Heckenkemper Leader in Transplant Administration / Quality Award
Awarding excellence
Established in memory of Deedle Heckenkemper, this award honors the contributions he made in the foundation and development of the OPTN Transplant Administrators Committee and the donation and transplantation community.
Nominations
The UNOS Transplant Management Forum Advisory Group will collect nominations for the Annual Heckenkemper Leader in Transplant Administration / Quality Award to be presented at the UNOS Transplant Management Forum in May 2025.
Call for nominations will open October 2025.
Deadline to submit nominations is Nov. 30, 2025.
Eligibility and award process
Members of the UNOS Transplant Management Forum Advisory Group, UNOS Board of Directors, OPTN Transplant Administrators Committee and OPTN Board of Directors are not eligible to win the award.
The UNOS Transplant Management Forum Advisory Group will review all nominations and select the winner based on specific criteria. We will notify all award nominees and the winner in advance of the award presentation.
2025
Derek Ginos, MHA, FACHE
Administrative Director, Director of operations for abdominal transplant services, Intermountain Health
2024
Nancy Metzler
Executive Director of Transplant Services
University of Rochester Medical Center
2023
Marian O’Rourke, RN, CTCC
Director, Quality, Compliance and Outcomes Management
Jackson Health System
2022 – Jennifer Milton, BSN, CCTC, MBA
2021 – Linda Ohler, MSN, RN, CCTC, FAAN, FAS
2020 – Ian Jamieson, MBA, MHA
2019 – Brigitte Sullivan, MBA
2018 – Gwen E. McNatt, RN, CNN, FNP-BC
2017 – Gene Ridolfi, BA, RN, MHA
2016 – Betty Crandall, MS, RN
2015 – Tracy Giacoma, RN, MSN, MBA, FACHE
2014 – Alexander Aussi, BSN, RN, MBA
2013 – Angie Korsun, RN, MSN, MPA
2012 – Edward Zavala, MBA
The Heckenkemper Leader in Transplant Administration / Quality Award is graciously sponsored by Guidry & East, LLC
