The Indiana Donor Network Amplify Donation and Transplantation Summit is a day of inspiration and professional education from industry leaders and those with a personal connection to organ and tissue donation.
Nov. 7, 2024 | 8am – 5pm
502 East Event Centre 502 E Carmel Dr, Carmel, IN 46032
This event has reached maximum capacity, registration is now closed.
This activity has been submitted to Maryland Nurses Association for approval to award 5.75 contact hours. Maryland Nurses Association is accredited as an approver of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.
Under IC25-1-4-0.2, Indiana Donor Network is an approved provider for Respiratory Therapy Continuing Education programs. This program is 5.75 contact hours.
About Amplify Donation and Transplantation Summit
Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024 | 8am – 5pm 502 East Event Centre 502 E Carmel Dr, Carmel, IN 46032
Indiana Donor Network’s Amplify Donation and Transplantation Summit is an annual educational gathering for healthcare professionals to learn more about organ, tissue and cornea donation and transplantation. Breakfast and lunch will be provided with your registration. Need a hotel? Browse hotels nearby.
Agenda
Breakfast and lunch will be provided during the event, as well as snacks and coffee.Presentation topics are listed below. Click on presenter names to learn more.
Main Stage Presentations
Opening Keynote
Dr. Rusk will share her personal journey as bilateral lung transplant recipient and the impact that organ donation has on her work in guiding the next generation of healthcare professionals through her work at Indiana University School of Medicine.
Learn how Indiana Donor Network shares the importance and impact of organ and tissue donation with residents throughout Indiana through community education, advertising, events, news coverage and more.
Director of Community Development at Indiana Donor Network
The Present and Future of Organ Donation and Transplantation
With nearly three decades of clinical experience in multiple leadership roles in education and donation and transplantation, Dr. Lange is poised to offer a robust and informed perspective on the intricacies of organ donation, including the increase in donations after circulatory death.
Vice President of Clinical Operations and Medical Director at Indiana Donor Network
A Lasting Impact: The Care You Provide
Hear directly from the spouse of an organ donor and the bedside nurse who worked with her family about the lasting impact of the care provided during the donation process.
Director of Donor and Family Services at Indiana Donor Network
Register
This event has reached maximum capacity, registration is now closed.
Questions about this event? Please contact Christy Cannon, Hospital Program Coordinator, at CCannon@INDonorNetwork.org
Debra Rusk, MD
Debra is a Hoosier native growing up in the greater Indianapolis area. She is a proud Boilermaker having graduated from Purdue University in 1987 and earned her MD from the Indiana University School of Medicine (IUSM) in 1994. She completed a residency in the combined program Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, and later in Emergency Medicine. Dr. Rusk was the medicine director of a primary care health center on the East side of Indianapolis and cared for patients in the emergency departments at Wishard/Eskenazi, Riley Hospital for Children, and Methodist. In 2017, after struggling with progressively worsening bronchiectasis, she received the lifesaving gift of a bilateral lung transplant.
Dr. Rusk has focused on medical education throughout her career teaching medical students, residents, and fellows. She has served as core faculty in the IU Departments of Pediatrics and Emergency Medicine and the Motorsports Medicine fellowship, and was the prior program director for the IU combined residency training program in Emergency Medicine and Pediatrics. Dr. Rusk currently serves as an Assistant Dean in Medical Student Affairs at IUSM. Her focus is career mentoring, and she thrives on assisting medical students select a specialty, become the best possible candidate, and match into specialty and program for a career that will provide a lifetime of fulfillment as a physician.
Mark Back, MPH
Mark is a strategic communications leader currently serving as the director of marketing, communications, and public affairs for Indiana Donor Network. He has led award-winning marketing, communications, and public relations programs in a variety of fields including healthcare, government, NGO, aviation, environmental conservation and motorsports. He holds a Master of Public Health in policy and management from Indiana University, where he concentrated on healthcare communications, and a Bachelor of Science from Purdue University. Mark also currently serves as the president of the Hoosier Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America.
Emily Kibling, APR
Emily Kibling is a communications professional currently serving as the director of community development for Indiana Donor Network. In this role, she oversees the organizations youth and community outreach efforts, funeral home program and volunteer. She also oversees the management of Donate Life Indiana and the Indiana donor registry as well as all donor family and Foundation events. She has experience developing and executing strategic campaigns focused on public outreach, community engagement, public relations, internal communications and advertising in varying industries. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Iowa and is accredited by the Public Relations Society of America.
Paul Lange, MD
Paul joined Indiana Donor Network earlier this year, bringing with him nearly three decades of clinical experience and extensive involvement in graduate and undergraduate medical education. Before taking on leadership roles in the organ and tissue donation and transplantation industry, Dr. Lange spent 15 years with Ascension Borgess Health in Michigan, serving first as an intensivist, providing care for critically ill patients, then as chief of the department of critical care medicine and finally as president of Borgess Ascension Medical Group. He is also a clinical professor in the department of medicine at Western Michigan University Homer Stryker School of Medicine. He also served as chief medical officer at Gift of Life Michigan, the organ procurement organization for the state of Michigan.
Dr. Lange received a bachelor’s degree in biology and psychology from University of Michigan and a doctoral degree in medicine from Michigan State University College of Human Medicine. He completed a fellowship and postdoctoral training in pulmonary and critical care medicine at Cleveland Clinic. Following his fellowship, Dr. Lange served as medical director of the lung transplant program for University Hospitals of Cleveland at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine.
Dr. Lange is a member of many scientific and professional organizations, including the Society of Critical Care Medicine, American College of Chest Physicians, American Thoracic Society and American College of Physicians.
Ashley Wilcoxen & Brad Beaty, RN
When Ashley woke up on February 20, 2021 she did not know her life would be changed forever. Her husband Ryan suffered a spontaneous intercranial hemorrhage and was cared for at Community South Hospital for four days before progressing to brain death. During the time spent at Community South, not only was Ryan cared for by the medical team, Ashley and her family were as well. Ashley and one of her husband’s bedside nurses, Brad Beatty, will reunite to share their donation journey, highlighting the lasting impact Brad had on the Wilcoxen family.
Kaleigh Butler, BSN, RN, CPTC
Kaleigh Butler has served at Indiana Donor Network in the Organ Department for 4 years. She started her journey as an Organ Recovery Coordinator and then transitioned into her role as Organ AOC in February 2023. Kaleigh’s nursing background began in the Pediatric ICU at Riley Hospital for Children in 2017. After working bedside in critical care, she had the desire to pursue a career that would lead to great fulfillment and expand upon her passion to serve others.
Kristin Kroft, RN, BSN
Kristin has eight years of combined experience within the organization. Her background as a registered nurse on a neuro critical care unit grew her interest in organ donation. She initially joined Indiana Donor Network as an organ recovery coordinator then transitioned to an in-house clinical coordinator position to serve and facilitate donation at two of the largest trauma centers in Indianapolis and Ft. Wayne. With the combined skills from these two roles, she obtained the position as hospital administrator on-call, where she continues to dedicate her passion for organ and tissue donation.
Jennifer Suarez, MSc., D-ABMDI
Jennifer graduated from the Human Biology/Forensic Anthropology Master’s Program at the University of Indianapolis. She spent two years teaching high school science to underprivileged kids in Covington Kentucky with Teach for America before starting her employment Marion County Coroner’s Office in 2016. Jennifer currently serves as the Quality Assurance Deputy and a Training Deputy Coroner. In April 2024, she successfully passed certification examination to become a Diplomate of the American Board of Medical Death Investigators.
Jamie Rivas, MSW, LCSW
Jamie has served as the Director of Family and Donor Services at Indiana Donor Network since 2017. As a licensed clinical social worker, Jamie has a background in working with families in crisis that started in the fields of law enforcement, child protection services and adoption services in San Diego County. In 2007, she entered the healthcare field in Indianapolis, specializing in trauma center psychosocial assessment, specialty care populations, substance abuse case management and high-risk mental health interventions. She became personally connected to organ donation in 2001 and is professionally driven to make sure that family and aftercare services provide families with hope and healing.
Rich Amos, HDS-C, CPTC
Rich started with Indiana Donor Network in 2008 as an organ recovery coordinator, facilitating donor management and organ allocation. After multiple promotions within the organ services department, Rich now serves as the director of hospital services, overseeing referral response and hospital relations for Indiana Donor Network. He brings an informed view of both the clinical and logistical elements of organ donation to his work, with a keen understanding of the opportunities and hurdles within individual donation processes. Rich received his undergraduate degree from Bowling Green State University, is a certified procurement transplant coordinator, and earned additional certificates from University of Toledo Medical College, Purdue University and the Indiana Hospital Association.
Kira Newkirk, MSN, RN, CCRN-K
Kira brings over two decades of healthcare expertise to her role as Vice President of Business Operations at the Indiana Donor Network, where she has been a key team member for the past six years. With a focused mission to enhance hospital and coroner relationships, Kira plays a pivotal role in promoting and maximizing organ donation across the state. Kira’s leadership in these areas has significantly contributed to the growth and success of the Indiana Donor Network’s programs. Kira’s career in healthcare began over 20 years ago as a Critical Care Registered Nurse, a role in which she developed a profound understanding of patient care and the critical importance of organ donation. Kira holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from Indiana University and a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) from Capella University.
Christopher Salerno, MD, FACS, FACC
Surgical Director of the Mechanical Circulatory Assist Device and Heart Transplant Program, St. Vincent Hospital, Indianapolis
Ascension St. Vincent Medical Group is proud to continue their association with Dr. Christopher Salenro.
Dr. Salerno is the Surgical Director of the Mechanical Circulatory Assist Device and Heart Transplant Program for St. Vincent Hospital, Indianapolis,
Dr. Salerno specializes in Cardiac Transplantation, Mechanical Circulatory Assist Devices and Adult Cardiac Surgery.
He earned his medical degree from Rush Medical College.
Dr. Salerno completed his general surgery residency and his surgical infectious disease fellowship at the University of Minnesota School of Medicine.
He completed his cardiothoracic surgery and cardiopulmonary transplantation residencies at Stanford University.
Tara Storch
Public Speaker and Author
Tara Storch is first and foremost a wife and mom. She is mother to three, Taylor, Ryan and Peyton. She’s been married to her husband Todd, for 26 years. They live in the Dallas, Texas area.
Every day she strives to utilize her experiences as a marketing professional, award-winning author and community leader to make an impact on the world around her. Tara and her husband Todd, co-authored the award-winning book, Taylor’s Gift, which was recognized as the ‘Most Inspirational Book’ at the Books for A Better Life Awards in New York City. She was honored with the Legacy Award from the Texas A&M Women Former Students Network for the powerful impact she has made within the nation. She and her husband were also recognized as “Heroes Among Us” by People Magazine.
She currently sits on the United Network of Organ Sharing Board and organ donation and transplantation focused advisory boards and committees.
Opening up about her journey of finding hope and purpose after the loss of her daughter Taylor, she speaks publicly across the nation about her powerful “Outlive Yourself” message. Sharing her journey on Good Morning America, The Today Show, The Ellen Show, People Magazine and other national and international media, she brings a message of inspiration that is touching lives around the world.
Terri Lee Freeman was appointed president of the National Civil Rights Museum in November 2014. As president, Freeman is responsible for providing strategic leadership in furthering the museum’s mission as an educational and cultural institution. During her short tenure, Freeman has emphasized the connection between the historic civil rights era and today’s contemporary issues. Freeman has placed her emphasis on building the organization’s reputation as the new public square. Through her collaborative approach to the work, she has increased visitor engagement with the Museum’s public programs four-fold.
Prior to joining the National Civil Rights Museum, Ms. Freeman worked in both community and corporate philanthropy, serving as president of the Community Foundation for the National Capital Region, in Washington, D.C., and as the founding executive director of the Freddie Mac Foundation, where she developed an intense passion for the nonprofit sector and community.
A graduate of the 2016 class of Leadership Memphis, Ms. Freeman serves on several boards, including the Community Foundation for Greater Memphis, the Orpheum Theatre Group, New Memphis Institute, Memphis Brand Initiative, Urban Teachers and the Southeastern Council of Foundations.
Freeman received her bachelor’s degree in journalism/communication arts from the University of Dayton and her Master’s degree in organizational communications from Howard University. Terri was able to give the gift of life by donating her kidney to her husband, Dr. Bowyer G. Freeman. She is a proud mother of three daughters and three grandchildren.
