MCLEAN, Va., June 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- At its Annual Meeting, the Association of Organ Procurement Organizations (AOPO) proudly awarded Suzanne Conrad, CEO of Iowa Donor Network, and Bruce Nicely, Vice President of Donation Optimization at Gift of Life Michigan, with the prestigious 2025 AOPO Lifetime Achievement Award. This award is given to individuals who have made significant, enduring contributions to the organ procurement community and have actively championed and supported AOPO's mission to save and heal lives through organ, eye, and tissue donation.
Suzanne Conrad's 40-year career in the donation community began at Hartford Hospital in Connecticut as a cardiothoracic surgery nurse and transplant coordinator. She joined Southwest Organ Bank – now Southwest Transplant Alliance – in 1985, serving in leadership roles across education, marketing, and development. Since 1997, Conrad has led the Iowa Donor Network as Chief Executive Officer, overseeing significant growth that has expanded services to include tissue recovery and implementing best practices that have increased the number of organ and tissue donors, transplants, and donor family support.
A past AOPO President (2009-2010), Conrad continues to actively engage with AOPO as a member of the AOPO Foundation Board and Strategic Planning Committee. Her leadership also extends to national roles with the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), the American Council on Transplantation (ACT), the National Kidney Foundation (NKF), the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients (SRTR), and the North American Transplant Coordinators Organization (NATCO). She currently serves as President of the AlloSource Board of Directors.
"Conrad is a visionary trailblazer in the donation community, prioritizing initiatives that ensure alignment with evolving national priorities in donation and transplantation," says Steve Miller, CEO of AOPO. "Her personal journey as a living kidney donor underscores her commitment to saving and improving lives."
For more than 35 years, Bruce Nicely has been a dedicated leader in organ and tissue donation. He began his career as a Donation Coordinator at LifeNet Health in Virginia before taking on clinical leadership roles at HonorBridge in North Carolina and, since 2011, at Gift of Life Michigan in Michigan. As Vice President of Donation Optimization, Nicely helps drive major advancements, including pioneering one of the nation's first donor recovery centers and leading operational improvements, especially in donation after circulatory death (DCD) practices, which have enhanced organ and tissue donation.
A respected national voice Nicely has been an active member of AOPO, contributing to both the Tissue and Procurement Councils, as well as serving as the Chair of the Annual Meeting in 2018. Nicely currently serves on the AOPO ACIN Task Force and represents AOPO as part of the ASTS Procurement Training Work Group. He has presented and published research widely, including at AOPO, the American Society of Transplantation (AST), the American Society of Transplant Surgeons (ASTS), and NATCO. He played a key role in modernizing the American Association of Tissue Banks (AATB) standards and served as president of NATCO, as well as a member of the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) Board.
"Nicely's long-standing collaboration with AOPO and other national partners reflects his commitment to innovation, operational excellence, and compassionate donor care," says AOPO CEO Steve Miller.
The AOPO Lifetime Achievement Award is one of the highest honors attained within the OPO community, recognizing individuals who have made remarkable and lasting contributions to organ, eye, and tissue donation. This award highlights Suzanne Conrad and Bruce Nicely's exceptional leadership and their relentless pursuit of excellence in the field of organ donation and transplantation.
About the Association of Organ Procurement Organizations (AOPO)
The Association of Organ Procurement Organizations (AOPO) is the not-for-profit trade association leading the nation's organ donation community to save and improve lives through organ, eye, and tissue donation. Founded in 1984, AOPO advances organ donation and transplantation by driving continual improvement of the donation process, collaborating with stakeholders, and sharing successful practices with its 47 member OPOs. AOPO envisions a future where every opportunity for donation results in lives saved. For more information, please visit www.aopo.org.
Contact Information:
Jenny Daigle | [email protected]
SOURCE Association of Organ Procurement Organizations
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