Nichole Salaam

Sure, yeah. So thanks, Clarence. So Susan had mentioned that Minnesota is a really generous state. We've, you know, got about 56% of Minnesotans are registered as organ donors on their driver's license or state ID. 60% of the almost 106,000 people on the national waiting list are from communities of color. And so when we look at

Sure, yeah. So thanks, Clarence. So Susan had mentioned that Minnesota is a really generous state. We've, you know, got about 56% of Minnesotans are registered as organ donors on their driver's license or state ID. 60% of the almost 106,000 people on the national waiting list are from communities of color. And so when we look at

In Minnesota right now, there's about 805 people on the transplant waiting list. And so when we think about donation, in many communities of color, we see high incidences of kidney disease, people who are in need of kidney transplant. And so where we bring in the lens of diversity, equity, and inclusion is understanding that while we have a really high incidence

In Minnesota right now, there's about 805 people on the transplant waiting list. And so when we think about donation, in many communities of color, we see high incidences of kidney disease, people who are in need of kidney transplant. And so where we bring in the lens of diversity, equity, and inclusion is understanding that while we have a really high incidence

need, there are not people that are registered as donors in those communities. And so we see that there is a significant need to really educate and inform people about the donation process, which is, as we talk about, very nuanced, very sophisticated. And then also just addressing reasons why people may not register to donate due to things like medical mistrust,

need, there are not people that are registered as donors in those communities. And so we see that there is a significant need to really educate and inform people about the donation process, which is, as we talk about, very nuanced, very sophisticated. And then also just addressing reasons why people may not register to donate due to things like medical mistrust,

And really just hearing, you know, what people's lived experiences are kind of with the healthcare industry. So doing our work through an equity lens is really essential because we're able to work with members of diverse communities in a different nuanced way as well.

And really just hearing, you know, what people's lived experiences are kind of with the healthcare industry. So doing our work through an equity lens is really essential because we're able to work with members of diverse communities in a different nuanced way as well.

Sorry, I was having some sound issues here. My apologies. And hopefully I won't. I won't. You want me to repeat it again? Get caught off again. Yeah. Could you? Sorry about that.

Sorry, I was having some sound issues here. My apologies. And hopefully I won't. I won't. You want me to repeat it again? Get caught off again. Yeah. Could you? Sorry about that.

Well, I would say first that the need is way higher than what is available. And so when we have people that register to donate, we know that one person, we say this all the time, particularly when we're out and educating people about the donation process, one person can save up to 75 lives. And so if we calculate that, that's a lot of lives saved once we have people who register to donate.

Well, I would say first that the need is way higher than what is available. And so when we have people that register to donate, we know that one person, we say this all the time, particularly when we're out and educating people about the donation process, one person can save up to 75 lives. And so if we calculate that, that's a lot of lives saved once we have people who register to donate.

So there's, you know, in terms of organs that can be donated, we also know that musculoskeletal tissue can also be donated. And so it's really important when we're talking with people to inspire them to be donors for those reasons.

So there's, you know, in terms of organs that can be donated, we also know that musculoskeletal tissue can also be donated. And so it's really important when we're talking with people to inspire them to be donors for those reasons.

I can certainly take that one. And then if you have anything to add to that. So earlier I mentioned we often hear from communities, marginalized communities, who have limited knowledge of the donation process. So when we think about the health and wellness and healthcare in general, donation is not necessarily something that is well understood.

I can certainly take that one. And then if you have anything to add to that. So earlier I mentioned we often hear from communities, marginalized communities, who have limited knowledge of the donation process. So when we think about the health and wellness and healthcare in general, donation is not necessarily something that is well understood.

And so having that knowledge, having access to understanding the donation process is really, really key. I also talked about medical mistrust, which is very visceral for some folks. given experiences that they themselves have had or family members have had, thus just not trusting the process and that, as Susan mentioned, in order for someone to be a donor, people have to be ventilated.

And so having that knowledge, having access to understanding the donation process is really, really key. I also talked about medical mistrust, which is very visceral for some folks. given experiences that they themselves have had or family members have had, thus just not trusting the process and that, as Susan mentioned, in order for someone to be a donor, people have to be ventilated.

And so the idea sometimes is that, well, if I'm a registered donor, medical personnel will not work as hard to save my life. So that's one of the myths that's out there. We also find that there are numerous cultural reasons why people don't donate. So we often hear from various cultures that we want our loved one to be whole when they pass or they transition.

And so the idea sometimes is that, well, if I'm a registered donor, medical personnel will not work as hard to save my life. So that's one of the myths that's out there. We also find that there are numerous cultural reasons why people don't donate. So we often hear from various cultures that we want our loved one to be whole when they pass or they transition.