DRWF is pleased to offer our latest event on Saturday, April 9th 8am to 12:30pm at the Greenbelt Marriott  - 6400 Ivy Lane, Greenbelt, MD

Thank you to all that attended the event.

*Free Admission to the public - Please reserve your spot today below for the PUBLIC program. *A $5 donation towards this program would be greatly appreciated but not required for admittance.

Health professional program is also available for credits- reserve your spot today using this link only.

Transplantation: An option

The program is designed to educate healthcare professionals and the public about pancreas, kidney, and islet cell transplants. The options that are available and research that is being done in this field.  

Transplantation is frequently an option that we counsel our patients about, we encourage you to attend and learn more about the exciting advances that have occurred in tranplantation and learn from patients how life-changing a transplant can be.

DRWF is offering this program for individuals who are considering a pancreas or kidney transplant, their families, caregivers and other members of the community that may be interested in learning about pancreas, islet cell, kidney transplants, and the live kidney donor program. 

DOWNLOAD EVENT PROGRAM

Speakers:  

Joseph Melancon, MD, FACS is Chief of the George Washington University Transplant Institute and professor of surgery at The George Washington University Hospital. After completing his surgical training, Dr. Melancon did a multi-organ transplant fellowship at the University of Minnesota. After his fellowship training, Dr. Melancon became the director of kidney and pancreas transplantation first, at John Hopkins University, followed by Georgetown University, the Washington Hospital Center, and the Children’s National Medical Center from the years 2004 to 2012.

Since 2013, Dr. Melancon has been the director of the George Washington Transplant Institute where he is a professor of surgery and the medical director of the Ron and Joy Paul Kidney Center. Dr. Melancon is an internationally renowned expert in paired kidney exchanges, ABO incompatible kidney transplantation, pancreas transplantation, and immunologic desensitization for organ transplants. Dr. Melancon has on four occasions set the world’s record for largest paired kidney exchange. Dr. Melancon’s passion and research has centered on trying to increase access to organ transplantation for minority patients and sensitized patients who have few options for kidney transplantation.

Melena Bellin, MD  is an Assistant Professor of Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes and the Director of Research for Islet Auto transplantation at the University of Minnesota.  She completed her medical school, pediatric residency, and endocrinology fellowship at the University of Minnesota where she currently holds a tenure-tracl joint position in the Departments of Pediatrics and Surgery (Schulze Diabetes Institute).  Her research focus is clinical islet transplantation for type 1 diabetes and total pancreatectomy and islet auto transplantation for patients with severe chronic pancreatitis. 

James B. Piper, MD transplant surgeon and a general surgeon at Inova Transplant Center and Associate Professor of Surgery at Virginia Commonwealth University with more than 20 years expertise in pancreatic and hepatobiliary surgery.

After undergoing several surgical procedures in high school, Dr. Piper became interested in medicine and surgery and went on to work as an orderly in the operating rooms. During medical school, he developed a special interest in transplantation and completed a fellowship in multi-organ transplant following his general surgical residency. Dr. Piper has always had a special interest in pancreatic and hepatobiliary surgery and completed a second fellowship to develop special expertise in this area. His goal is to help all patients suffering from end-stage organ disease as well as patients with cancers and complex problems of the pancreas, liver and bile ducts.

Justin Van Denend, BS, MS is the Manager of Training and Professional Development at the Washington Regional Transplant Community (WRTC).  In this position, Justin is responsible for all organ recovery staff training and continued professional development, as well as focused recovery related training for other departments in the organization.

For more information please email us.