Albany- The Center for Donation and Transplant (CDT) will recognize Samaritan Hospital with the “Outstanding Hospital Outreach Award” at its annual Donate Life Celebration dinner on Thursday, April 23^rd, at the Holiday Inn in Saratoga Springs, New York. The dinner is held each year to recognize healthcare professionals and individuals in the community that support CDT’s mission and work to increase organ and tissue donation. 

CDT will recognize the hospital with this award for their work and support in a difficult Donation after Cardiac Death (DCD) donor case in 2014. The organization noted that the hospital went above and beyond in its support for the family, before, during and after the recovery process. In addition to their steadfast cooperation and partnership throughout the case, the hospital also held a widely attended flag-raising ceremony to honor the generosity of the donor in giving the gift of life.

Michael Thibault, Executive Director of Center for Donation & Transplant said, “The staff of Samaritan Hospital were dedicated to ensuring the family’s wishes for their loved one to be an organ donor were fulfilled.  Their compassion and professionalism during a very difficult time was a source of significant comfort to the family.  The staff, showing their commitment and dedication to this family, deserve the utmost recognition.  We are honored to recognize the entire Samaritan Hospital team with the 2015 Outstanding Hospital Outreach Award.”

“I am extremely proud of our staff for what they do for every patient, every day,” said Norman E. Dascher, Chief Executive Officer of Samaritan and St. Mary’s hospitals, and Vice President of Acute Care Troy for St. Peter’s Health Partners. “The compassion, commitment and professionalism they exhibit day-in and day-out truly touch the lives of not only our patients but their families as well. We are very pleased to receive this honor which reflects their dedication and efforts every day throughout the year.”

The Center for Donation & Transplant (CDT) is a non-profit organ procurement organization (OPO) dedicated to increasing organ and tissue donation.  CDT coordinates the retrieval of donor organs and tissue at 43 hospitals throughout northeastern New York state and western Vermont.

Samaritan Hospital is a member of St. Peter’s Health Partners (SPHP), the region’s largest health system. SPHP employs more than 12,500 employees, with more than 170 locations across eight counties. For more information, please visit www.SPHP.com.