We Are Sharing Hope SC, Congressman Timmons tour Prisma Health Transplant Center
February 22, 2023
We Are Sharing Hope SC (SHSC), the state’s federally designated organ procurement organization (OPO), was joined by U.S. Representative William Timmons today for a tour of the Prisma Health Transplant Center in Greenville. The visit marks the one-year anniversary of the first kidney transplants performed through Prisma Health’s solid organ transplantation program, which was created in response to rising needs for transplants performed closer to home for patients in the Upstate. Alongside SHSC, Congressman Timmons got a firsthand look at the center’s operations and spoke with Prisma Health staff about the life-changing work they are doing.
“Today’s visit was special for so many reasons,” said David DeStefano, President and CEO of We Are Sharing Hope SC. “To see the impact this program has had on the community, and the collaboration from Prisma Health staff working so diligently alongside our organization to facilitate the gift of life through organ donation was truly incredible. Having the opportunity to bring Congressman Timmons alongside us to learn about this work was a wonderful addition to this visit. We are grateful he took the time to see what the gift of life means for South Carolinians and those we serve.”
“I am grateful for the opportunity to tour this facility and learn more about the process of transplantation and its lifesaving impact for the people of South Carolina,” said Rep. William Timmons. “Thank you to the Prisma Health Transplant Center for answering the call to action for our community and providing the much needed critical care we saw in action here today.”
More than 30 kidney transplants were performed at Prisma Health’s transplant center in its first year. The Upstate center has received more than 1,670 referrals from South Carolina and surrounding states.
“We’re thrilled that our team can provide this much needed program here locally with the support of valued partners like We Are Sharing Hope SC,” said Dr. Todd Merchen, the transplant surgeon who helped launch the Prisma Health Transplant Center and is its director. “I want to thank Congressman Timmons for raising awareness of the importance of this partnership and our new program. It’s hard to overstate the impact of a transplant program on a community in need. We look forward to continuing to expand our program in the year to come.”
The visit comes on the heels of a milestone year of generosity in South Carolina. In 2022, there were 230 organ donor heroes in South Carolina, resulting in 612 organs transplanted and 512 lives saved by South Carolina donors. 390 tissue donors helped enhance the quality of life for more than 48,000 Americans, a 6% increase since 2021.
More about We Are Sharing Hope SC—SHSC is South Carolina’s non-profit, federally-designated organ and tissue recovery service. SHSC’s teams across the state make the gift of life possible in SC by honoring donor legacies and facilitating life-saving donations at every hospital in the state. Learn more at SharingHopeSC.org.
About Prisma Health
Prisma Health is a private nonprofit health company and the largest healthcare organization in South Carolina. The company has 29,750 team members, 18 acute and specialty hospitals, 2,827 beds, 300 outpatient sites, and more than 5,300 employed and independent clinicians across its clinically integrated inVio Health Network. Along with this innovative network, Prisma Health serves almost 1.5 million unique patients annually in its 21-county market area that covers 50% of South Carolina. Prisma Health’s goal is to improve the health of all South Carolinians by enhancing clinical quality, the patient experience and access to affordable care, as well as conducting clinical research and training the next generation of medical professionals. Learn more at PrismaHealth.org.
