Three former University of Nebraska athletes and a present Cornhusker coach are lending their support to a statewide advertising campaign being launched this month by the University of Nebraska Medical Center to create awareness for the need for more organ, tissue and bone marrow donors.
The advertisements feature former Nebraska championship quarterbacks Jerry Tagge and Tommie Frazier, former Nebraska volleyball All-American and U.S. Olympian Lori Endicott and Husker volleyball coach Terry Pettit.
The campaign can be seen throughout the state on all four television networks and in the weekend editions of many of the state’s daily newspapers. The commercials are running Sept. 15 through Oct. 5.
“The shortage of organ and bone marrow donors is a critical issue for the people of Nebraska and the surrounding region,” said Byers W. Shaw, Jr., M.D., chairman and professor of the UNMC department of surgery. “Even though Nebraska’s transplant programs are ranked among the best in the world, Nebraska only ranks No. 24 among all states in producing donors based on our population.
“We want to be first in this vital category. For the nearly 400 people awaiting organ transplants in Nebraska’s programs, we believe no other goal could be more important. Bone marrow or stem cell transplants also have a dire need for donors, because many patients can’t find a related donor.”
Dr. Shaw, who started UNMC’s liver transplant program in 1985, noted that another Midwestern state — Wisconsin — ranks as the No. 1 state in producing donors. Other leading donor states include Florida, Ohio, California and Arkansas.
Dr. Shaw said the advertising campaign addresses the critical shortage of organ, tissue and bone marrow donors and will serve as a prelude to the opening of The Lied Transplant Center at UNMC in late 1998.
The Lied Transplant Center will serve as a national model for other transplant programs. The 13-level building will feature 44 patient care suites as well as considerable space devoted to transplant research. Patients staying at the center will be part of an innovative cooperative care delivery system in which family or friends participate in appropriate educational programs and serve as care partners for the basic care needs of patients.
Nebraskans have always been receptive to helping people in need, and that’s what organ, tissue and bone marrow donation is all about,” Dr. Shaw said. “If successful, this campaign will benefit not just UNMC, but all the transplant programs in the state.”
The theme of the advertising campaign is “Be a Hero for Life.” As part of the campaign, The Lied Transplant Center is offering a special donor’s kit with information on how people can become an organ, tissue or bone marrow donor. People can receive a kit by calling a toll-free number, 1-888-805-1115.
UNMC is the only public academic health science center in the state. Through its commitment to research, education and patient care, UNMC has established itself as one of the country’s leading centers for cancer research and treatment and solid organ transplantation. Nearly $25 million in research grants and contracts are awarded to UNMC scientists annually. In addition, UNMC’s educational programs are responsible for training more health professionals practicing in Nebraska than any other institution.