WVU Medicine Uniontown Hospital celebrates National Donate Life Month
UNIONTOWN, Pa. – WVU Medicine Uniontown Hospital joins the Center for Organ Recovery and Education (CORE) in recognition of National Donate Life Month, an annual observance which raises awareness about organ, tissue, and cornea donation.
Donate Life flagat the CORE flag raising cermeony.
Pictured above (left to right) are Meredith Aumer,
DNP, RN, CPEN, NE-BC,vice president of nursing and
chief nursing officer,Carrie Willetts, president and CEO of
Uniontown Hospital, Chrissy Jyachosky, BSN, RN, CMSRN,
CORE ICU Champion, and Ziad Dimachkie, MD, FACP,
chief medical officer.
CORE estimates nearly 7,000 people are awaiting transplantation in the state of Pennsylvania, a statistic that increases approximately every 10 minutes.
“WVU Medicine Uniontown Hospital is proud to support organ donation and CORE’s mission,” Carrie Willetts, president and CEO of WVU Medicine Uniontown Hospital, said. “In 2024, our hospital had three organ, 16 tissue, and 13 cornea donors, whose selfless saved and improved the lives of so many.”
The hospital hosted a CORE flag raising ceremony on Thursday, April 3, featuring hospital leadership, CORE representatives, and remarks from those personally affected by organ donation.
Chastity Wilson, L.P.N., nurse at Uniontown Hospital, shared her donation story at the ceremony. After years of battling kidney disease and dialysis, Wilson received a life-saving kidney donation in 2017. This experience motivated her to become a nurse and dedicate her life to caring for others.
Sentiments of gratitude for the gift of life were echoed by David Sitko, who spent three years waiting for “the call” that he would receive the liver transplant he so desperately needed. Sitko encouraged everyone to register to become a donor because there are many others still waiting to receive their call.
To register as an organ donor, visit RegisterMe.org/WVUMedicine.
About WVU Medicine Uniontown Hospital
WVU Medicine Uniontown Hospital is an acute and specialty care community hospital providing a full range of medical care to residents of Fayette County and the surrounding areas. The 145-bed facility is utilized by more than 200 medical staff representing more than 30 medical specialties. For more information, visit WVUMedicine.org/Uniontown.
About the Center for Organ Recovery and Education
The Center for Organ Recovery and Education (CORE) is one of 57 federally designated not-for-profit organ procurement organizations in the United States. CORE partners with more than 150 hospitals and healthcare facilities to deliver the gift of life by coordinating the surgical recovery of organs, tissues, and corneas for transplantation. CORE also facilitates the computerized matching of donated organs, tissues, and corneas. For more information, visit Core.org.
For media inquiries: For media inquiries: Nichole Mosley, Director, Communication and Marketing, 724-430-8659, - [email protected]