DATE: November 21, 2024

Washington, D.C. – November 21, 2024 — The Kidney Transplant Collaborative (KTC), extends congratulations to Dr. Mehmet Oz on both his advocacy for living kidney donors and his recent nomination as CMS Administrator. His leadership in this space is a beacon of hope for the thousands of individuals waiting for a life-saving transplant.

Every 14 minutes, someone is added to the kidney transplant waiting list, and living donation offers the best chance for a timely and successful transplant. Advocating for measures like the inclusion of navigators and cost reimbursement in models such as IOTA, as supported by bipartisan lawmakers, is critical to empowering more individuals to become living donors.

Through his influential platform and leading voice, Dr. Oz has amplified the need for better public understanding of kidney health and the urgent demand for organ donors. He has been an advocate in raising awareness around preventative healthcare measures like the importance of screening and managing conditions such as diabetes and hypertension that critically impact kidney function. KTC urges Dr. Oz to continue to use his championing voice to promote awareness, education, and policies surrounding kidney disease, a life-threatening disease that affects millions of Americans, many of whom are unaware of their risk.

KTC remains committed and ready to advance efforts to make living kidney donation more accessible through education, collaboration, and advocacy. Together, transformative solutions can be developed to save lives and create a more robust support system for both donors and recipients.

About the Kidney Transplant Collaborative
The Kidney Transplant Collaborative (KTC) is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing kidney transplants and removing financial and logistical barriers for kidney patients, donors, and their families. Unlike other initiatives, KTC is specifically focused on increasing the number of living donor transplants in the United States through policy advocacy, education, and community organizing. For more details, visit www.kidneytransplantcollaborative.com.