W. Kenneth Washburn, M.D., has been appointed vice chair of the United Network of Organ Sharing Liver and Intestinal Organ Transplantation Committee.
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W. Kenneth Washburn, M.D., associate professor of surgery at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, has just received a prestigious two-year appointment as vice chair of the Liver and Intestinal Organ Transplantation Committee of the United Network of Organ Sharing (UNOS).

UNOS is a non-profit, scientific and educational organization that administers the nation's only Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN). Dr. Washburn’s term as vice chair begins July 1 and will finish June 30, 2009. Upon completion of the term, the vice chair traditionally moves into the chair’s position.

Dr. Washburn has been a member of the OPTN/UNOS Liver and Intestinal Organ Transplantation Committee since 2003 and has served on the liver regional review board for six years, including two years as the regional review board chairman. He has been involved in numerous subcommittees, most recently serving as chair of the Split Liver Subcommittee.

Making policy
In his new role, Dr. Washburn will assist the committee chair with providing leadership and subject matter expertise during all committee activities, including the policy development process for liver and intestine organ allocation. Additionally, Dr. Washburn will serve as the committee's representative on the OPTN/UNOS Policy Oversight Committee, which reviews existing and proposed policies to assess whether they are meeting the goals and metrics set forth by the OPTN Strategic Plan and the Health Resources and Services Administration’s Program Goals.

“This is one of the most significant liver transplant positions in the country,” said Glenn Halff, M.D., director of the Health Science Center’s Texas Center for Abdominal Transplant Sciences. “Ken will be responsible for formulating many of the policies regarding liver transplantation in the United States that will affect thousands of liver and intestinal organ transplant candidates in the years to come.”

“I am honored to be appointed to this position to help lead the committee in developing and refining equitable national policies affecting the allocation and distribution of cadaveric liver and intestine allografts for transplantation,” Dr. Washburn said. “The public entrusts the organ donation and allocation process to UNOS and this committee is vital to maintaining that trust through policies which support equitable distribution of these life-saving organs.”

Transplant surgeon
Dr. Washburn, who joined the Health Science Center in 1998, is the surgical director of the Health Science Center’s liver transplant program. He performs adult and pediatric liver and kidney transplants, as well as hepatobiliary surgery. Dr. Washburn established the clinical research component and is the principal investigator on a number of protocols involving established and new pharmacologic agents. He has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications related to transplantation.