Saint Luke’s Cardiologist Appointed to Associate Councillor in the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network

Cardiologist Andrew Kao, MD from Saint Luke’s Mid America Heart Institute has been elected as Associate Councillor for Region 8 of the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN).

The OPTN is a government agency under the United Network of Organ Sharing (UNOS) that links all U.S. professionals in the organ donation and transplantation system. Established in 1984 by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, its mission is to make more life-saving organs available for transplant. There are 11 regions in total. Region 8 consists of Kansas, Missouri, Colorado, Nebraska, Iowa, and Wyoming.

As an Associate Councillor of Region 8, Dr. Kao will run regional meetings twice a year and represent the opinions and sentiments of transplant professionals, administrators, organ procurement organizations, patients, donors, and donor families back to UNOS. He will also be involved in policy development and oversee the performance of all transplant members, membership applications, and any warranted disciplinary actions.  Dr. Kao will assume the role of Region 8 Councillor on July 1, 2023, and will join a 41-member board that approves all UNOS policies and membership applications in an effort to maintain and surpass the high standards set for the organization This position is nominated by a national committee and elected by the OPTN’s region’s members.

Learn more about Saint Luke’s Mid America Heart Institute – a top-ranking institute offering the most comprehensive heart and vascular care in Kansas City.