On the starting line of the run stood as many as 26 representatives of MUW. Most related to transplant medicine, but not only. They save lives and health on a daily basis by participating in organ transplantation procedures. They are no strangers to the problems of Polish transplantology. They did not hesitate for a moment when they were offered to participate in the "Run for New Life."
In fact, it was not a run, but a march with Nordic walking poles. Its route was mapped out on the grounds of the King John III Palace Museum in Wilanów. Each participant had to walk a kilometer-long section of the route. The team with the best time was the winner of the event. But it wasn't about first place, it was about promoting health, raising awareness of transplant procedures and building positive attitudes toward organ donation.
Informed donation is an opportunity for a second life for many patients waiting for a transplant. And there are still not enough of these performed in Poland, due to the shortage of organs. According to data from the Transplant Organizing and Coordinating Center "Poltransplant," as many as 1,665 people were waiting for a transplant in August.
However, there is also good news. The University Clinical Center MUW has expanded its transplant activities. In July, we received permission from the Ministry of Health for lung and heart transplantation. A total of more than 170 transplants have been performed at UCC MUW this year alone. Our doctors have implanted 82 kidneys, 85 livers, four pancreases and two hearts in patients. The recipients of the latter were 16-year-old patients whose lives were saved by the procedure.
Prof. Wojciech Lisik, Vice Rector for Clinical Affairs and Investments MUW, spoke about the transplant program run by UCC MUW and organ transplants from living donors on the eve of the run, during the broadcast "Over coffee about transplantology." The Children's Hospital UCC MUW performed 12 kidney transplants from living donors in 2021, while from January 2022 until now as many as 21. That's half of the transplants of this type performed nationwide. The Vice Rector stressed that this is possible thanks to excellent nephrologists and an experienced surgical team, as well as the excellent preparation of the entire center to perform each transplant. He also called for raising awareness of donation among nephrologists and general practitioners. - Willingness to donate an organ is proof of love, proof of devotion, proof of humanity and tremendous courage. If anyone has doubts about whether they should become a donor and whether they can become a donor - we are open. We will answer any question – said the Vice Rector.
MUW representatives in the Run for New Life:
- Prof. Zbigniew Gaciong, Rector of MUW, Chair and Department of Internal Medicine, Hypertension and Vascular Diseases UCC MUW
- Prof. Roman Danielewicz, Dr Anna Pszenny, Edyta Karpeta from the Department of Surgical and Transplantation Nursing and Extracorporeal Therapies UCC MUW
- Prof. Mariusz Kuśmierczyk, Prof. Małgorzata Sobieszczańska-Małek, Bartosz Kubisa, MD, PhD, Dr Zygmunt Kaliciński from the Cardiac Surgery Department UCC MUW
- Prof. Sławomir Nazarewski, Prof. Tomasz Jakimowicz from the Department of General, Vascular and Transplant Surgery UCC MUW
- Prof. Maciej Kosieradzki, Prof. Wojciech Lisik, Piotr Domagała, MD, PhD, Maciej Romanowski, MD, PhD, from the Department of General and Transplantation Surgery UCC MUW
- Prof. Magdalena Durlik, Jolanta Gozdowska, MD, PhD, Dr Olga Tronina, Jolanta Gozdowska, MD, PhD, from the Department of Transplantation Medicine, Nephrology and Internal Diseases UCC MUW
- Prof. Michał Grąt, Dr Michał Skalski from the Department of General, Transplant and Liver Surgery UCC MUW
- Krzysztof Zając, transplantation coordinator CCH MUW
- Prof. Wiesław W. Jędrzejczak from the Chair and Department of Hematology, Transplantation and Internal Medicine UCC MUW
- Dr Aleksandra Tomaszek, Dorota Lewandowska, MD, from the Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care UCC MUW
- Justyna Izdebska, MD, PhD, from the Chair and Department of Ophthalmology MUW
- Łukasz Szemis from the Department of Emergency Medicine MUW
