Over 1,000 At Stony Brook University Register As Organ Donors

STONY BROOK UNIVERSITY, NY — Kathleen Valerio, Stony Brook University's health educator, spearheaded a program that resulted in over 1,000 new registrants to the New York State Organ Donation Registry, Senator John Flanagan's office announced.

No New York State college registered more new organ donors than Stony Brook University, per the office. To accomplish the feat, Valerio recruited, trained and led 40 Stony Brook University student LiveONNY ambassadors who distributed organ donation registration information to faculty, staff and students.

Flanagan welcomed Valerio to his Smithtown office to recognize her efforts to increase organ donation registrations at the university.

"Only by working to reach out person by person can we hope to increase the number of registered organ donors in our state, and Ms. Valerio’s work sets a great example for all across our state," Flanagan stated. "Her selfless efforts not only helped increase donations, it helped raise awareness of this critical issue, and we hope she knows how important her work is and how much it impacts everyone in our community. Her leadership will help save lives and inspire others to register to help save lives throughout our state and our nation."

In honor of his late friend, Assemblyman James Conte, who was an organ recipient, Flanagan has worked to increase the number of registrants in New York and is a registered organ donor himself. It's no surprise he was so appreciative of Valerio's work.

However, over 9,000 New Yorkers are still awaiting lifesaving transplants, and New York remains last in the nation in the number of registered donors, Flanagan's office said. Only 35 percent of New Yorkers are registered as organ donors.