Southwest Transplant Alliance Recognizes National Multicultural Donor Awareness Month

Recognized every August, National Multicultural Donor Awareness Month a collaborative initiative led by the National Organ, Eye and Tissue Donation Multicultural Action Group (NMAG). Its mission is to save lives within communities of color by promoting a positive culture around organ donation through education, awareness, and taking meaningful steps to advance health equity.

Here in Texas, the need is close to home. More than 10,000 Texans are currently waiting to receive the gift of life, with people of color representing a large portion of that demand.

According to the latest data from the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network, the racial and ethnic makeup of individuals on the transplant waiting list in Texas is approximately:

  • Hispanic of Latino: 45%

  • Black or African American: 23%

  • Asian: 5%

  • Multiracial: Less than 1%

  • American Indian or Alaska Native: Less than 1%

  • Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander: Less than 1%

Multicultural communities—specifically Black and Hispanic populations—experience a higher need for organ transplants but tend to be less likely to register. According to a 2019 STA Wakefield Study, this gap stems from long-standing systemic challenges, including limited access to health care, mistrust of medical institutions, and widespread myths about donation.

The study identified several key factors driving these differences in organ donation among historically underserved communities:

  • Access to health care: Texas ranks among the lowest in the nation for access to affordable health care, disproportionately affecting Black and Hispanic communities.

  • Inequitable health issues: Historic and systemic inequalities put Black and Hispanic populations at a higher risk for health challenges such as kidney disease and diabetes.

  • Lack of trust: Only 37% of the Black community in STA’s service area strongly agree that their doctor treats them equally in comparison to other patients.

  • Prevalence of myths: More than two-thirds of adults surveyed in STA’s service area have received misinformation about donation, with a higher rate among multicultural groups.

To help address these disparities, STA recently launched its Rooted in Life initiative, which partners with organizations dedicated to serving diverse populations, including the Association for Multicultural Affairs in Transplantation (AMAT) and the National Panhellenic Council (NPHC), a coalition of nine historically Black fraternities and sororities with a proud legacy of leadership and service. Rooted in Life aims to empower the Black community by building trust, confronting informational obstacles, and inspiring more individuals to register as organ donors—ultimately helping to close the transplant gap.

Similarly, STA’s ongoing outreach in Hispanic communities includes offering bilingual resources, collaborating with Spanish-language media, and participating in culturally significant events to provide more families with access to accurate, relatable information about donation.

Join us in honoring the strength and generosity of multicultural communities to ensure everyone has an equal chance at life by:

●      Learning how organ donation works at organ.org/how-donation-works (Para información en español, visita organ.org/espanol)

●      Watching powerful stories from local families impacted by donation at STA’s YouTube Channel

●      Registering to become an organ donor at DonateLifeTexas.org/register

●      Sharing your donation decision with loved ones

 

 

Rachel Colman