Today, the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) announced it has hired Elizabeth “Emy” Trende as its new chief legal officer and general counsel.
Trende oversees UNOS’ legal strategy, providing critical guidance to the organization, proactively monitoring regulatory changes, shaping compliance standards and mitigating legal risks.
Prior to joining UNOS, Trende served as a senior attorney in health care and life sciences for Squire Patton Boggs, an international law firm. In that role, she served hospitals, academic medical centers, integrated provider groups and health plans, clinical research organizations, drug and device distributors, medical transport partners, and entities in the commercial health care and technology space.
“As the health care industry evolves, having a strong, reliable chief legal officer, like Emy, ensures we can seize opportunities and navigate challenges effectively,” said Maureen McBride, Ph.D., CEO of UNOS. Emy will play a pivotal role in shaping UNOS’ company culture and safeguarding the organization’s integrity.”
Trende previously worked as senior assistant vice president and senior associate general counsel for the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, where she consulted on transplant matters, and worked as a health care and life sciences associate for the law firm, Jones Day. She served as the diversity and inclusion chairperson for the firm’s Columbus office. Early in her legal career, Trende also worked for two Richmond-based law firms: Hancock, Daniel, Johnson & Nagle, and Hunton & Williams. She is a member of the state bars of Virginia and Ohio.
Trende earned a bachelor’s degree in environmental science and public policy from Harvard University and a juris doctor from Georgetown University Law Center.
In addition to her health care legal expertise, she is founder and treasurer of The Mother Ship, an Ohio-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that promotes caretaker wellness for parents of children with special needs. She also serves as vice chair of the Academic Medical Centers and Teaching Hospitals Practice Group within the American Health Law Association.
About UNOS
United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) is the mission-driven non-profit serving as the nation’s transplant system under contract with the federal government. We lead the network of transplant hospitals, organ procurement organizations, and thousands of volunteers who are dedicated to honoring the gifts of life entrusted to us and to making lifesaving transplants possible for patients in need. Working together, we leverage data and advances in science and technology to continuously strengthen the system, increase the number of organs recovered and the number of transplants performed, and ensure patients across the nation have equitable access to transplant.
