Donor Management and Transplantation Science (Graduate Certificate)

Curriculum and Course Highlights

The certificate includes five graduate-level courses that explore the full scope of the organ and transplantation process, emphasizing system-wide thinking, ethical practice and real-time coordination in high-stakes medical environments.

Curriculum Highlights

• Foundations of Donor Management: Ethical frameworks, national networks and policy systems
• Donor Identification and Referral: Recognizing potential donors, conducting referrals and coordinating with donor hospitals
• Donor Evaluation and Management: Stabilization techniques, medications during donor management and communication with donor families
• Organ Recovery and Allocation: Organ transport, allocation systems and interprofessional teamwork
• Transplantation Science and Outcomes: Immunology, risk of organ rejection, long-term transplant outcomes

The program provides foundational knowledge for those pursuing organ procurement and transplantation roles, including OPO staff, transplant coordinators and hospital development professionals.

Program Overview

Created for early-career and experienced professionals alike, the program offers a focused curriculum in donor management, organ procurement and transplantation science. Students gain hands-on knowledge to support patients, donor families, clinicians and system-level stakeholders in the organ donation process.

Program Snapshot

• Format: Online, asynchronous with a clinical internship (240 hours)
• Total Credits: 15 graduate credits (5 courses)
• Time to Completion: 12–18 months (flexible pacing)
• Start Terms: Fall, Spring, Summer
• Academic College: School of Public Health
• Accreditation: Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)

Admissions Requirements

Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution. Professional or academic experience in healthcare, public health, or biological sciences is helpful but not required.

• Statement of purpose outlining your interest in transplantation science
• Resume or CV
• Official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions
• English language proficiency (for international applicants)
• No GRE required
• 2.75 GPA

Professionals trained in donor management and transplantation science are entering a critically expanding field, as organ donation networks, transplant centers, and hospitals face persistent shortages of qualified specialists to coordinate the donation and recovery process. With organ procurement organizations nationwide reporting a limited talent pool and months‑long training needs for frontline roles, demand continues to grow for practitioners skilled in donor management, family liaison work and clinical coordination.

This certificate strengthens the workforce pipeline and prepares graduates for roles that directly support life‑saving organ recovery operations and address longstanding workforce gaps in a rapidly evolving industry.

Designed by Experts in Transplantation

Led by Dr. Nilay Etiler, this graduate certificate offers students direct insight into best practices, ethical concerns, and systemic challenges that impact organ and tissue recovery, allocation, and transplant outcomes.

As a student, you’ll benefit from:

• Evidence-based course design aligned with current OPO and transplant center workflows
• Support from instructors with expertise in organ donation, transplant coordination, and public health leadership
• 24/7 access to Canvas and online learning resources
• Optional engagement with peer networks and professionals in the field of transplantation