About Donor Network West

Congress passes the National Organ Transplant Act (NOTA). The Act called for the establishment of a national organ matching system and the establishment of a private, federally mandated network of non profit organizations to be tasked with the regional recovery and placement of donor organs. In the 1970s and early 1980s, transplant centers coordinated their own recoveries with some programs sharing organs with each other on a regional basis. In 1986, the Northern California Transplant Bank (NCTB) was founded to coordinate donations in hospitals on behalf of the transplant programs.

Northern California Transplant Bank (NCTB) is founded to coordinate donations in hospitals on behalf of the transplant programs.

An executive committee of high-level hospital administrators of the four major transplant centers in Northern California came together to develop an independent Organ Procurement Organization (OPO) in response to NOTA. The resulting structure became known as California Transplant Donor Network (CTDN) whose mission was based on recovering organs for transplantation while NCTB’s mission remained focused on tissue recovery. Phyllis Weber was appointed Executive Director of CTDN. In the first year, 15 employees were recruited whose functions were a combination of hospital education and donor management.

Phyllis Weber retired as Executive Director of California Transplant Donor Network after serving the organization for 20 years.

Cynthia Siljestrom was appointed as Chief Executive Officer of CTDN.

CTDN transitioned three regional tissue bank recovery service programs, Musculoskeletal Transplant Foundation (MTF), Tissue Banks International (TBI), and Community Tissue Services (CTS), to an internal department. Bringing the tissue recovery in-house made CTDN the single point of contact for both organ and tissue recovery within its donation service area. With the combination of these recovery services, CTDN was able to increase donation rates while making the process easier for hospitals and donor families.

CTDN establishes an Operations Center in San Leandro, California.

CTDN opened a Nevada headquarters office in Reno.

CTDN formally launched a research department. In addition to transplantation, donation for research purposes may save and heal future lives through the advancement of medical research. Research donations help increase knowledge of diseases and allow for the development of novel medications to treat them.

California Transplant Donor Network changed its name to Donor Network West. The new name captures the organization’s commitment to practicing excellence and compassion in the journey of the donated gift and more accurately describes their service area, which includes northern Nevada.

Donor Network West consolidated its Oakland and San Leandro offices into its new headquarters in San Ramon, California.

Donor Network Wests relocated its Fresno office.

Donor Network West began a partnership with San Ramon Regional Medical Center (SRRMC). Under the collaboration, the first of its kind in California, specific organ donors are transferred to the hospital’s facilities as a way to accommodate a more certain time frame for donor families for the recovery of organs. SRRMC is located across the street from Donor Network West’s headquarters.

Donor Network West’s Clinical Center opens in San Ramon.

Donor Network West’s Chief Executive Officer, Cindy Siljestrom, retires. Sean Van Slyck named Interim CEO.

Donor Network West welcomed Janice F. Whaley as its new Chief Executive Officer.

Donor Network West establishes the Northern Nevada Advisory Committee on organ donation to advance and increase new opportunities for organ donation education and outreach in the northern Nevada community.

Donor Network West opens new northern Nevada headquarters in Reno.

Donor Network West celebrates its 35th anniversary of saving and healing lives.