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Strategic goals

Our vision is a lifesaving transplant for everyone in need

Save even more lives

Making the system stronger: In 2023, UNOS established an Action Agenda to propose reforms and recommend changes to make the U.S. donation and transplant system stronger, increase accountability, and ensure equitable access to transplant.

United Network for Organ Sharing is the private, non-profit organization that serves as the nation’s organ transplant system—the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN)—under contract with and oversight by the federal government. Our mission at UNOS is to unite and strengthen the organ donation and transplant community to save lives. Stewardship of the gift of life entrusted to us and accountability for providing fair and equitable access to transplant for everyone in need are the values that drive our work every day.

To fulfill our mission, the UNOS Board of Directors adopts a three year strategic plan to identify and prioritize key initiatives that will help us achieve our vision of a lifesaving transplant for everyone in need. They, along with the UNOS executive team, continuously measure the effectiveness of every initiative and actively seek new projects that will meet strategic objectives.

Always improving

Our system serves as the model for transplant systems around the world. It’s a unique public-private partnership that links all professionals involved in the U.S. donation and transplantation system. Medical professionals, transplant recipients, donor families, and representatives from transplant associations—thousands of individuals serving as OPTN volunteers—collaborate to develop organ transplantation policy and achieve key strategic plan goals.

This unique collaboration helps make lifesaving organ transplants possible each day.

OPTN

The Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network is the name of the transplant system in the United States. UNOS serves as the OPTN under contract with the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).

OPTN strategic goals

The OPTN Strategic Plan is a roadmap to help prioritize major OPTN initiatives over a three-year period.

  1. Increase the number of transplants
  2. Provide equity in access to transplants
  3. Improve waitlisted patient, living donor and transplant recipient outcomes
  4. Promote living donor and transplant recipient safety

Saving lives together

“We can do better, we must do better, and we will do better.”

Maureen McBride, Ph.D., UNOS CEO

Action Agenda

Actions to strengthen the U.S. organ donation and transplant system

Actions in progress

FAA: Organs back in the cabin?

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