Organ Preservation Specialist I

CENTER FOR ORGAN RECOVERY AND EDUCA•Pittsburgh, PA

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The Organ Preservation Specialist I at the Center for Organ Recovery & Education (CORE) coordinates surgical recovery of organs and tissues from post-mortem donors. The role supports brain death and donation after circulatory death pathways, as well as advanced recovery procedures such as normothermic regional perfusion (NRP) and rapid recovery with extended ultra-oxygenated preservation (REUP), when applicable. The specialist works with donor hospital operating room staff, recovery surgeons, transplant center teams, and CORE leadership to support timely recovery operations and meet regulatory requirements. The position assists with organ preservation, preservation processes, and preparation of organs for transport in accordance with OPTN standards and CORE policies. Specialists are trained to support CORE consignment preservation devices used during recovery, including Paragonix SherpaPak, LUNGguard, LIVERguard, Traferox, and future devices adopted by CORE. The role also recovers tissue for transplant—including heart valves and vertebral bodies—and organs and tissues for research, following FDA current Good Tissue Practices and AATB standards. Duties include post-mortem care of local organ donors and assistance to local transplant centers with imported-organ delivery, fly-out recoveries, and preservation during living donor cases. The specialist educates and interacts with health care professionals about donation, supports a safe and fire-safe work environment, and follows current Good Tissue Practices, OPTN policy, and CORE procedures. Responsibilities include managing preservation solutions and sterile equipment and supplies; accurately packaging, labeling, and verifying donor information for recovered organs and tissues; and using electronic documentation applications, including the OPTN TransNet bar-coding organ-labeling system. The position requires strong interpersonal skills and contributes to a positive workplace. Casual-status specialists must provide current availability to the Manager of Organ Recovery Operations, maintain current contact information, and stay current with applicable CORE policies and procedures. The role has moderate difficulty; inadvertent errors could result in the death of a transplant recipient.

Requirements

Some type of medical background and at least one year of experience in a health-related field; candidates graduating from a formal program related to Surgical Technology, Forensic Autopsy, or Mortuary Sciences will also be considered.
Strong communication skills, including excellent verbal communication skills.
Good independent judgment and the ability to work well with all types of individuals.
Strong literary skills.
Professional commitment and behavior, including respect for donors and CORE partners.
Experience with sterile technique.
Successful completion of an extensive six-month training period.
Demonstrated support for the donation program.
Physical stamina to work long, unpredictable hours and flexibility to work in unpredictable situations.
Ability to lift 60 pounds.
Valid Pennsylvania state driver's license.
Ability to secure a passport within six months of employment and willingness to travel by plane to distant hospitals.
Good manual dexterity and visual acuity.
Experience with electronic documentation applications.

Responsibilities

Coordinate surgical recovery of organs and tissues from post-mortem donors.
Support brain death and donation after circulatory death pathways and, when applicable, NRP and REUP procedures.
Collaborate with donor hospital operating room staff, recovering surgeons, transplant center teams, and CORE leadership to support timely recovery operations and regulatory compliance.
Assist recovery teams with organ preservation, preservation processes, and preparation of organs for transport in accordance with OPTN standards and CORE policies.
Support CORE consignment preservation devices, including Paragonix SherpaPak, LUNGguard, LIVERguard, Traferox, and future devices adopted by CORE.
Recover tissue for transplant, including heart valves and vertebral bodies, and recover organs and tissues for research in accordance with applicable standards.
Provide post-mortem care for local organ donors.
Assist local transplant centers with delivery of imported organs, fly-out recoveries, and preservation during living organ donor cases.
Educate and interact with health care professionals about the donation process.
Promote a safe, injury-free, and fire-safe work environment.
Manage preservation solutions and the integrity of sterile equipment and supplies specific to donation activities.
Package, label, and verify donor information for each organ or tissue recovered for transplant or research.
Use electronic documentation applications and manage the OPTN TransNet electronic bar-coding organ-labeling system.
For casual status, provide current availability and contact information to the Manager of Organ Recovery Operations and remain current with CORE policies and procedures.
Contribute to a positive workplace and demonstrate respect for donors and CORE partners.