Rodney Cruz is responsible for the educational program planning and operations of the LIFT Simulation (SIM) Center. He trains and educates team members on the transfer of knowledge and protocols into “real-life” clinical experiences. Rodney helps to facilitate participants’ utilization of simulation education to optimize their confidence and skill competency of current practices in organ, donation and transplantation medicine.

A LifeGift team member for more than 12 years, Rodney collaborates closely with his colleagues. “My role is to provide LifeGift team members and hospital partners with a safe learning environment with comprehensive instruction on each step of the donation process,” says Rodney. “The LIFT SIM Center is comprised of an intensive care unit and operating room to simulate what takes place in the hospitals without having to wait for case activity. By having a controlled environment for learning, the SIM Center provides our team members with the confidence to perform while in the field.” 

Prior to joining LifeGift, Rodney worked as a respiratory therapist at Texas Children’s Hospital. “My sister, Katherine Cruz, introduced me to LifeGift,” shares Rodney. “She had worked at LifeGift for four years and always talked about how much she enjoyed her job. She was relocating and was asked to recommend a replacement. I applied shortly after and have enjoyed working for LifeGift ever since.”