Organ Preservation Specialist I

Center for Organ Recovery and Education; Pittsburgh (Allegheny County); On-site; USD 30,000 - 47,000; Full time

Job summary

Center for Organ Recovery & Education (CORE) seeks an Organ Preservation Specialist I to coordinate surgical recovery of organs and tissues from post-mortem donors. You will work within brain death and DCD pathways, supporting NRP and REUP techniques when applicable.

You will collaborate with donor hospital staff, recovering surgeons, transplant centers, and CORE leadership to ensure timely recoveries and adherence to regulatory requirements, using CORE devices and maintaining strict cGTP/OPTN

Qualifications

• Medical background with at least 1 year in a health-related field.
• Formal education in Surgical Technology, Forensic Autopsy, or Mortuary Sciences.
• Strong communication skills and independent judgment.
• Ability to lift 60 pounds and travel as needed.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate surgical recovery of organs and tissues from post-mortem donors.
• Support brain death pathway, DCD and NRP/REUP procedures when applicable.
• Assist recovery teams with organ preservation and preparation for transport.
• Ensure compliance with OPTN standards and CORE policies in all tasks.
• Assist with local transplant centers, fly-out recoveries, and delivery of organs.

Tools

Paragonix SherpaPak

LUNGguard

LIVERguard

Traferox

Job description

Job Details: Job Location: Headquarters - Pittsburgh, PA 15238, Position Type: Full Time, JOB DESCRIPTION – ORGAN PRESERVATION SPECIALIST I

Department: Recovery

Reports to: Manager of Organ Recovery Operations

Exemption Status: Non- Exempt

Work Schedule: Full-time or Casual

Job Location: Pittsburgh

OSHA Category: Clinical

Supervisory Responsibilities: None

POSITION SUMMARY

The position of Organ Preservation Specialist I for the Center for Organ Recovery & Education (CORE) is one of moderate responsibility. They coordinate surgical recovery of organs and tissues from post-mortem donors. This position functions in the brain death pathway and donation after death (DCD) pathways and supports advanced recovery techniques, including normothermic regional perfusion (NRP) and rapid recovery with extended ultra-oxygenated preservation (REUP) procedures when applicable. OPS I collaborate with donor hospital operating room staff, recovering surgeons, transplant center teams, and CORE leadership to ensure timely recovery operations and adherence to regulatory requirements. The OPS I assists recovery teams with organ preservation support tasks, preservation processes, and preparation of organs for transport in accordance with OPTN standards and CORE policies and procedures. OPS I are trained to support and remain competent in CORE Consignment preservation devices utilized intraoperatively by recovering transplant center teams, including Paragonix SherpaPak, LUNGguard, LIVERguard, Traferox, and future preservation devices adopted by CORE. This role will be responsible for the recovery of tissue for transplant including but not limited to heart for valves, vertebral bodies, as well as research organs and tissues from post-mortem donors observing and adhering to FDA current Good Tissue Practices and AATB standards. They are responsible for the post-mortem care of local organ donors. They will also provide assistance to local transplant centers in delivery of imported organs, fly-out recoveries, and preservation during living organ donor cases.

SCOPE OF RESPONSIBILITY

The Organ Recovery Coordinator will be responsible for positively educating and interacting with health care professionals on the donation process. They will be responsible for participating in promoting a work environment that is safe-proof, injury free, and fire safe. They are responsible for demonstrating knowledge of current Good Tissue Practices (cGTP), OPTN policy, and operating within current CORE policies and procedures. They will manage preservation solutions, integrity of sterile equipment, and supplies specific to the donation activity. They will package, label, and verify donor information with every organ and/or tissue recovered for transplant or research with precision and urgency. They must have experience in electronic documentation applications and will be responsible for managing the OPTN electronic bar-coding organ labeling system (TransNet). They must demonstrate strong interpersonal skills and are responsible for the promotion of a positive workplace that assures the success of the operations of CORE.

Casual Status Requirement:

An Organ Preservation Specialist I, who is Casual status, is responsible for providing current availability for schedules to the Manager of Organ Recovery Operations, as well as provide CORE with all current contact information (home phone and/or cell phone). They shall also be responsible for remaining current with all relevant CORE policy and procedures.

Qualifications: JOB QUALIFICATIONS

The Incumbent for the position of Organ Recovery Coordinator should have some type of medical background, with at least one year of experience in a health-related field. Candidates graduating from a formal education program related to Surgical Technology, Forensic Autopsy, or Mortuary Sciences will also be considered. They must have strong communication skills and good independent judgment. They must have the ability to get along with all types of individuals and should possess excellent verbal communication skills. They must have strong literary skills. They must demonstrate professional commitment and behavior, showing respect to all donors and CORE partners. They should possess experience with sterile technique. They must complete an extensive six (6)-month training period which results in a reasonable outcome. They must demonstrate true support to the donation program. They must have the physical stamina to work long, unpredictable hours and must be flexible to work in unpredictable situations. They must be able to lift sixty (60) pounds. They must have a valid PA state driver’s license. They must secure a passport within six (6) months of employment and be willing to travel by plane to distant hospitals. They must have good manual dexterity and visual acuity.

DEGREE OF JOB DIFFICULTY

The degree of job difficulty for the Organ Preservation Specialist I falls into the moderate range. Inadvertent errors or mistakes could result in the death of a transplant recipient.

SUPERVISORY REQUIREMENTS

None.