Baker Donelson's Melodie Hengerer Named to Advisory Board of Newly Launched Mason Center for Organ Donation and Transplant Education

Ms. Hengerer, an attorney well-versed in legal aspects of organ donation and transplantation, will serve on the advisory board along with representatives from partner organizations and departments, as well as a Georgia donor or recipient.

Brian H. Childs, M.Div., Ph.D., HEC-C, who was named director of the Mason Center, said, "I am pleased that this Center represents a significant milestone in our commitment to advance knowledge and shape policy in the field of organ donation and transplantation. We have a dedicated team of experts, a committed and impressive advisory board, and we intend to collaborate with researchers and educators to expand explorations in this important field."

In her legal practice, Ms. Hengerer represents a broad range of health care providers, organ procurement organizations (OPOs), tissue banks, and other industry clients in navigating complex legal and regulatory challenges related to organ donation and transplantation. Her experience includes advising donor hospitals, transplant centers, and OPOs regarding regulatory and clinical compliance issues, government investigations, navigation of organ allocation and performance measurement standards, reimbursement, contract drafting and negotiation, litigation of claims, corporate governance, health equity in transplantation, and OPO mergers and acquisitions. She is an individual member of the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN).

The Carlos and Marguerite Mason Center for Organ Donation and Transplant Education and Policy is an endowed Center that promotes organ donation by focusing on the facets of donation - cadaveric and living donors - for the state of Georgia. Its objective is to provide education to medical students, health care professionals, and people across the state by designing curriculum, offering seminars and community programs, having the Mason Center's director speak to health professionals and community groups, writing policy papers, and presenting research at state and national meetings to enhance the visibility and viability of the organ donation issues.

The Carlos and Marguerite Mason Trust was created by a bequest from Marguerite Mason, whose intent was to provide financial assistance to residents of the state of Georgia for organ transplants, and for the purpose of research in methods of improving organ transplant. The Mason Center's full press release is available here.