Nevada Transplant Institute Inaugurates Board of Directors with Esteemed Leaders in Transplantation Field

LAS VEGAS and RENO, NEV. – The Nevada Transplant Institute (NTI) proudly announces the inauguration of its Board of Directors, marking a significant milestone in its mission to revolutionize access to life-saving transplantation services in Nevada and the region. According to Joe Ferreira, NTI’s founding chair, the NTI is poised to address critical disparities across Nevada to end-stage organ failure care and develop transplantation services with a team of distinguished professionals at its helm. Currently, for many types of organ transplants, Nevadans must travel out of state to receive a transplant not currently offered within the state.

The inaugural board members bring a wealth of experience and expertise to the NTI:

Joe Ferreira, Founding Chair

Brian Erling, MD, MBA, President & CEO, Renown Health

Jim DeVolld, Managing Director, Commercial Banking, First Independent Bank

Dr. Thiago Beduschi, Chief of the University of Florida Division of Transplantation and Hepatobiliary Surgery and Director of the UF Health Abdominal Transplant Center

Guiding the NTI as its Director and Executive Vice President is Ernesto P. Molmenti, MD, PhD, MBA, an esteemed and decorated leader in the field of organ transplantation who has authored over 500 peer-reviewed manuscripts/chapters and written six textbooks translated into multiple languages.

“I am delighted to join the leadership team of the Nevada Transplant Institute. With our outstanding team, we will pioneer the development of a multiorgan transplant program in northern Nevada and increase access to available transplants statewide,” said Dr. Molmenti. “Transplantation is more than a medical procedure. It is a life-saving intervention that can revert end-stage organ disease, providing greater survival rates and an improved quality of life. We are fully committed to ensuring that all candidates receive the highest standard of care in a location close to their homes.”

Dr. Molmenti will be supported by expert consulting NTI faculty members, Dr. David Mulligan and Dr. Harrison Pollinger, whose leadership careers in transplantation and commitment to excellence will ensure the institute’s success in delivering optimal outcomes for transplant recipients.

“I am pleased to see services expanded so that residents in need of transplantation will no longer need to endure long waits or seek life-saving care in other states, which will alleviate the financial, physical, and emotional burden for critically ill patients and their families,” said Brian Erling, MD, MBA, President & CEO of Renown Health. “Participating as a Board member in The Nevada Transplant Institute helps underscore our academic health system’s dedication to advancing innovative treatments and improving the health of our community.”

Founding Chair Joe Ferreira expressed his enthusiasm for the appointment of the inaugural board and operational leadership, stating, “The naming of the inaugural board and leadership team is a monumental step in the development of the NTI. With such high-caliber representation and leadership in the transplantation field, Nevadans and potential recipients in the region will greatly benefit from this transformational statewide project located in Nevada.”

The NTI, a non-profit organization, aims to provide transplantation-related resources statewide in collaboration with hospitals, community partners, healthcare providers, and payers. By providing access to transplantation services and improving care outcomes, the NTI is dedicated to addressing health disparities and access to life-saving treatments not currently available in the state of Nevada.

To catalyze this groundbreaking project, Alexander Aussi, CEO of Guidry and East, an experienced organ transplant consulting firm, has been named as the interim transplant administrator. The NTI anticipates conducting its first transplant by the fall of 2024, marking the beginning of a new era in transplantation care for the people of Nevada and beyond.

ABOUT NEVADA TRANSPLANT INSTITUTEThe Nevada Transplant Institute (NTI) is dedicated to ending the wait for Nevadans on the organ transplant list. Our mission is to expand transplantation services, improve access, reduce costs, and enhance research and education in donation and transplantation. With a commitment to saving lives, NTI works tirelessly to support Nevadans in need of organ transplants. For more information or to donate, go to www.nvtransplant.org or email ntiinfo@nvtransplant.org.