Dr. Kenneth Andreoni, a transplant surgeon and director of the renal transplant program at UNC Hospitals, stressed the importance of organ donation and research to a group of about 90 students Wednesday.
“Almost 90,000 people are waiting for life-saving organ transplants,” he said.
The student groups Life Takes Guts and Socially Conscious Science co-sponsored the event, which was held in 431 Greenlaw Hall, to raise student awareness.
Laura Musselwhite, member of Life Takes Guts, said the forum was intended to inform students about organ donation policies and procedures.
“There are a lot of misconceptions about organ donation in North Carolina,” she said. “We thought the best way to address those misconceptions was to bring in an expert.”
Andreoni said hypertension diabetes is high in North Carolina when compared to other areas, so the transplant issue is extremely important.
He also said that in the long run, a transplant not only increases life expectancy and quality, but also is less expensive to taxpayers.
“Although a transplant is expensive initially, it is cheaper than dialysis after less than two years of the surgery.”
Andreoni spoke about the history of organ donation and how it has progressed with today’s technology, including stem-cell research.
