From Awareness to Action: Why Organ Donation Matters
On November 24, 2025, students from the Institute for Health Professions at Cambria Heights (IHPCH) toured the headquarters of LiveOnNY, a federally designated organ procurement organization based in Long Island City, Queens.
During their visit, students were given a rare, behind-the-scenes look at the organ donation and transplant preparation process — including viewing two human kidneys preserved in mechanical pumps, one destined for transport to a recipient and the other waiting for a suitable match in LiveOnNY’s “rescue room.”
The visit also included a tour of the new Donate Eight Simulation Center, an advanced facility designed to replicate an ICU environment. There, students observed training simulations used by transplant coordinators to practice critical-care management, donor maintenance, and family conversations.
LiveOnNY staff and recipients shared personal stories, helping demystify misconceptions around organ donation and illustrating its life-saving impact. The experience was “thought-provoking,” according to students preparing for medical careers — many said the visit encouraged them to consider registering as organ donors.
This educational outreach underscores LiveOnNY’s commitment to public awareness and professional training — offering future healthcare workers and community members a powerful and transparent view of the donation process, and encouraging new donors to help save lives.
During their visit, students were given a rare, behind-the-scenes look at the organ donation and transplant preparation process — including viewing two human kidneys preserved in mechanical pumps, one destined for transport to a recipient and the other waiting for a suitable match in LiveOnNY’s “rescue room.”
The visit also included a tour of the new Donate Eight Simulation Center, an advanced facility designed to replicate an ICU environment. There, students observed training simulations used by transplant coordinators to practice critical-care management, donor maintenance, and family conversations.
LiveOnNY staff and recipients shared personal stories, helping demystify misconceptions around organ donation and illustrating its life-saving impact. The experience was “thought-provoking,” according to students preparing for medical careers — many said the visit encouraged them to consider registering as organ donors.
This educational outreach underscores LiveOnNY’s commitment to public awareness and professional training — offering future healthcare workers and community members a powerful and transparent view of the donation process, and encouraging new donors to help save lives.
