Today the National Kidney Registry announced the addition of three microsite donor mentors to its microsite program.
The microsite program provides free websites and coaching to transplant patients seeking a living donor to increase their chances of achieving a living donor transplant. Donor candidates who sign up for the donation process through a patient’s microsite will have the option to work with a microsite donor mentor—a living kidney donor who can explain the process, answer questions, and offer insights based on their own kidney donation experience.
The new donor mentors are Jon Sullenberger, Nicole Cheslock, and Stefanie Sbandi. Sullenberger, Lead Microsite Donor Mentor, donated a kidney on behalf of his spouse through the Standard Voucher Program in 2020. Cheslock donated a kidney to her dad on his 77th birthday in June 2022. Sbandi donated in August 2023 as a Standard Voucher donor on behalf of her lifelong friend.
Sullenberger believes education is key for donors and recipients, and his mentoring focus is centered around achieving the best possible outcomes for both groups. “Mentors must be well-versed in donation options, the matching process, and available support and protections afforded to donors and recipients,” he said.
“Microsite donor mentors provide valuable support to potential microsite donors by sharing their own unique experiences and helping them navigate the kidney donation process,” said Samantha Hil, Microsite Product Manager.
Launched in February 2019, the microsite program has achieved more than 590 living donor transplants. A total of 59 transplant centers nationwide now participate in the NKR’s microsite program, giving kidney patients more opportunities than ever to receive a living donor kidney transplant.
About FindAKidney.org
Living kidney donor transplants last longer than deceased donor transplants, yet of the 18,000 annual kidney transplants, only 6,000 are from living donors. FindAKidney.org aims to end that imbalance by giving kidney patients the tools and information they need to find a living donor.
About the National Kidney Registry
The National Kidney Registry (www.kidneyregistry.org) is an organization whose mission is to save and improve the lives of people facing kidney failure by increasing the quality, speed, and number of living donor transplants while protecting all living donors.