Hospitals and honored individuals are presented with an original piece of art specifically created by Leslie Mason, a Kansas City artist whose whimsical and uplifting artwork celebrates life with a bold and colorful twist. MTN commissioned the artwork to honor the lives that were lived and the life that has been given. The heart represents love, the heartbeat embodies hope, the cardinal is a symbol of memories, and the green ribbon signifies support for organ and tissue donation.

(Emporia, KS) — Midwest Transplant Network (MTN) collaborates with over 250 hospitals and recognizes their partnership in saving lives through organ and tissue donation by presenting the Excellence in Donation Awards to hospitals and individuals in their community. Newman Regional Health was recently awarded the Excellence in Tissue Donation Award by the MTN at their August Board of Trustees meeting.
Based on 2019 donation outcomes, hospitals receiving the Excellence in Organ Donation Award had greater than 75% of families granting authorization for donation. Hospitals receiving the Excellence in Tissue Donation Award had at least 15 eligible tissue donors with greater than 40% of families granting authorization.
Newman Regional Health joins Ascension Via Christi St. Francis, Belton Regional Medical Center, Capital Region Medical Center, Freeman Health System, Freeman Neosho Hospital, Geary Community Hospital, Hutchinson Regional Medical Center, Lee’s Summit Medical Center, Menorah Medical Center, North Kansas City Hospital, Olathe Medical Center, Research Medical Center, Saint Luke’s Hospital, St. Mary’s Medical Center, Salina Regional Health Center, Stormont Vail Health, The University of Kansas Health System and Wesley Medical Center as winners of this year’s award.
“We highly value our partnership with Newman Regional Health for their excellence in caring for patients and families who make the most generous decision to donate life,” said Sarah Oland, LMSW, MTN Senior Director, Hospital & Family Services. “Our collaboration helps extend legacies and save lives through organ, eye and tissue donation. On behalf of Midwest Transplant Network, donor families and countless recipients, thank you to Newman Regional Health clinicians and staff members for all you do in support of donation.”
Hospitals and honored individuals are presented with an original piece of art specifically created by Leslie Mason, a Kansas City artist whose whimsical and uplifting artwork celebrates life with a bold and colorful twist. MTN commissioned the artwork to honor the lives that were lived and the life that has been given. The heart represents love, the heartbeat embodies hope, the cardinal is a symbol of memories, and the green ribbon signifies support for organ and tissue donation.
“Newman Regional Health is proud to partner with Midwest Transplant Network to help secure the gift of life,” said Damian O’Keefe, Emergency Department and Clinical Decision Unit Director at Newman Regional Health.