CHAMPIONING TRANSPLANT MEDICINE

Alonzo Mourning Named Spokesman
for Miami Transplant Institute

Since his successful kidney transplant in 2003, Miami Heat star Alonzo Mourning has devoted his off-the-court time to improving the lives of transplant patients. On September 25 he became the new spokesman for the Miami Transplant Institute at Jackson Memorial Hospital and the Miller School.

The announcement was made at a news conference attended by Miller School Dean Pascal J. Goldschmidt, M.D., Marvin O’Quinn, CEO of Jackson Health System, Andreas Tzakis, M.D., Ph.D., director of the Miami Transplant Institute, and Mourning.

“I know firsthand that transplantation saves lives, and I want to lend my voice and influence to build the Miami Transplant Institute into a world leader in clinical care and research,” said Mourning, who congratulated the institute for the 7,000 kidney transplants it has performed. “I am a huge believer in the work done by Dr. Tzakis, and I share his vision for the future. Together as a team, we can have a championship in the medical world.”

Mourning was diagnosed with a rare degenerative kidney disease, focal glomerulosclerosis, during a routine preseason physical in September 2000. After battling the disease with medication for three years, he finally underwent a successful kidney transplant. Mourning eventually returned to professional basketball and with his Miami Heat teammates won the 2006 NBA championship. He also played on the gold medal U.S. Olympic basketball team in 2000, shortly before his diagnosis.

At the news conference, Mourning discussed the obstacles he faced following his transplant surgery and how he was caught off guard by the high cost of anti-rejection medications, which inspired him to create Zo’s Fund for Life, a nonprofit that supports the fight against kidney disease.

“Alonzo Mourning is a true champion, and the Miami Transplant Institute could not have a better person on its team to lead the charge for state-of-the-art care for our patients and breakthrough research that could one day eliminate the need for lifelong anti-rejection drugs,” said Dean Goldschmidt. “The level of awareness he will bring will play a key role in getting more people to consider becoming organ donors.”

Jackson Memorial Hospital is the only hospital in South Florida to perform every type of solid organ transplant. “For patients in need of a transplant, the institute offers the hope of life,” said O’Quinn. “Under the direction of Dr. Tzakis, we are able to offer the latest techniques, medications and support services to our patients.”

Started in 1979, the transplant program has grown into one of the largest and most comprehensive transplant centers in the world; it is ranked fifth in the nation among top transplant programs. The surgeons perform dozens of kidney, liver, heart and pancreas transplants, as well as more than half of the world’s complex multivisceral transplants.