, led a presentation on cardiac pathology reporting, tissue handling and examination and post-donation analysis. Following the recovery demonstration, participants joined an open discussion to expand understanding of cardiovascular tissue recovery and strengthen collaboration between medical examiners, coroners and donation professionals.
By equipping coroners with best practices, SHSC and Artivion aim to ensure more donor heroes wishes are honored and remain eligible for donation. “Coroners are vital partners in ensuring donation can occur while still respecting the integrity of an investigation,” said Michael Palmisano, Director of Tissue Operations & Services at We Are Sharing Hope SC. “By working together, we can bring hope to grieving families, provide answers and honor the incredible gift of donation. When we strengthen these collaborations, we create more opportunities to heal lives through the power of tissue donation.”
Donated tissue can restore mobility and sight and improve the quality of life for patients with severe burns, traumatic injuries and heart disease. Typical applications include repairing damaged heart valves, restoring sight through corneal transplants, healing burns with skin grafts, reconstructing musculoskeletal injuries with bone and tendon grafts and repairing blood vessels. With just one tissue donor able to heal and enhance up to 75 lives, education and collaboration in this space directly increase opportunities for patients to receive life-changing gifts.