Organ & Tissue Donation Support Specialist – Transplant Services Building at University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority in Madison, Wisconsin

Job Description:

UW Organ and Tissue Donation is recognized as one of the most successful organ procurement programs in the nation!

We are seeking a Donation Support Specialist to:

• Join an exceptional Organ Procurement Organization. UW Organ and Tissue Donation continuously ranks as one of the top OPOs in the nation for overall organ utilization.


• Effectively approach donor families and obtain and maintain consent to optimize the number of organ donors in the federally designated service area serving over 100 hospitals across the state.


• Provide excellence in donor family care through the Donor Family Services (DFS) Program.


• Contribute expertise in best practices in consent conversations and donor family care.


• Participate in and coordinate education to internal and external stakeholders


• Participate in quality improvement and quality assurance and maintain regulatory standards.


• Provide support to other’s in their times of crisis and maintain self-resiliance.


• Consistently support the team’s shared work to family follow-up, after action reviews, and correspondence.


• Respectfully and competently communicate, coordinate and collaborate with colleagues and donor service area partners.


• Make an impact and be REMARKABLE!

Education:

Minimum – Bachelor’s degree in Counseling, Social Work, Psychology or other relevant field.  Relevant experience may be considered in lieu of education.

Preferred – Master’s degree preferred.

Work Experience:

Minimum – Two (2) years of experience in counseling, social work, hospice, palliative care, or transplant within a healthcare or an organ procurement organization.

Preferred – At least (1) year of OPO experience.

Licenses and Certifications:

Minimum – Valid State of WI driver’s license

Required Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities:

• Influence and leadership of small groups.


• Knowledge and application processes to support donor intervention research, grant writing, educational outreach, and other activities.


• Communication skills must include deescalating intense situations, demonstrating compassion, explaining highly technical processes simply, and active listening.


• Ability to communicate effectively with a broad array of families at different emotional stages, ethnicities, socioeconomic statuses, and educational backgrounds.


• Ability to engage in productive dialogue with various hospital staff, including nurses, physicians, and senior executive staff.


• Ability to effectively cope in high stress situations.


• Ability to be responsible, autonomous, flexible, sensitive and compassionate.


• Ability to learn and understand medical terminology.


• Ability to be awake and of service for 24 hours at a time.


• Ability to depart to referring hospital within 30 minutes of request to deploy.


• Ability to maintain valid driver’s license and capable of driving to any referring hospital.

Physical Requirements:

Light: Ability to lift up to 20 pounds maximum with frequent lifting and/or carrying of objects weighing up to 10 pounds. 

Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

UW Health is committed to being a diverse, equitable, inclusive and anti-racist workplace and is an Equal Employment Opportunity, Affirmative Action employer. Our integrity shines through in patient care interactions and our daily work practices as we work to embrace the knowledge, unique perspectives and qualities each employee and faculty member brings to work each day. Applications from Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) individuals, LGBTQ+ and non-binary identities, women, persons with disabilities, military service members and veterans are strongly encouraged.  EOE, including disability/veterans.

Work Schedule:

This is a full-time, 1.0 FTE position, scheduled for six 12 hour on call shifts and six 24 hour on call shifts per month, as well as 8 hours of office time in the office or remote.  Hours may vary based on the operational needs of the department.

UW Health Clinics - our physicians and staff are dedicated to providing an exceptional patient and family experience by delivering the highest quality of care in a compassionate environment. With more than 80 primary and specialty care clinics located throughout Dane County and the surrounding areas, we are proud to have the opportunity to impact the communities we serve.

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