Membership Benefits

National Representation
Headquartered near Washington, DC, AOPO is highly visible and accessible to members of Congress and their staff, and to governmental agencies such as the Division of Transplantation (DoT) in the Health Resources and Services Administration of the Department of Health and Human Services, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

AOPO is a member of the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) and has two seats on the UNOS Board of Directors. This allows representation in the decision-making process.

Members of AOPO bring their collective voices to organ and tissue donation-related organizations. AOPO appoints liaisons to many organizations including the American Association of Tissue Banks, American Society of Transplantation, American Society of Transplant Surgeons, Coalition on Donation, Eye Bank Association of American, North American Transplant Coordinators Organization, American Society of Multicultural Health and Transplant Coordinators, and the American Hospital Association.

Involvement through Governance Structure of AOPO
Committees: Committee members carry out the objectives of the organization and participation is open to all members. Committees include the Executive Committee (selected through election), Bylaws and Membership, Data and Information Management, Finance and Budget, Legislative and Government Affairs, Nominating, Program, and Standards and Accreditation.

Councils: Council representation is open to members’ staff that specializes within the field of donation. Councils include: Donor Family Services, Finance, Hospital Development, Medical Directors, Procurement Directors, Public Education/Relations, Tissue, and Quality Improvement.

Task Forces and Work Groups:These are formed to work on specific projects or activities. Individuals from Full and Affiliate members may participate. Examples of these groups include the National Registry Task Force, Task Force on Multicultural Issues, Human Resources Task Force, Hospital Breakthrough Task Force and the OPO Performance Task Force.

Board of Directors Representation and Voting Privileges: Participation as a member of the Board of Directors is limited to Full members. Each member OPO assigns a designated representative from its OPO to sit on the Board of Directors and have a voice in the decision-making process.

Accreditation
AOPO has developed organizational and ethical standards for OPOs, offering a voluntary accreditation program to its members. This peer review process, conducted on-site, helps assure compliance with federal regulations as well as AOPO standards. The period of accreditation is three years, after which the OPO must meet reaccreditation conditions to maintain its status.

Technical Assistance Program
AOPO has established a confidential voluntary program whereby OPO Executive Directors can access a group of experienced individuals both within and outside of the AOPO whereby this group will provide technical assistance for the sole purpose of maximizing organ donation in the OPO’s service area.

Legislative Updates and Congressional Interface
Members receive timely status reports of federal legislative activities and regulations affecting the industry. AOPO works closely with Congressional representatives and voices concerns about legislative issues related to organ and tissue donation.

Website
Members have access to both the public and members only sections of the AOPO website (www.aopo.org). The public site has basic information about AOPO, including its quarterly newsletter “The Update", and organ donation. The members only section conveys information about each committee, council, etc., survey results, and other industry-related news and data. The membership directory is maintained here as well.

AOPO Activity Updates
Regular updates about AOPO activities keep members informed of developments in the field of organ and tissue procurement and transplantation. Information on federal policies, technical advances, and reimbursement issues, as well as activities and methodologies of member organizations are included.

Media Awareness
Members are alerted to national issues on organ and tissue donation and transplantation. This awareness provides an opportunity for OPOs to prepare for possible local implications.

Data Dissemination
National trends on organ donation are compiled and made available to AOPO members, including information disseminated about OPO trends and comparisons in organ acquisition costs, staffing, finances, and salaries and benefits.

National and Regional Meetings
AOPO sponsors an Annual Meeting open to all interested attendees, an Annual Directors’ Workshop, and an Annual Professional Education Workshop. In addition, a number of Councils (i.e., Financial Management, Quality Improvement, Hospital Development/Procurement) hold meetings at various locations throughout the country during the year.

These provide a forum for the exchange of information on innovative methods to increase donation and improve management practices. The meetings also present the opportunity for members to provide input on the direction of AOPO. All members receive reduced registration fees for these meetings.

Recognition
The AOPO Excellence in Leadership Award is presented annually to an individual employed by an OPO, demonstrating excellence in leadership through outstanding management achievements or innovative practices in the organ procurement field.

The AOPO Achievement Award is presented annually to an individual demonstrating significant professional and/or personal contributions to AOPO.

Memorial Fund
The AOPO Memorial Fund was established to honor the memory of members of the OPO community and others whose commitment to maintaining the public trust regarding organ and tissue donation was clearly evidenced in their professional careers and personal lives.

Public Education
AOPO members throughout the country are committed to public education initiatives.

Membership Categories
Full: Full membership is available to any federally certified OPO who is a member of the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN).

Affiliate: Affiliate membership is available to private, non-profit health, medical, or scientific organizations engaged in organ donation or transplantation.

Emeritus: Emeritus membership is available to former OPO employees who have a minimum of 10 years’ experience in the field and are no longer employed in the donation, transplantation or other associated fields.

International: International membership is available to any non-profit voluntary health organization located outside the United States that is engaged in the promotion of organ and/or tissue donation and its mission and whose efforts are consistent with the AOPO mission; or to any non-profit scientific membership organization located outside the United States whose efforts can be construed as beneficial to the mission of AOPO.

Other Participation
A category of "AOPO Sponsor" is available to commercial or non-commercial organizations with a stated purpose related to organ and/or tissue donation and/or transplantation. Upon acceptance of their applications, these Sponsors work with the Executive Director or the Executive Committee to designate or design a specific activity or project to support.