PCH receives awards for organ donation program 

Princeton, W.Va. – WVU Medicine Princeton Community Hospital (PCH) received a Platinum Award from the Center for Organ Recovery and Education (CORE) for its program to educate staff and community members about the benefits of organ donation. In addition, PCH received two West Virginia Governor’s Awards for Life for Outstanding Support of Tissue and Cornea Donation. 

 

The Platinum Award is given through the statewide hospital challenge organized by CORE in partnership with Donate Life West Virginia and the West Virginia Hospital Association. The challenge encourages hospitals to educate staff, patients, and the community about the critical need for organ and tissue donation and to increase the number of registered donors in the state. The award was presented during a ceremony held at Stonewall Jackson Resort. Accepting the award on behalf of the PCH was Kim Poe, director of nursing critical care.  

 

Staff at PCH’s main hospital and the Bluefield Emergency Department were honored with the West Virginia Governor’s Awards for Life in recognition of their dedication to supporting donors who gave the gift of life through tissue and cornea donation. In 2024, five PCH organ donors saved up to 5 lives, 17 tissue donors helped heal up to 1,275 individuals, and 12 cornea donors restored sight for up to 24 people. 

 

“We are honored to receive the Platinum Award and the Governor’s Awards recognizing PCH’s efforts to support and promote organ, tissue, and cornea donation,” said Karen Bowling, president and CEO. “These awards reflect our staff’s compassion and commitment to saving lives not just inside our hospital, but also throughout our community. The impact of organ donation is profound, and we are humbled to play a role in giving hope to so many.”