End Kidney Deaths Act Individual Supporters

  • Eminent transplant surgeon Dr. Robert Montgomery, MD, a supporter of the passage of the End Kidney Deaths Act.

    Dr. Robert Montgomery, MD

    Transplant Surgeon, Director of the NYU Langone Transplant Institute,
    Heart Recipient

  • Portrait of a woman with short, light brown hair, wearing a black top, smiling, against a brown background.

    Dr. Sally Satel, MD

    Psychiatrist, Yale School of Medicine,
    Kidney Recipient

  • A man with gray hair and glasses speaking, wearing a blue shirt and black blazer, against a dark background.

    Prof. Steven Levitt, PhD

    Economist, U Chicago, Freakonomics Radio Host & Author

  • A woman with blonde hair wearing a red dress speaking and gesturing during a presentation.

    Prof. Abigail Marsh, PhD

    Neuroscientist & Psychologist, Georgetown University,
    Expert on altruistic kidney donation

  • Close-up of a smiling man with curly gray hair wearing a suit and tie.

    Prof. Steven Pinker, PhD

    Harvard professor and leading cognitive psychologist

  • Smiling older man with glasses and gray beard wearing a blue button-up shirt, sitting at a table.

    Prof. Al Roth, PhD

    Nobel Prize–winning economist, Stanford University

  • A supporter of the End Kidney Deaths Act that will save up to 100,000 American lives and $37 billion in taxes in the next ten years. To learn more, go to EndKidneyDeathsAct.org.

    Abie Rohrig

    Chief of Staff, Coefficient Giving; Non-Directed Kidney Donor

  • A senior man with glasses, a mustache, and a bald head wearing a suit, white shirt, and a patterned tie.

    Dr. Thomas Peters, MD

    Transplant Surgeon, Chair American Society Transplant Surgeons Foundation

  • A woman with blonde hair and earrings smiling outdoors in front of a building and greenery.

    Prof. Frederike Ambagtsheer

    Organ Trafficking Researcher at Erasmus University

  • A man in a white dress shirt and blue tie standing in a well-lit indoor hallway.

    Dr. Sandip Kapur, MD

    Chief of Transplant Surgery, Weill Cornell Medicine

  • Dr. Joseph Levanthal, MD

    Surgical Director, kidney and pancreas transplant program, Northwestern University

  • A woman with dark wavy hair, wearing earrings and a black top, posing indoors.

    Prof. Janet Radcliffe Richards, PhD

    Professor of Practical Philosophy, University of Oxford Bioethicist

  • Crissy Perham

    Olympic swimmer and kidney donor, two-time gold medalist

  • Chris Klug

    Olympic snowboarder and liver recipient, silver medalist

  • Portrait of a smiling middle-aged man with gray hair, wearing a dark suit, white shirt, and a purple tie, standing indoors with a warm-colored background.

    Dr. John Roberts, MD

    Transplant surgeon, UCSF; former president of OPTN/UNOS

  • Headshot of a middle-aged man with glasses, light brown and gray hair, dressed in a blue collared shirt and dark blazer, against a gray background.

    Dr. Arthur Matas, MD

    Transplant Surgeon & Professor, University of Minnesota

  • Black and white portrait of a woman with short, wavy hair, smiling, wearing a patterned top and a necklace with a pendant.

    Dr. Louise B. Andrew, MD, JD

    Emergency medicine physician and attorney

  • Man in suit smiling at a formal event, with a decorated background.

    Dr. Glenn Chertow, MD

    Nephrologist and professor of health policy, Stanford University

  • Portrait of a middle-aged man with a shaved head and a slight smile, wearing blue medical scrubs against a gray background.

    Dr. Vaughn Whittaker, MD

    Transplant surgeon, Veterans Affairs Bronx and Harlem Hospital

  • A woman with curly brown hair, wearing a black top and a necklace, smiling at the camera.

    Marian Charlton, RN, SRN, CCTC

    Clinical manager, organ transplant program, Hackensack Meridian Health

  • Dr. Kristopher P. Croome MD, MS

    Transplant surgeon and professor, Mayo Clinic Florida

  • Headshot of a bald man wearing glasses, a white shirt, a dark plaid blazer, and a striped red and blue tie, smiling against a dark background.

    Dr. Robert R. Redfield III, MD

    Chief of transplantation, UC Irvine Health

  • Professional headshot of a man with gray hair, wearing a black suit, white shirt, and purple tie, smiling against a blue background.

    Dr. Juan Palma-Vargas, MD

    Surgeon, Maine Health

  • A middle-aged man with short dark hair, wearing a tan blazer and white shirt, smiling in an office setting with a window in the background.

    Dr. Giuliano Testa, MD, MBA

    Chief of abdominal transplant, Baylor University Medical Center; Time 100 most influential people (2018)

  • Portrait of a man in a white collared shirt and red tie, smiling against a neutral background.

    Dr. Antonio Di Carlo, MD

    Transplant Surgeon, Temple University

  • A middle-aged man with glasses, wearing a white lab coat, light blue dress shirt, and maroon tie, smiling indoors with a blurred window scene in the background.

    Dr. Christopher Marsh, MD

    Chief of transplant surgery, Scripps Clinic

  • Dr. James Rice, MD

    Nephrologist, Scripps Clinic

  • Professional portrait of a smiling male doctor wearing a white lab coat and an orange patterned tie against a gray background.

    Dr. Anthony Watkins, MD

    Transplant surgeon, USF/Tampa General Hospital

  • Portrait of a man in a gray dress shirt and striped tie, smiling, standing in front of a dark wooden background.

    Dr. Joshua Lee, MD

    Medical director of transplant, Immucor

  • Dr. Jonathan Fisher, MD

    Transplant, hepatobiliary, and pancreatic surgeon, Scripps Clinic Medical Group

  • Older man with gray hair and a large mustache smiling, wearing a light-colored plaid shirt and a lanyard around his neck, standing in front of a backdrop with text.

    Harold Mintz

    First living organ donor to a stranger in the United States

  • Close-up of a woman with short, gray hair and red glasses, smiling outdoors in natural light.

    Prof. Kim Krawiec, JD

    Law Professor, University of Virginia

  • A smiling male doctor with gray hair, wearing a white coat, pink shirt, and a plaid tie, with a stethoscope around his neck, standing in front of a wooden background.

    Dr. Greg Hess, MD

    Kidney recipient, emergency physician, and health economist

  • Emergency Medicine Physician, MD

    Dr. Matt Harmody, MD

    Emergency medicine physician and non-directed kidney donor

  • Portrait of a male doctor wearing a white coat against a gray background.

    Dr. Patrick Buddle, MD

    Kidney donor and physician in physical medicine and rehabilitation

  • A smiling woman with short gray hair, wearing a black blazer and pearl necklace, against a dark background.

    Dr. Nancy J, Auer, MD

    Transplant recipient and former president of the American College of Emergency Physicians and Washington State Medical Association

  • Older man with white hair and beard wearing glasses and a plaid shirt, standing against a plain light-colored background.

    Dr. Ted Harrison, MD MBA

    Kidney recipient, emergency physician, medical researcher

  • A middle-aged man with light brown hair, smiling, wearing a dark suit jacket with a small pin and a white shirt, against a plain white background.

    Dr. Jon Friedman, MD

    Chief Medical Officer, Transplant Genomics

  • A bald man with glasses in a suit and tie standing outdoors with trees in the background.

    Dr. Scott Alexander, MD

    Non-directed kidney donor and psychiatrist; writer of Astral Codex Ten

  • A portrait of an elderly man with glasses, wearing a black suit, light blue shirt, and red tie, against a neutral background.

    Dr. Robert Gutman, MD

    Nephrologist and professor, Duke University

  • Headshot of a middle-aged man with glasses, wearing a white shirt, smiling at the camera.

    Dr. Sander Florman, MD

    Transplant Surgeon, Mount Sinai Hospital

  • A woman with brown hair, glasses, and a black and white polka dot top smiling at the camera. Inside restaurant or cafe, with green plants in the background.

    Dr. Tiffany Caza, MD

    Non-Directed Kidney Donor; Nephropathologist, Arkana Laboratories

  • Portrait of an elderly man with gray hair, a mustache, wearing a plaid shirt, standing against a plain light background.

    Dr. Ron Shamaskin MD, DDS

    Non-Directed Kidney Donor, Anesthesiologist

  • Portrait of a man with light skin, brown hair, wearing a yellow shirt and tie, against a blue background.

    Dr. Greg Warren, MD

    Nephrologist, Roanoke-Chowan Hospital

  • A close-up photo of an elderly man with gray hair, a beard, and missing teeth, wearing a checkered shirt, smiling at the camera.

    Dr. W. Heinrich Wurm, MD

    Non-Directed Kidney Donor, Anesthesiologist, Professor, Tufts Medical School

  • Headshot of a man with short dark hair and a beard, wearing a gray blazer and light blue shirt, smiling at the camera.

    Dr. Amit Alam, MD

    Cardiologist, NYU Langone Hospital

  • A man with gray hair, wearing glasses, a white coat, a light blue shirt, and a red tie, smiling and looking at the camera in an indoor setting.

    Dr. Michael J. Goldstein, MD

    Director of abdominal organ transplantation, Hackensack University Medical Center

  • A smiling man with gray hair and glasses, dressed in a dark plaid suit, white shirt, and blue tie, posing against a blue cloudy background.

    Dr. Dirk Slaker, MD

    Transplant and hepatology, National medical director, Optum

  • A smiling middle-aged man with a mustache, wearing a suit and tie, sitting in an office with American flags in the background.

    Dr. Dan Morhaim, MD

    Emergency physician and former Maryland state legislator (1995–2019), George Washington University

  • Close-up of an older man with a bald head smiling outdoors.

    Dr. Frank McCormick, PhD

    Former Director of Economic and Financial Research, Bank of America
    Leading Expert on Kidney Donation Economics

  • Dr. Robert Fisher, MD

    Medical director, American Foundation for Donation and Transplantation

  • Older man with white hair and mustache wearing a beige suit, blue shirt, and red tie, standing outdoors during a social event with other people in the background.

    Dr. Philip Held, PhD

    Adjunct Lecturer, Stanford School of Medicine
    Leading Economist on Kidney Compensation

  • Portrait of a smiling man in a dark suit, white shirt, and striped red tie standing in front of American and state flags.

    Senator John Albers

    Kidney donor and Georgia state senator

  • Young man with short blond hair, red glasses, wearing a blue polo shirt, standing outdoors in front of a grassy area and modern buildings with a cloudy sky.

    Will Albers

    Kidney Recipient

  • Portrait of a smiling woman with blonde wavy hair wearing a black top.

    Traci Brislin

    Kidney Donor; Chief Judge, Fayette Family Court in Lexington, Kentucky

  • A middle-aged man with gray curly hair and glasses, wearing a blue T-shirt with a Fourth of July design, standing in a green woodland area.

    Dr. Mark H. Hansen, PhD

    Non-directed kidney and liver donor; Research Forester (retired)

  • A man with glasses and dark hair, wearing a black shirt, has a green snake draped around his neck.

    Dr. T. H. Wyman, PhD

    Non-directed kidney donor, Senior scientist forensic genomics scientist

  • A middle-aged man with dark hair, glasses, and a beard, wearing a light blue collared shirt against a gray background.

    Prof. Avi Dor, PhD

    Director of health economics and health policy PhD programs, George Washington University

  • Portrait of a woman with dark hair, wearing glasses, a black blouse, and a necklace, smiling indoors with a blurred background.

    Sita Slavov

    Professor of public policy, George Mason University

  • Professional headshot of a middle-aged man with glasses, a beard, wearing a dark suit, light blue shirt, and a blue striped tie, against a plain light background.

    Alan Viard, PhD

    Senior Fellow Emeritus, AEI
    Leading Tax Expert
    Harvard, PhD

  • A woman with short brown hair, wearing a white blazer and red top, smiling against a gray background.

    Karen M Miller, RN, BSN, CCTC

    Lead Kidney Transplant Coordinator, University of Wisconsin-Madison

  • A woman with blonde, shoulder-length hair and blue eyes looking at the camera against a plain gray background.

    Kari Rancourt, RN

    Non-Directed Kidney Donor, Transplant Coordinator, Hartford Hospital

  • A woman with shoulder-length reddish-brown hair, smiling, wearing a colorful patterned blouse and a pink cardigan.

    Jessica Coleman RN, CCTC

    Living donor and paired exchange coordinator, AdventHealth Colorado

  • A young man with curly dark hair and glasses looking directly at the camera, in a living room with bookshelves and a ceiling fan in the background.

    Prof. Luke Semrau, PhD

    Non-Directed Kidney Donor; Professor of Moral Philosophy, Bloomsburg University

  • A man with a shaved head and beard wearing a dark suit, white shirt, and blue tie with white patterns, standing in an office setting with brick wall and brown furniture in the background.

    Prof. Nathan B. Oman, JD

    Professor, Center for the Study of Law and Markets at William & Mary

  • A man with glasses and a beard smiling, standing in front of wooden paneling.

    Dylan Matthews

    Vox Journalist; Non-Directed Kidney Donor

  • Close-up portrait of a woman with fair skin, blue eyes, dark brown hair with bangs, wearing a floral top and layered necklaces.

    Penny Lane

    Independent Filmmaker, Creator of the film “Confessions of a Good Samaritan” about her Nondirected Donation

  • A middle-aged man with short gray hair and a beard, wearing a dark suit, light green tie with a paisley pattern, and a white dress shirt, standing against a black backdrop.

    Prof. Alex Tabarrok, PhD

    Chair of Economics Department, George Mason University

  • A smiling woman with blonde hair wearing a black blazer and gold necklace, standing in a warmly lit indoor setting.

    Prof. Julia D. Mahoney, JD

    UVA Law Professor | Government Finance, Constitutional Law, and Nonprofit Organizations.

  • Man with curly red hair and beard, smiling, wearing a brown jacket and blue shirt.

    Peter Jaworski, PhD

    Professor of ethics, Georgetown University

  • A man with glasses, wearing a black suit, white shirt, and patterned tie, speaking and gesturing with his hands in front of a blue background.

    Kurt Schuler

    Non-Directed Kidney Donor, Economist, Office of International Affairs, U.S. Department of the Treasury

  • A young man with short red hair standing outdoors near water, wearing a dark green jacket and a white shirt, with a cloudy sky in the background.

    Jeremiah Johnson

    Non-Directed Kidney Donor; Political Director for the Center for New Liberalism and co-founder of the Neoliberal Project.

  • Portrait of a woman with short brown hair, wearing a white blouse and a black blazer, smiling, with a blurred green outdoor background.

    Molly McCarthy

    Three time Kidney Recipient

  • Professional headshot of a smiling man in a dark suit, light blue shirt, and red patterned tie, with a dark background.

    Ike Brannon

    Economist and Senior Fellow, Jack Kemp Foundation

  • Professional man wearing glasses, a blue suit, and a polka-dot tie, smiling in an office setting.

    Prof. Mario Macis, PhD

    Professor of Economics at the Johns Hopkins Carey Business School

  • A middle-aged man with gray hair smiling outdoors, wearing a light blue button-down shirt, with a city building and a streetlamp in the background.

    Julio Jorge Elías

    Professor of Economics at Universidad del CEMA, Argentina

  • Portrait of a young man with dark hair, light beard, and a smile, wearing a black jacket against a blue background.

    Josh Morrison

    Non-Directed Kidney Donor; President, One Day Sooner, Founder of Waitlist Zero & the Rikers Debate Project

  • Headshot of an elderly woman with short, wavy brown hair, wearing blue glasses, a black blazer with satin lapels, a blue top, and a gold necklace, smiling slightly against a gray background.

    Glenna Frey

    Non-Directed Kidney Donor; Co-Founder and Executive Director of Kidney Donor Conversations

  • A young woman with long blonde hair, wearing a white shirt and black blazer, standing against a white brick wall.

    Gracyn Lord

    Student, Georgetown University's McDonough School of Business

  • A young person with curly hair and glasses, smiling indoors.

    Evan Roden

    Youth Coalition for Organ Donation, Biomedical Engineer

  • A woman with medium skin tone, wavy dark hair with red highlights, wearing a red top, earrings, and a necklace, smiling and looking at the camera.

    Regina Bullock

    Kidney Recipient, Educator & Founder of Catalyst for Kidney Care

  • A man with curly black hair, glasses, and light skin wearing a dark suit jacket over a white shirt, smiling against a grey background.

    Stephen Dubner

    Freakonomics Radio host, author, and journalist

  • Harvey Mysel

    Kidney Recipient; President of the Living Kidney Donor Network

  • A woman with short dark hair, glasses, and a red shirt smiling while resting her chin on her hand, seated at a wooden chair in a room with beige walls and white trim.

    Carol Offen

    Directed Kidney Donor; Kidney Donor Help Founder

  • A woman with long dark hair and a bright smile, wearing a blue shirt with a 'Donate Life Organizers' logo, sitting in an office chair in front of a window with closed blinds.

    Trisha Phillips

    Kidney donor and executive director, Multicultural Miracle Donor Foundation

  • A smiling man with a beard and bald head, wearing a light-colored dress shirt, sitting indoors near a window with a blurred cityscape view.

    Luis Mayen

    Kidney donor, Vice President, Donor Network West

  • Close-up of a smiling elderly woman with glasses and shoulder-length blonde hair, wearing a white blouse.

    Prof. Nancy Marlin, Ph.D

    Kidney Recipient, Provost and Professor, San Diego State University

  • A woman with long, wavy brown hair smiling at the camera, wearing a black jacket and white top against a plain light gray background.

    Christine Fiechter

    Executive Director, Emergency Medical Services Gives Life

  • A middle-aged man with light skin, short light brown hair, and blue eyes, wearing a dark gray suit, white shirt, and red tie, smiling at the camera.

    Brian Martindale

    Non-directed kidney donor and executive director, Kidneys for Kids

  • A man with a full beard and bald head looking at the camera in a room with a blurred background.

    Brian Darnell

    Kidney donor and kidney transplant coordinator, Arkansas Children’s Hospital

  • A man with blue eyes, a beard, and mustache taking a selfie indoors near a window with blinds.

    Jeramy Davies

    Kidney & Bone Marrow Donor, Triathlete

  • A smiling elderly man with glasses and white hair, wearing a blue shirt and a checkered shirt underneath, standing against a plain white wall.

    Hartmut Fischer

    Economic Professor, University of San Francisco

  • Close-up of a smiling woman with blonde hair and blue eyes, standing in front of a brick wall with green plants.

    Patricia Graham

    Non-Directed Kidney Donor; Founder of One Kidney Clubs, Nurse, NKDO Mentor

  • A smiling woman with short brown hair, wearing a navy blue top, in front of a purple wall and a black and white city skyline window.

    Laurie Dickinson Lee

    Non-Directed Kidney Donor; “Donor Diaries” Podcast Host, CEO of Swift Passport Services

  • A man in a dark suit with a red tie, standing outside near a building with trees in the background.

    Michael Lollo

    Non-Directed Donor; NKDO Board Member; Modify NOTA Team Member; Retired NYPD Detective

  • Close-up of a woman with curly brown hair outdoors, with trees and greenery in the background.

    Sally McCartin

    Kidney Donor; Kid-U-Not Living Organ Donor Fund President

  • A smiling woman with long gray hair, wearing a black top outdoors with blurred greenery and water in background.

    Virginia Postrel

    Directed Kidney Donor; Political and Cultural Writer

  • Close-up portrait of smiling woman with long blonde hair and blue earrings

    Jen Reeder

    Directed Kidney Donor; Founder of Rock 1 Kidney, Journalist

  • Professional headshot of a young man with short light brown hair, blue eyes, wearing a dark suit, light blue shirt, and matching blue tie, smiling against a blurred brownish background.

    Reed Shafer-Ray

    Non-Directed Liver Donor; Founder and CEO, Mountaintop

  • A man with short dark hair, smiling, wearing a blue collared shirt in front of a white brick wall.

    Aaron Strauss

    Non-Directed kidney donor; Columbia University Program Director, Open Labs

  • Close-up of a man with short brown hair, blue eyes, wearing a dark blue collared shirt, standing in front of a light gray background.

    Matt Cavanaugh, PhD

    Non-Directed Kidney Donor; Ran 12 Marathons in 2023; Professor of Practice with Arizona State University

  • Headshot of a middle-aged man with silver hair, wearing a black suit, white shirt, and silver patterned tie, against a gray textured background.

    Prof. Mike Davis, PhD

    Economics Professor, Cox School of Business, Southern Methodist University

  • Man in black tuxedo with a bow tie, smiling, in a luxurious gold and cream decorated room.

    Steve Wilson

    Non-Directed Kidney Donor; NKDO mentor; Financial Advisor

  • A woman with curly brown hair smiling, wearing a blue denim shirt and a pearl necklace, standing against a wooden wall.

    Rachel Bennett Steury

    Non-directed Kidney Donor, Communications Coordinator, and author of The Real Rachel BS

  • A supporter of the End Kidney Deaths Act that will save up to 100,000 American lives and $37 billion in taxes in the next ten years. To learn more, go to EndKidneyDeathsAct.org.

    Mindy Davidson

    Non-Directed Kidney Donor; NKF Peer Mentor

  • A supporter of the End Kidney Deaths Act that will save up to 100,000 American lives and $37 billion in taxes in the next ten years. To learn more, go to EndKidneyDeathsAct.org.

    Jackie Hutz

    Co-Founder, Team Fishguy Transplant Foundation

  • A supporter of the End Kidney Deaths Act that will save up to 100,000 American lives and $37 billion in taxes in the next ten years. To learn more, go to EndKidneyDeathsAct.org.

    Roberta Reed

    Mother of a Kidney Patient; Recipient of the NKF 2023 Salick Award for Patient Advocacy

  • A supporter of the End Kidney Deaths Act that will save up to 100,000 American lives and $37 billion in taxes in the next ten years. To learn more, go to EndKidneyDeathsAct.org.

    Debi Kahn

    Directed Kidney Donor; NKDO Mentor; NKF Walk Chair Member

  • A supporter of the End Kidney Deaths Act that will save up to 100,000 American lives and $37 billion in taxes in the next ten years. To learn more, go to EndKidneyDeathsAct.org.

    Beth Vazquez, LMSW

    Non-Directed Kidney Donor, Mental Health Clinician at the Institute for Family Health

  • A supporter of the End Kidney Deaths Act that will save up to 100,000 American lives and $37 billion in taxes in the next ten years. To learn more, go to EndKidneyDeathsAct.org.

    Cody Marchant

    Non-Directed Kidney Donor

  • A supporter of the End Kidney Deaths Act that will save up to 100,000 American lives and $37 billion in taxes in the next ten years. To learn more, go to EndKidneyDeathsAct.org.

    David MJ Schwartz, MSW

    Spousal Care Partner; Prospective Paired Donor

  • A supporter of the End Kidney Deaths Act that will save up to 100,000 American lives and $37 billion in taxes in the next ten years. To learn more, go to EndKidneyDeathsAct.org.

    Julie Kellman

    Directed Kidney Donor

  • A supporter of the End Kidney Deaths Act that will save up to 100,000 American lives and $37 billion in taxes in the next ten years. To learn more, go to EndKidneyDeathsAct.org.

    Prof. Daniel F. Stone

    Economics at Bowdoin College

  • A supporter of the End Kidney Deaths Act that will save up to 100,000 American lives and $37 billion in taxes in the next ten years. To learn more, go to EndKidneyDeathsAct.org.

    Kathie Neyman

    Non-Directed Kidney Donor; Civic Volunteer

  • A supporter of the End Kidney Deaths Act that will save up to 100,000 American lives and $37 billion in taxes in the next ten years. To learn more, go to EndKidneyDeathsAct.org.

    Tom O’Driscoll

    Non-Directed Kidney and Liver Organ Donor; 10-Time Ironman Finisher

  • A supporter of the End Kidney Deaths Act that will save up to 100,000 American lives and $37 billion in taxes in the next ten years. To learn more, go to EndKidneyDeathsAct.org.

    Jim Plante

    Kidney Recipient; CEO, Klotho Therapeutics; Founder of Thynk Capital & the Foundation for Kidney Transplant Research

  • A supporter of the End Kidney Deaths Act that will save up to 100,000 American lives and $37 billion in taxes in the next ten years. To learn more, go to EndKidneyDeathsAct.org.

    Michele Dabal

    Liver Transplant Recipient; Advocate

  • A supporter of the End Kidney Deaths Act that will save up to 100,000 American lives and $37 billion in taxes in the next ten years. To learn more, go to EndKidneyDeathsAct.org.

    Jack Parmenter

    Non-Directed Kidney Donor

  • A supporter of the End Kidney Deaths Act that will save up to 100,000 American lives and $37 billion in taxes in the next ten years. To learn more, go to EndKidneyDeathsAct.org.

    Keith McCullough

    Directed Kidney Donor; NKDO Mentor

  • A supporter of the End Kidney Deaths Act that will save up to 100,000 American lives and $37 billion in taxes in the next ten years. To learn more, go to EndKidneyDeathsAct.org.

    Rob Fox

    Directed Kidney Donor; Project Estimator; US Army Veteran

  • A supporter of the End Kidney Deaths Act that will save up to 100,000 American lives and $37 billion in taxes in the next ten years. To learn more, go to EndKidneyDeathsAct.org.

    Cynthia Rangel

    Program Specialist, Tampa General Hospital Transplant Institute

  • A supporter of the End Kidney Deaths Act that will save up to 100,000 American lives and $37 billion in taxes in the next ten years. To learn more, go to EndKidneyDeathsAct.org.

    Julia Clark, PhD

    Directed Kidney Donor; Founder of NOMAD Science

  • A woman with short dark hair wearing a blue shirt, smiling, with a gray background.

    Angela Totten

    Directed Kidney Donor, Hospice and Palliative Care Nurse

  • A woman with sunglasses on her head, smiling near a body of water with trees and mountains in the background.

    Sarah Benson

    Directed Kidney Donor

  • A middle-aged man with glasses, gray hair, and a beard smiling in front of a plain beige background, wearing a teal collared shirt.

    Rob Gehring

    Non-Directed Kidney Donor; Founder Fixed Performance Inc

  • A woman with red hair, glasses, and a black blazer smiling at the camera.

    Maureen Tomlin

    Non-Directed Donor; NKDO Mentor

  • A smiling woman with blonde wavy hair wearing a black shirt with white stripes, standing against a plain light gray background.

    Chelsea Barker

    Non-Directed Kidney Donor; NKDO Mentor

  • A woman with light brown, wavy hair wearing large gold hoop earrings, a small nose ring, and a delicate gold necklace. She has a friendly expression with a slight smile and is dressed in a black top. The background shows a brick wall and some greenery.

    Brynnan Whaley

    Directed Kidney Donor; National Kidney Foundation peer mentor

  • A smiling man with short brown hair, blue eyes, and a beard, standing in front of a wooden background.

    Thomas Kelly, PhD

    Non-Directed Kidney Donor; Political Scientist; Co-Founder of Waitlist Zero

  • Close-up of a smiling man wearing glasses, a black suit, a white shirt, and a pink tie, with a lapel pin featuring an orange logo.

    Orlando Torres

    Kidney Recipient; Renal Coach

  • Portrait of a smiling young man with short brown hair, multiple earrings, wearing a black shirt and pink tie against a light background.

    Jonathan Haydak

    Kidney Recipient; PhD Student, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

  • Woman with short brown hair smiling, wearing a dark blazer, in front of a window with blurred greenery outside.

    Andrea Coleman

    Directed Kidney Donor

  • Smiling man with glasses and light-colored hair, wearing a white shirt, in front of a background with blue and yellow sections.

    Mark Scotch

    Non-Directed Kidney & Liver Donor; Founder of The Organ Trail & A Kidney Donation Journey

  • Close-up portrait of a middle-aged man with short brown hair, hazel eyes, and light skin, wearing a beige jacket and a striped scarf, smiling gently indoors.

    Brian Temple

    Kidney Recipient; Knowledge Management Program Manager at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

  • Portrait of a middle-aged man with short gray hair, wearing a navy blue blazer and a light-colored collared shirt, smiling against a blurred natural outdoor background.

    Chris Sullivan

    Non-Directed Kidney Donor; Sales Leader/ Executive Sales Coach; Vice President Kidney Donor Athletes

  • A woman with long brown hair and green eyes smiling outdoors against a brick wall background.

    Megan Sherod

    Directed Kidney Donor; Advocate; Health Educator

  • Smiling elderly couple walking outdoors in a park with green trees in the background.

    Bill & Helen Mills

    Kidney Recipients; Leaders of Saddleback Kidney Support Group

  • A smiling woman wearing a wide-brimmed straw hat, diamond stud earrings, a dark scarf, and a gray top, outdoors with blurred natural background.

    Suzanne Verge

    Non-Directed Kidney Donor; NKDO mentor

  • A woman smiling, with shoulder-length brown hair, wearing a white top, a statement necklace with large stones, and earrings, standing in front of a wooden background.

    Lisa Lombardini Shenette

    Non-Directed Kidney Donor

  • A woman with blonde hair, wearing glasses with purple frames, pearl earrings, a pearl necklace, and a black top, smiling at the camera.

    Danel Kuhlmann

    Directed Kidney Donor; Non-Directed Liver Donor

  • Man lying in a hospital bed wearing a face mask, covered with a quilt. Medical equipment and monitors are beside him in a healthcare setting.

    Douglas LeGear

    Kidney Recipient, Painter, Golfer

  • Close-up of a smiling middle-aged man with short gray hair, wearing a white collared shirt, against a dark background.

    Bruce Hanley

    Non-Directed Living Kidney Donor; NKDO Mentor

  • A woman with long dark hair and a fringe, smiling slightly, wearing a colorful pink and green paisley blazer over a white top, standing outdoors with a blurred background of city buildings and greenery.

    Ava Kaufman

    Heart Recipient; Founder & Executive Director of Ava's Heart

  • A woman with blonde hair and blue eyes smiling, wearing a pink cardigan over a navy floral blouse, and a delicate necklace, standing in front of a textured light gray wall.

    Victoria Threadgould

    Non-Directed Kidney Donor; NKDO mentor

  • A smiling middle-aged man with a shaved head, wearing a navy suit, white shirt, and striped tie, standing outdoors with blurred green trees in the background.

    Jeff Byron

    Non-Directed Donor, Former California Energy Commissioner

  • Close-up of a young man with short black hair, wearing a light green shirt and a gray jacket, standing outdoors with a blurred background of trees and a wall.

    Sravan Bhamidipati

    Advocate; Software Engineer

  • An older man wearing glasses, a baseball cap that says 'JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY,' and a black zip-up jacket, smiling in front of a red wall.

    Richard McGonnigal

    Advocate and Entrepreneur

  • A man with short hair, beard, and mustache smiling outdoors with trees in the background, wearing a cream-colored plaid shirt.

    Ryan W. Cragun

    Non-Directed Kidney Donor

  • A close-up selfie of an older man with a white beard and mustache, wearing a gray cap and a black jacket, in a room with wood-paneled ceiling and framed poster in the background.

    Douglas Penrod

    Non-Directed Kidney Donor; Kidney Transplant Coordinator; Registered Nurse

  • Two people standing next to a van with a sign promoting kidney donation, with kayaks on top of the van.

    Betsy & Peter Snow

    Non-Directed Kidney Donors; World Travelers

  • A woman with short brown hair smiling in a dimly lit indoor setting, with blurred colorful lights in the background.

    Nancy Dickinson

    Transplant Village; Wife of a Liver Recipient and Mother of a Non-Directed Kidney Donor

  • A smiling man in a tuxedo with a bow tie, standing in front of a colorful abstract painting.

    John Dickinson

    Liver Recipient; Chairman of Transplant Village

  • A man with gray hair wearing a black suit, white shirt, and striped red, white, and blue tie smiling indoors.

    Winston Sale

    Directed Kidney Donor; Federal Banking Regulator

  • A woman wearing glasses, smiling, with a black pleated halter dress, and a silver necklace, in an elegant indoor setting with a high ceiling and large windows.

    Vadrien Alston

    Kidney Recipient

  • A woman with shoulder-length black hair smiling and wearing a yellow and gray striped shirt, sitting indoors against a neutral background.

    Sophia Jackson

    Non-Directed Kidney Donor

  • A smiling man with dark hair in a navy blazer and turtleneck standing outdoors in a forest.

    Rep. Manny Rutinel

    Colorado State Representative; Attorney

  • Portrait of a smiling man with short dark hair, wearing a dark blue shirt, outdoors with green trees and grass in the background.

    David Krissman

    Creator of “The Great Social Experiment” and “Another Chance”

  • A young man with brown hair and a beard smiling, wearing a light green collared shirt and a gray sweater, in an indoor space with colorful balloons in the background.

    James Montavon

    Non-Directed Kidney Donor; Epidemiologist

  • A woman with long dark hair, smiling, wearing a navy blazer and a necklace, against a dark gray background.

    Angela Miskolci

    Living donor kidney coordinator, RN

  • An older man wearing a cowboy hat, glasses, and a light-colored shirt with a bolo tie featuring a turquoise stone, standing in front of a mountain landscape painting.

    Tom Duncan

    Non-Directed Kidney Donor

  • A woman with long blonde hair and blue eyes smiling outdoors with green trees in the background.

    Hilary Baude Steinour

    Non-Directed Kidney Donor; Completed 10 Marathons & two Ironman Competitions in 2023

  • Close-up of a smiling middle-aged man with short, light brown hair and a goatee, wearing a dark collared shirt against a dark blue background.

    Mark McIntosh

    Kidney Recipient, Managing Editor of Drive for Five Network

  • A woman with blonde hair tied back, holding a white mug, looking content and smiling slightly, sitting in a cozy indoor setting with warm lighting.

    Angela Gaskell

    Kidney Recipient

  • A smiling woman with curly dark hair wearing a red top with ruffled shoulder detail and red earrings, standing against a plain background.

    Sharron Rouse

    Kidney Recipient; Founder of Kindness for Kidneys International, Inc.

  • Close-up of a middle-aged man with gray hair, glasses, and a goatee, smiling and wearing a blue collared shirt and gray blazer against a dark background.

    Shai Robkin

    Non-Directed Kidney Donor

  • A man wearing a white T-shirt with the words 'Living Kidney Donor' and a colorful Superman logo with puzzle piece shapes inside. He is indoors with a decorative wooden branch and mirror in the background.

    Russell Powell

    Non-Directed Kidney Donor

  • A smiling woman with shoulder-length gray hair, wearing a pink knit sweater with floral embroidery, sitting indoors near a window with a lattice design and a lit lamp in the background during evening.

    Catherine Hess

    Sister of two living kidney recipient; Former national nonprofit health policy leader

  • A man in a suit, wearing glasses, outdoors with trees and a house in the background.

    Pastor Nick Gentile

    Kidney & Liver donor; Founder of Compassion Match

  • A man with glasses and a long beard, with short wavy hair, resting his chin on his hand, in front of a whiteboard with writing.

    James Stacey Taylor

    Associate Professor of Philosophy at The College of New Jersey

  • Black and white portrait of an elderly man with white hair, smiling slightly, wearing a dark jacket and a neck gaiter

    Jeff Blumenfeld

    Kidney recipient; Colorado General Assembly Kidney Disease Prevention and Education Task Force

  • Portrait of a smiling woman with long blonde hair, light-colored eyes, and fair skin, standing in front of a soft, blurred background.

    Molly Gerken Ruane

    Nurse Practioner; Mother of a recipient; Wife of a donor; Secretary, Kidneys for Kids

  • A smiling woman with blonde hair, wearing colorful earrings, a black Malack Miracle Foundation t-shirt, and a white jacket with a name tag, standing against a plain background.

    Hannah Radacz

    RN, BSN, CEO; Malachi’s Miracle Foundation, Inc.

  • Close-up of an older man with a bald head, gray beard, wearing a white turtleneck under a navy jacket with a tan collar, indoors with blurred background.

    Ellis Mirsky

    Kidney Recipient; Attorney; Board, National Kidney Donation Organization & The NY Bar Foundation

  • A man with light brown hair and a wide smile, wearing a black jacket with a zipper.

    Michael Brown

    Living Kidney Donation Advocate; Retired Food Executive

  • Close-up portrait of an elderly man with white hair, blue eyes, wearing a blue shirt and an orange scarf.

    Armand Halter

    Kidney Transplant Recipient; National Kidney Foundation, Advocate & Peers Program Mentor

  • Professional headshot of a woman with long black hair, smiling, wearing a black blazer and light-colored top against a gray background.

    Gitika Gorthi

    Founder of Columbia University's Kidney Disease & Screening Awareness Program Chapter; Columbia University Student

  • Close-up of a smiling woman with long blonde hair, wearing a necklace, on a dark background.

    Robin Stevens

    Dialysis Patient Awaiting a Transplant

  • Smiling woman with long braided hair, wearing a red and blue top and a silver necklace, in a room with floral wallpaper and various household items.

    Karen Lavette Cooper

    Awaiting a Kidney Transplant; Kaiser University Social Worker

  • A woman with long blonde hair smiling outdoors with greenery and a building in the background.

    Nicole Hinchey

    Kidney Donor at SHARP Memorial Hospital

  • A woman smiling outdoors in a blue jacket, with mountainous terrain in the background.

    Emily Polet-Monterosso

    Kidney Donor; Volunteer Coordinator, NKDO; Kidney Donor Athletes Board of Directors

  • Smiling older woman with glasses, short gray hair, wearing a purple patterned scarf, indoors with a beige ceiling and wall in the background.

    Barb Lundberg

    Kidney Recipient

  • A smiling bald man with glasses wearing a black blazer and a black shirt, in a well-lit room with a chandelier and cream-colored walls.

    James “Uncle Jim” Myers

    Kidney Recipient

  • Portrait of a woman with curly gray hair smiling, wearing turquoise earrings, indoors.

    Lynn Bolduc, RD

    Non-Directed Kidney and Liver Donor

  • Two men standing outdoors, wearing matching black T-shirts with green and white text about kidney transplants. The man on the left has short black hair and is smiling, while the man on the right has short dark hair and a beard, pointing at his shirt.

    Donald Moy (Recipient) and Christopher Tormey (Donor)

  • Close-up of a smiling woman outdoors near a body of water with grass and a dock in the background.

    Maureen McDonald

    Living Donor Kidney Recipient

  • Professional woman with long blonde hair smiling, wearing a blue blazer in an office setting with large windows.

    Glenda Weygant

    Non-Directed Kidney Donor; President - MBA of SWFL

  • A close-up portrait of an older woman with short, wavy blonde hair, wearing a colorful patterned top and gold earrings, sitting in a dark brown leather chair.

    Donna Tissot

    Kidney Advocate

  • A person with short hair and glasses smiling in front of large green tropical leaves and plants.

    Cortnee Agan-Trujillo

    Directed kidney donor; advocate; paramedic

  • Woman standing beside a yellow and black Mosquito Joe promotional van, wearing a black Mosquito Joe jacket, with a logo on her left chest, and beige pants.

    Jodi Elliott

    Non-Directed Kidney Donor

  • Close-up photo of an older man wearing sunglasses and a light-colored collared shirt, standing outside in front of a modern building with gray tiles and white panels.

    Robert Goldfarb

    Non-Directed Kidney Donor, CPA Rape Crisis Counselor

  • Side profile of an elderly man with gray hair, beard, mustache, glasses, wearing a dark suit, white shirt, and red tie, in a professional setting.

    S. Dana Seccombe

    Author - Kidneys For All; Partner of Dialysis Patient; Former Senior VP, Hewlett Packard

  • Portrait of a smiling middle-aged woman with short blonde hair, blue eyes, wearing a red blouse and silver earrings against a blue background.

    Mary T. Dawson

    Kidney Recipient

  • A young woman with long, wavy hair that is dark at the roots and dyed in shades of blue and turquoise at the ends, wearing large round glasses and a yellow shirt, standing near a window with natural light.

    Scy Yoon

    Niece of a Kidney Patient; Painter

  • Close-up of a man with a shaved head and goatee, wearing a dark shirt, sitting in a room with a wall clock, framed picture, and window with blinds behind him.

    Martinez Majors Jr.

    Information Technology & Services Professional; Dialysis Patient awaiting a kidney transplant

  • A smiling man with short light brown hair, blue eyes, and light skin, wearing a beige button-up shirt against a plain light background.

    Adder Oaks

    Non-Directed Kidney Donor; Teacher

  • A close-up of a smiling older man with gray hair, a beard, wearing glasses and a gray collared shirt.

    Stan Rose, PhD

    Kidney transplant recipient; CEO, Rose Ventures; Life sciences serial entrepreneur, board member, author

  • A middle-aged man with dark hair, glasses, and a gray beard and mustache taking a selfie against a plain wall.

    Jason LeBlanc

    Non-Directed Kidney Donor

  • A woman with shoulder-length brown hair wearing a black blazer and blue shirt standing outdoors.

    Tiffiny Mitchell

    Non-Directed kidney donor; Former Oregon State Representative

  • A smiling man with glasses taking a selfie in front of the U.S. Capitol building with an American flag. Cloudy sky overhead.

    Keith Plummer

    Kidney Recipient and advocate for several kidney organizations

  • A woman with long, wavy brown hair, light complexion, wearing a gray blazer and white shirt, smiling with a bright smile and showing her teeth.

    Lorrinda Gray-Davis

    Liver Recipient; President of Transplant Recipients International Org; Co-lead of the Honor the Gift Coalition

  • Smiling man in military uniform outdoors with others, a rocky hill and trees in the background.

    Bill Barthen

    Non-Directed Kidney Donor; Wisconsin National Guard Supervisory Supply Specialist

  • A woman with black hair smiling and resting her chin on her hand, wearing a dark teal jacket.

    Lindsay Gutierrez

    Non-directed liver and kidney donor, veteran, social worker, and Ms. Veteran America

  • A woman with blonde hair, blue eyes, and a black top smiling at the camera, with her hand behind her head against a plain light-colored background.

    Sarah Kamaras

    Directed Kidney Donor; Freelance Producer / Director

  • A smiling elderly man with white hair, wearing glasses and a blue checkered shirt standing outdoors in front of a wall with vines and plants.

    D. Ward Kallstrom

    Kidney Recipient; Attorney

  • Portrait of a smiling woman with brown hair wearing a white sleeveless top outdoors with trees and a building in the background.

    Emily Wise

    Non-Directed Kidney Donor; Elementary School Teacher; NKDO Mentor

  • Close-up photo of a bald man with a gray beard and mustache, smiling, wearing a brown jacket, in front of a brick wall.

    Steve Cicci

    Kidney patient in need of a kidney

  • A young man with glasses, light brown hair, and fair skin, smiling, wearing a light gray suit and pink tie, standing in front of wooden doors.

    Grant Bille

    Pharmacist and Kidney Donation Advocate

  • Close-up of an elderly woman smiling outdoors with trees and blue sky in the background, wearing a blue collared shirt.

    Michelle Hughes

    Kidney Donor for Michelle’s Son

  • A woman with blonde hair smiling at the camera, wearing a cream-colored top and a conference badge around her neck.

    Shannon Mulroy

    Nondirected Kidney Donor; Mother of a Kidney Recipient; Advocate at "Kidney Solutions"

  • A woman with long black hair smiling, wearing a blue top, against a white background.

    Rebecca Greller

    Kidney Donor & Early Education Enthusiast

  • A woman with short dark hair smiling outdoors in front of greenery and yellow flowers.

    Jesse Gitter

    Nondirected donor

  • A woman with shoulder-length brown hair smiling outdoors with a background of trees and sunlight.

    Theresa Degard

    Mother of Kidney Patient in Need of Kidney.

  • A woman with long dark hair, smiling and looking at the camera, on a cruise ship deck with people in the background.

    Jessica Gines

    Advocate for Living Kidney Donation

  • A man wearing glasses and a red polo shirt with white embroidered text standing against a plain white background.

    Bill Soloway

    Heart Recipient; Dir. of the Masonic Blood + Organ Donor Prog., Grand Lodge of PA; Pres. of Transplant Recipients Internat'l Org., Phila. Chapter

  • Portrait of a smiling man in a suit and red tie, with a blue and yellow emblem in the background.

    Shawn Maldon

    Kidney recipient; Former Mayor in MD; CEO of Maldon Language Interpreters; Founder of The Maldon Foundation

  • A woman smiling, wearing glasses, a white cap with 'NKDO' on it, a white T-shirt with green and black text, gold earrings, and a silver watch, pointing up with her right index finger inside a room with white curtains and a shelf with various items.

    Valerie Parriett,

    Directed Kidney Donor; Founder, One Kidney Club Las Vegas

  • Smiling man with short hair and a beard wearing a dark patterned shirt, sitting indoors in front of wooden wall paneling.

    David Varacchi

    Directed Kidney Donor

  • A smiling middle-aged man and woman standing on a dock with a black dog. The man wears sunglasses, a patterned short-sleeve shirt, and light-colored shorts. The woman wears sunglasses, a sleeveless black top, and white pants. The dog is sitting in front, on a leash, and looks happy.

    Erik & Marty Lostrom

    Erik is a kidney recipient, and Marty is Erik's wife.

  • Man with a shaved head smiling, wearing a black and red shirt, in an indoor gym with exercise equipment in the background.

    Wilson Du

    Kidney Recipient & Advocate, Health Coach specializing in Kidney Patients

  • A man with gray hair and beard wearing a blue long-sleeve shirt and sunglasses on his head, holding a professional video camera on his shoulder, standing outdoors against a wooden structure.

    Brian Tiell

    Creative Director Next Step Next One Campaign

  • A middle-aged man with a mustache and gray hair, wearing a baseball cap with an American flag patch, sitting in a black leather chair in a room with blue curtains, a bookshelf, and electronics visible in the background.

    James Urtel

    Kidney Recipient; Transplant Advocate

  • A woman with shoulder-length brown hair and blue eyes, smiling widely, wearing a dark blazer and a blue shirt, standing in front of a plain wall with a wooden beam visible on the right.

    Jennifer Campbell

    Prospective Non-directed Donor; Advocate for Saving Lives

  • A smiling man with light skin and reddish-blonde hair, wearing a light gray suit, white shirt, and a striped tie.

    Prof. Ryan McDevitt, PhD

    Economics professor, Duke University; expert in health economics and dialysis

  • A man with a beard and blue eyes smiling outdoors, wearing a blue and black cap with a logo and a backpack with water bottles.

    Theron Hayes

    Non-Directed kidney donor

  • A smiling woman with light brown hair, wearing earrings and a gray top, outdoors with green blurred trees in the background.

    Alexis Miller

    Non-Directed kidney donor

  • A smiling middle-aged woman with gray hair and a middle-aged man with a bald head and a friendly expression, standing outdoors in a grassy field with trees in the background.

    Joe Haynie

    Non-Directed Kidney Donor; National Kidney Donation Organization Community Ambassador

  • Prof. Walter Block

    Economics Professor, Loyola University

  • Daniela Shuman

    Analyst at RISC, University of Chicago

  • Ruby Rorty

    Senior Analyst, Center for RISC at UChicago

  • Irene Tsatsos

    Non-Directed Kidney Donor

The Coalition to Modify NOTA

Founded by 4 Non-Directed Kidney Donors Who Gave to Strangers

  • 4 donors. 4 lives saved. Now we're advocating to save thousands.

  • We gave kidneys to strangers. We have tried multiple strategies to end the kidney shortage.

  • The End Kidney Deaths Act is our plan to end the kidney shortage.

  • Lives are being lost as we tarry.

  • Elaine Perlman

    For all media and other inquiries, contact Elaine at: ElainePerlman@modifynota.org

    Elaine Perlman is a mentor for those who wish to donate and is the President of the Coalition to Modify NOTA and. the Executive Director of Waitlist Zero. Elaine and her son Abie donated their kidneys to strangers. She is leading the team that is aiming to pass the End Kidney Deaths Act so that we could begin saving the lives of the 10,000 Americans who currently die on the kidney waitlist. Elaine also led the passage of two laws, the federal Honor Our Living Donors Act that passed in February of 2026 but has not yet been enacted by HHS. This law will make the federal low income donor selection process focused solely on donor income instead of the organ recipient’s income, an illogical rule that was in place for over forty years. In addition, Elaine was the lead champion of the New York State Living Donor Support Act that passed in December of 2022 and was enacted in October of 2025. This law makes New York State the (by far!) best state for the full reimbursement of all living kidney donors who donate to New Yorkers. Elaine launched a kidney chain for four people to get life-saving kidney transplants in Georgia, Oklahoma & Washington State. For 33 years, Elaine was a teacher of elementary, middle & high school, a nutrition teacher, an admissions director, and a middle school dean. From 2016-2022, she was a Professor and Program Director of the Peace Corps Fellows Program at Teachers College, Columbia University. Elaine is a volunteer mentor for helping kidney disease and other patients transition to a primarily chronic disease preventing diet. For the National Kidney Foundation, Elaine was on the National Kidney Foundations’s Community Advocacy Committee for 3 years and cohosted both a workshop and a cooking demonstration about the benefits of healthy eating to promote kidney health. Elaine is an artist who has painted eleven school murals & wrote the book, "Be the Parent You Wish You Had."

  • Ned Brooks

    Ned Brooks is a non-directed kidney donor and retired businessman. Ned founded the National Kidney Donation Organization (NKDO) in 2016 with the idea that no one can speak with a potential kidney donor as well as someone who has donated themselves. NKDO is now the largest kidney donor advocacy organization in the country, with over 50 living donors who mentor donor candidates at more than 40 transplant centers across the country. NKDO has reached out to 25,000+ donor candidates this year and has facilitated 600+ transplants. Despite the success of NKDO and other advocacy groups promoting living donation, the number of living kidney donors in this country remains below 6,000, with almost 100,000 patients awaiting a transplant. The only viable solution is for the government to stimulate living donation by removing disincentives for donors in a manner that is neither coercive nor exploitative, and it is to this end that Ned has joined with Elaine, Matt and Cody to found the Coalition to Modify NOTA.

  • Cody Maynard

    Cody is a non-directed kidney donor who served as the Director of Research and Policy for the National Kidney Donation Organization for 3 years. Cody has presented at transplant conferences including the European Society of Organ Transplantation’s Conference on Ethical Legal and Psychological Aspects of Transplantation, and the University of Chicago’s Symposium on The Future of Living Donor Kidney Transplants.He has written op-eds, met with legislators, and interviewed over 100 kidney donors. Cody was also a health care strategy consultant at Deloitte Consulting, and now helps lead the transplantation strategy for a value-based care organization as Senior Manager of Strategic Operations Cody also enjoys hobbies such as skydiving, painting, pickleball, rock climbing, CrossFit, and has traveled to over 35 countries.

  • Dr. Matt Harmody, MD

    Matt is a non-directed kidney donor and a recently retired physician, the latter now allowing him to dedicate more time to kidney donation advocacy. His kidney journey started when, while an engineering undergraduate student, his father suddenly developed end-stage renal disease. After several years of dialysis and a failed deceased donor kidney transplant, the disease took his life. This experience led Matt to return to medical school and eventually become an emergency physician. Matt took care of dialysis patients nearly every day of his twenty-year career. In 2017, he was a non-directed kidney donor. Since then, he has given presentations to local organizations on his experience as a donor. He has become a mentor with NKDO. He has also recently been invited to be a member of the Living Donor Steering Committee, a newly created sub-committee of the Strategic Registry of Transplant Recipients (SRTR), the data collection arm of HRSA’s Division of Transplantation. The Committee is charged with developing recommendations for the most appropriate long-term follow-up of kidney donors. Matt enjoys endurance racing, including running ultramarathons and competing in adventure races. This interest and his donation led him to join a team of 21 other living kidney donors that summited Mount Kilimanjaro on World Kidney Day in March 2022, to bring awareness to living donation, demonstrate what is possible post-donation, and to launch initiatives which inspire, support, and educate people about the experience of living donation.

Our History of Public Awareness Campaigns

Ned Brooks’s TedTalk - viewed by tens of thousands

Public Awareness and Advocacy Efforts

Public Service Announcement Campaign on Kidney Donation

In 2019, Waitlist Zero developed a public service announcement (PSA) campaign focused on raising awareness about living kidney donation.

The video reached tens of thousands of viewers through extensive sharing on social media platforms. Approximately 150 individuals contacted our team to learn more about becoming a donor. Members of our donor network personally coached interested individuals through the evaluation process and next steps.

Despite this significant outreach effort and substantial public interest, no individuals ultimately completed the donation process as a direct result of the campaign.

This experience highlighted a critical reality: while many people express initial interest in living kidney donation, the conversion rate from awareness to actual donation remains extraordinarily low.

National Media and Television Appearances

Waitlist Zero and its leadership have participated in multiple national media appearances to increase public awareness about the kidney shortage and living donation.

Our Co-Founder, Elaine Perlman, donated a kidney to a stranger after her son, Abie, became a nondirected donor at age 19.

To help humanize the issue and educate the public, Elaine participated in a televised reunion between Abie and his recipient, a 21-year-old young man whose life was saved through transplantation.

We have also collaborated with colleagues at the National Kidney Donation Organization (NKDO) to facilitate additional television appearances, including on Good Morning America.

Successfully Advocated for the New York Living Donor Support Act

Waitlist Zero successfully advocated for passage of the New York Living Donor Support Act, legislation championed by Elaine Perlman.

The law provides reimbursement to New York living organ donors for expenses incurred as a result of donation.

Although removing financial burdens is an important step toward supporting donors, living kidney donation nationwide has remained stagnant or declined over the past two decades despite numerous efforts to make donation financially neutral.

This experience reinforced the conclusion that eliminating donor expenses alone is unlikely to fully address the kidney shortage.

Unanimous Passage of the Honor Our Living Donors Act

Waitlist Zero also successfully advocated for passage of the Honor Our Living Donors Act, which passed unanimously in the United States House of Representatives and was signed into law in February, 2026.

The legislation helps remove financial barriers for living organ donors by ensuring that only a donor’s income, not the recipient’s income, is considered when determining eligibility for federal donor assistance programs. Under prior policy, some willing donors were denied support because the organ recipient earned above certain income thresholds, even when the donor themselves faced financial hardship.

The Honor Our Living Donors Act represents an important step toward greater fairness and accessibility in living organ donation. It helps reduce the financial burden associated with donation and supports lower- and middle-income Americans who wish to donate a kidney or other organ to save a life.

At the same time, our experience advocating for both state and federal donor support legislation reinforced a broader conclusion: while removing financial barriers is critically important, and is largely in place for at least 70% of donors, financial neutrality alone has not been sufficient to solve the national kidney shortage. Despite decades of educational campaigns, donor protections, reimbursement programs, and public awareness efforts, thousands of Americans continue to die each year waiting for a kidney transplant.

Presentation at International Transplant Conference

Our team presented research at the Ethical, Legal and Psychological Aspects of Transplantation Conference.

We conducted a psychometric analysis of more than 150 nondirected kidney donors to better understand the personality traits and motivations associated with willingness to donate a kidney to a stranger.

The goal of this research was to improve outreach efforts by better understanding how to communicate with individuals potentially open to donation.

The presentation was titled:
“Take Us Off Your Pedestal: Normalizing Non-Directed Kidney Donation.”

Despite extensive outreach, education, and normalization efforts over many years, nondirected kidney donation has not expanded at a scale sufficient to address the national kidney shortage.

Outreach at Conferences and Health Expositions

Waitlist Zero has promoted living kidney donation awareness through tabling and educational outreach at conferences, health expos, and public events.

During these conversations, many individuals expressed confusion between living organ donation and deceased organ donor registration, often responding:

“I’m already an organ donor.”

While outreach efforts generated interest and many individuals requested additional information, the percentage who ultimately pursued donor evaluation—and the percentage who ultimately donated—remained extremely small.

Our experience across public awareness campaigns, educational outreach, policy advocacy, and donor mentorship has consistently demonstrated the same conclusion: education alone is insufficient to solve the kidney shortage at the scale required to save the thousands of Americans who continue to die waiting for a transplant each year.

That is why the End Kidney Deaths Act is so necessary. After years of firsthand experience working to increase living kidney donation through education, mentorship, outreach, public awareness campaigns, and financial neutrality efforts, we have concluded that these approaches alone are insufficient to produce the number of donors needed to end the kidney shortage. The End Kidney Deaths Act introduces a carefully regulated, government-supervised incentive structure designed to dramatically expand the pool of willing nondirected donors while maintaining rigorous medical and psychosocial screening standards. Without a major policy innovation, thousands of Americans will continue to die each year waiting for a kidney transplant that modern medicine already knows how to perform.