Learning Center

Your central location for online learning and education surrounding all aspects of tissue donation, tissue banking, research and transplantation.

Welcome to the AATB Learning Center

The AATB Learning Center allows you to register and attend live and on-demand sessions and earn educational credits all on one platform.

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A Story of Donation From a Healthcare Professional

  • Brandon's Crossroads: Donor Family Story

     Includes a Live Web Event on 01/08/2020 at 2:00 PM (EST)

    Brandon's mom shares his story life and giving the gift of life through organ and tissue donation.

    Join us as Sharon Castellanos shares Brandons story of donation and how it impacted her as a healthcare professional. 

    Join us as Sharon Castellanos shares Brandons story of donation and how it impacted her as a healthcare professional. 

    Sharon Castellanos, DNP, WHNP-BC, CNS, AHN-BC

    Dr. Sharon Castellanos is an expert nurse practitioner in the field of Maternal-Fetal Medicine with a strong internal medicine background. She has spent the last 25 years as a champion in the field of diabetes, developing, implementing and deploying innovative curriculums within Kaiser Permanente Santa Clara and Kaiser San Jose. Her goal is to improve access, value and meaningful care to obstetrical patients. She recently retired from Kaiser and returned to practice within Santa Clara County Valley Medical Center, serving her community as a Maternal Fetal Medicine Nurse Practitioner. She has received many awards for her contributions in nursing clinically and within the community. Her life shifted in 2006 when she became a donor mom. This loss exposed her to the increasing health disparities around tissue and organ donation. To bridge this gap, she founded Brandon’s Crossroads Foundation Inc., a non-profit foundation whose mission is to educate adolescents on tissue and organ donation. She obtained her Doctorate from Northern Consortium of Nursing Practice, in June 2014 and has continued research in this field of tissue and organ donation education. 

Tissue Recipient to Orthopedic Surgeon

  • Why We Do What We Do: From Allograft Recipient To Allograft Specialist

    This presentation will cover tissue transplantation, specifically fresh cartilage and meniscus allograft, from both the patient and physician perspective. Having been on both sides of the knife, the presenter has a unique perspective on the trials and tribulations of tissue transplantation, and how special this gift truly is.

    Learning Objectives:

    1. Upon completion, participant will be able to understand the benefit of allograft transplantation from the patient's perspective.
    2. Upon completion, participant will be able to understand the benefit of allograft transplantation from the surgeon's perspective.
    3. Upon completion, participant will be able to understand the difficulties of achieving a meniscus/fresh cartilage match from both the patient and surgeon perspective.

The History of Tissue Banking

  • The 70th Anniversary Of The US Navy Tissue Bank

    The U.S. Navy Tissue Bank (USNTB) formed 70 years ago. To this day, it has affected the way our military approaches treatment with allografts in numerous surgical specialties. The founders and their colleagues were true visionaries. Their tireless efforts had everything to do with the AATB’s founding and subsequent success. Most of today’s major tissue banks were either formed by military personnel exposed to USNTB during their time of service, or encouraged to form by requests from former military doctors practicing in that locale. Most major breakthroughs in tissue preservation and utilization are somehow tied to the USNTB. The Navy wrote a stunning history in tissue banking - a history that is still being written today.

Osteochondral Allografts - Surgeon's Perspective

  • Knee Joint Preservation: Osteochondral Allografts in 2019

    In this presentation, orthopedic surgeon Dr. John Grant will review his experiences in utilizing allografts in joint reconstruction and restoration procedures.

    The presentation will cover an introduction to the epidemiology, mechanisms of injury and clinical impact of cartilage injuries in young patients with non-arthritic knees. A brief overview of cartilage treatment/joint restoration/preservation options will be provided before focusing on the use and benefits of osteochondral allografts in these patients. This will include the indications, surgical techniques, and outcomes demonstrated in a case-based presentation to highlight the various options for osteochondral allograft use based on patient characteristics, defect size/location, previous treatments, concurrent joint problems, and emerging surgical technique.

Increasing Opportunities For Communication Between Donor Families And Recipients

  • Increasing Opportunities For Communication Between Donor Families And Recipients

    This engaging presentation will enlighten attendees on the true value of a donor family & recipient connection. We will explain the obstacles in place that prohibit these connections among tissue donor families and recipients. We will further describe the need to eliminate these boundaries in order to best serve our key donation stakeholders. We will review a current working donor family/recipient correspondence model. Audience members can expect to leave this presentation feeling open minded & motivated to drive a change!

    This engaging presentation will enlighten attendees on the true value of a donor family & recipient connection. We will explain the obstacles in place that prohibit these connections among tissue donor families and recipients. We will further describe the need to eliminate these boundaries in order to best serve our key donation stakeholders. We will review a current working donor family/recipient correspondence model. Audience members can expect to leave this presentation feeling open minded & motivated to drive a change! 

    Learning Objectives:

    • 1. Describe the value of donor family and recipient bonds.
    • 2. Explain current donor family and recipient communication practices. 
    • 3. Identify ways to eliminate tissue donor family and recipient connection obstacles & increase correspondence opportunities.

    Lauralee Brown, RN, MHSA, CPHQ

    Lauralee Brown joined MTF Biologics in 2001 after 10 years of working in the field of donation and transplantation. Her introduction to the field began as a critical care cardiovascular nurse caring for heart and lung transplant recipients. She then accepted a position working for LOPA as a recovery/hospital development coordinator. In 1994, she joined the Midwest Transplant Network and was promoted in 1997 to Manager of Operations with responsibilities overseeing Quality Management, Staff Development and Training, Community Education, Donor Family Services, and Special Projects. Lauralee currently serves as a senior regional director, managing client relations, overseeing donor services communication, and other projects for MTF Biologics.

    Melissa Chiumiento, BSBA

    Melissa Chiumiento is an Aftercare Specialist at New England Donor Services. She has served thousands of donors’ families over the course of her five year career. She graduated Suffolk University in Boston, MA in 2013 with a Bachelor’s of Science in Business Administration. As someone who works with and for donor families every day, Melissa offers extensive knowledge and insight into the true needs and expectations of this population. She also specializes in maintaining professional relationships with local transplant centers & recipient acknowledgement/engagement with donor families.