Lifesharing Executive Director Jeff Trageser, MSN, CPTC, is adding a new title to his name: President-Elect of the Association of Organ Procurement Organizations (AOPO).

Trageser will lead strategic planning efforts for AOPO, the organization representing most of the nation’s organ procurement organizations (OPOs). OPOs play a key role in the U.S. transplantation system. They help recover vital organs from deceased organ donors and match those organs with patients on the transplant waiting list. Trageser will advocate for patients on a national level and focus on helping AOPO achieve its goal of 50,000 annual transplants by the year 2026.

“OPOs are a critical lifeline for people in need of a transplant,” said Trageser. “I’m honored to accept this leadership role in AOPO as we embrace new technologies and utilize advanced organ recovery methods in our quest to save even more lives.”

Last year, the nation’s OPOs helped transplant more than 43,000 vital organs such as hearts, lungs, livers and kidneys. Organ donors from Lifesharing alone saved 497 lives in 2023 — a regional record.

Trageser, a registered nurse since 1998, brings decades of clinical experience to this new national position. Under his leadership, Lifesharing has seen rapid growth in the number of organ donors and organs transplanted. Trageser will serve as president-elect of AOPO for one year, before assuming the role of president in 2025. He will continue to lead Lifesharing as executive director, a position he has held since 2022.

Lifesharing is the federally-designated organ procurement organization (OPO) serving San Diego and Imperial counties in Southern California.