As a Hospital Partner Specialist at Mid-America Transplant, Lacey often describes herself as a liaison between the organization and the hospitals we serve. She coordinates with hospital staff daily to ensure that every potential organ donation opportunity is handled with alignment, compassion, and care. It is a role that sees the human side of donation every day. Although she is not a clinician, her role touches nearly every part of the donation process — from supporting family conversations, scheduling ORs, and debriefing tough cases.
Working at Mid-America Transplant
Lacey’s journey to Mid-America Transplant started in 2018, during a class tour with St. Louis University (SLU), where she was studying Health Information Management. While that experience left a deep impression on her, she was also drawn to the mission through personal connections. Her best friend’s father waited for a liver, and another friend’s grandfather received one. When she graduated, she knew exactly where she wanted to work. Since she joined the team in 2022, she hasn’t looked back.
One of the most powerful things about working at Mid-America Transplant is witnessing how donation can transform grief. Families facing unimaginable loss find comfort and pride knowing their loved one saved others. In cases of overdose, suicide, or complex dynamics, donation often becomes the one redemptive thing they can hold on to. That choice brings healing not just for recipients, but for donor families who leave the hospital knowing their loved one’s legacy will live on.
“What I didn’t expect when I started this work was how deeply it would change me,” said Lacey. “I’ve grown more empathetic and resilient. I’ve met coworkers and hospital staff who dedicate their lives to a mission greater than themselves. I’ve realized that this job isn’t glamorous. It’s hard. Some days I watch children say goodbye to their parent. Other days, I’m asking hospital teams to go above and beyond when they’re already stretched thin. But every time we get to say ‘yes’ to donation, every time a recipient gets that second chance, it’s worth it.”
Hospitals are a key partner
Hospital staff are essential to the donation process. They are truly our partners in this work. Most of the hospitals we partner with don’t have transplant centers, so the staff at these hospitals only see the recovery side of organ and tissue donation. Lacey always reminds her hospital partners that she meets the recipients and they want her to thank them personally. Their collaboration makes this possible. From the ICU nurses to the OR schedulers, every person involved helps make donation a reality.
“I tell my teams all the time: recipients are out there living because you helped us help them.”
To anyone curious about joining this work, especially nurses or healthcare professionals considering a new path, Lacey says, “It’s worth it. Mid-America Transplant doesn’t just meet the standards set by national organizations. We innovate. We lead. We care deeply. And we believe in being transparent about the tough parts, because the reward is so meaningful. “I love my job. I love what we do. And I’m proud to be one small part of a process that saves lives, brings hope, and helps families write a final chapter filled with purpose.”
If you feel called to a career in organ and tissue donation, consider a lifesaving and life-changing career with Mid-America Transplant. View our current job openings.
