OP-ED: Organ donation offers more than just hope — it brings out something that needs our attention

As a pediatrician, I have spent my career caring for patients and families during some of the most important moments of their lives. One lesson that has remained constant is that every patient has a story and every patient deserves to be heard.

National Minority Donor Awareness Month is an opportunity to recognize those stories while encouraging more New Yorkers to consider organ, eye, and tissue donation. It is also a time to acknowledge the health inequities that continue to affect many communities across our state and to raise awareness about the lifesaving impact that donation can have for individuals and families.

Today, more than 109,000 people across the United States are waiting for a lifesaving organ transplant, and more than 60% of those waiting are members of minority communities. Chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, and kidney disease disproportionately affect Black, Hispanic, Asian, Pacific Islander, and Indigenous communities, increasing the need for transplantation. For many patients, a transplant offers the best opportunity to live a longer, healthier life.

While anyone can register to become an organ donor, increasing the diversity of registered donors can improve opportunities for patients waiting for a compatible match. For kidney transplants, patients may have a better chance of finding a suitable match when donors share similar genetic ancestry. Expanding donor registration across all communities will help improve health equity and ensure more New Yorkers have access to the care they need.

Prevention remains the most effective tool. The healthiest transplant is the one that never becomes necessary because chronic disease was prevented or effectively managed. That is why New York State continues to invest in expanding access to quality healthcare, supporting preventive screenings, promoting healthy lifestyles, and ensuring New Yorkers can receive quality and compassionate care before an illness becomes life-threatening. Early detection, regular medical care, and healthy choices can help reduce the burden of chronic disease and improve health outcomes for individuals and communities.

Behind every number is a person waiting for the opportunity to live a healthier life. Behind every donor registration is someone with the ability to offer hope to another family during an incredibly difficult time. Organ donation is one of the most meaningful gifts a person can give, offering a second chance at life for someone they may never meet.

This National Minority Donor Awareness Month, I encourage every New Yorker to learn more about organ donation, have conversations with loved ones about their wishes, and consider registering as an organ donor. These conversations can help ensure that your loved ones understand your decision and the legacy you hope to leave behind. One decision has the potential to save multiple lives and leave a trail of generosity and compassion.

Together, we can strengthen our communities, reduce health disparities, and ensure more New Yorkers can receive the lifesaving care they need.

For more information on Donating and Transplantation:

New York State Donate Life Registry

Transplantation in New York State

Dr. James McDonald is the Commissioner of the New York State Department of Health.