Community Tissue Services' Chief Operating Officer Selected for University of Phoenix National Commercial

DAYTON, Ohio, Dec. 14, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Community Tissue Services' Chief Operating Officer, Diane Wilson, has been selected for a national commercial to help promote the University of Phoenix's College of Nursing program.  The commercial is slated to air on major broadcast networks both in prime time and non-prime time.

"It was an honor to be chosen for the 'I am a Phoenix' national television commercial," said Wilson.  "This has been a tremendous opportunity to give awareness and public attention to such a key issue as organ and tissue donation, and I credit University of Phoenix for helping to promote tissue donation's important role in saving and enhancing lives."

Wilson began her career more than 35 years ago, first as a labor and delivery room nurse and then an open heart surgical nurse.  In 1996 she became the Chief Operating Officer of Community Tissue Services, and after 11 successful years still saw the need to attain her advanced degree at that point in her accomplished career.  "I was able to achieve many successes without my bachelor's degree, however I felt like a hypocrite since I was expecting prospective employees to have a least a bachelor's degree and I was sitting here with only an associate's degree," she said.  "I decided it was time for me to get my bachelors.  Once I obtained that, I jumped right into a dual master's program."    

University of Phoenix's online program was the perfect choice for the busy Wilson who travels extensively across the globe.  "The online program fit into my schedule so it gave me the opportunity to seek my degree," she said.  "Time management was learned immediately and I was efficient in using my travel downtime in airports and in the air to read, write and communicate with fellow classmates.  It's an excellent option for the busy professional and essentially I was working on projects all over the world."

Wilson credits University of Phoenix's program for giving her the confidence to believe in herself and move forward in her career.  "From the first class, I was hooked and the benefits were unreal," she said.  "In the beginning I started feeling validation for what I knew already and from there we worked on public health, theory, management and team leading.  I have become a better leader because of my classes and relationships with other students and instructors."  

A new confidence led Wilson to run for president of the American Association of Tissue Banks (AATB), the organization dedicated to ensuring that human tissues intended for transplantation are safe and free of infectious disease, of uniform high quality and available in quantities sufficient to meet national needs.  "While finishing my bachelor's degree, I decided to run for the presidency of AATB," she said.  "I would not have done this without attaining my degree as it gave me courage, and I have likened it to opening numerous doors, hallways, rooms and highways for me personally and professionally.  I don't want to waste a day that doesn't have an impact and it's my goal when I get up in the morning to make a difference in someone's life."  Wilson was elected president of ATTB in September of 2009, and became the first female, non-doctor to assume the position.  She is now serving her second year.  

Wilson received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from University of Phoenix in 2007 and a dual Master's in Nursing and Health Administration in 2009 also from University of Phoenix.  

For more information on Community Tissue Services, visit www.communitytissue.org or call 937-461-3364.  

About Community Tissue Services

Headquartered in Dayton, Ohio, Community Tissue Services (CTS) is a nonprofit quality, ethical provider of services to recipients, donor families, medical communities, and community partners through the respectful recovery, processing and distribution of tissue grafts.  CTS, an accredited member of the AATB, is one of the largest nonprofit tissue banks in the United States and operates regional offices in California, Texas, Indiana, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, Oregon, Idaho and Ohio.  In 2009, CTS distributed more than 150,000 tissue grafts to 2,000 hospitals, physicians and surgeons.

About University of Phoenix

University of Phoenix is constantly innovating to help students balance education and life in a rapidly changing world.  Through flexible schedules, challenging courses and interactive learning, students achieve personal and career aspirations without putting their lives on hold.  During the quarter ended August 31, 2010, 470,800 students were enrolled at University of Phoenix, the largest private university in North America.  University of Phoenix serves a diverse student population, offering associate's, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degree programs from campuses and learning centers across the U.S. as well as online throughout the world.  For more information, visit http://www.phoenix.edu.

SOURCE Community Tissue Services