W.W. Hastings Hospital earns national recognition for organ donation efforts

Cherokee Nation W.W. Hastings Hospital has earned national recognition for its contributions to organ, eye, and tissue donor registrations through the DoNation Campaign, a national initiative supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration.

“The Cherokee Nation is committed to supporting lifesaving initiatives that make a real difference in our community,” said Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. “Our W.W. Hastings Hospital’s work in promoting organ donation demonstrates our dedication to improving health outcomes and saving lives across Oklahoma.”

The hospital was one of 55 Oklahoma facilities participating in the 2024 campaign, working closely with LifeShare of Oklahoma to raise awareness about the critical need for organ, eye, and tissue donations.

The DoNation Campaign challenges hospitals and healthcare organizations to educate their staff, patients, visitors, and communities about the critical need for organ, eye, and tissue donation, including offering opportunities to register as organ donors. Hastings Hospital earned gold recognition for conducting awareness and registry activities between October 2023 and April 2024.

“This recognition highlights the important role our healthcare system plays in educating our community and encouraging organ donation,” said Deputy Chief Bryan Warner. “Every registration has the potential to save multiple lives.”

The 2024 Hospital Campaign added 9,134 new registrations to state donor registries, bringing the total number of registrations since the campaign’s inception in 2011 to nearly 640,000.

The urgency of organ donation remains stark, with a new person being added to the national organ transplant waiting list every nine minutes. Life-Share of Oklahoma, the state’s primary organ and tissue donation organization, continues to work with healthcare providers to address this critical need.