After the death of a close friend in high school, Kali felt driven to ensure that families were shown care and compassion in the midst of their grief.
Kali decided to pursue a career as a funeral director, but after a brief stint working in a funeral home after college, Kali found herself looking for a change. “You’re on call 24/7,” she said. “You don’t really have any days off, which would be hard for someone young who wants to start a family.”
Through a family connection, she came across an open position at Mid-America Transplant in 2018, and she’s never looked back. Kali began her career with Mid-America Transplant as a donation coordinator, where she spent time speaking about tissue donation with families who had lost a loved one.
It was challenging at times, but she says her background helped prepare her for the role. “I was speaking to families during their time of loss, so I think going to school to be a funeral director helped me understand the grieving process,” she said.
After three years as a donation coordinator, Kali transitioned to a new role at Mid-America in 2021. As an organ communication coordinator, Kali communicates with hospital partners, determines staff deployment for donor referrals, and conducts medical record reviews to assess any missed referrals.
She is grateful for is the ability to work in a hybrid role, but also enjoys interacting with nurses and spending time in a hospital setting.
“I like pulling the medical charts. It’s always a different person’s story that I’m reading and learning about. Knowing that I’m going to help somebody different each day is why I like it,” she said.
Previously, when her work was focused on tissue donation, Kali would not typically learn about the recipients of donor tissues. That, she explained, is because tissue is used for medical grafts and can be stored longer than organs, which must be transplanted immediately. Working on the organ donation side of things means that she and her team frequently get to hear about the lives that are saved by donated organs. She finds hearing the stories uplifting, and it keeps her motivated even on tough days. “Being able to see how many people we’ve helped makes the hard work worth it,” she added.
Kali has no plans to return to her original goal of becoming a funeral director. At Mid-America, she has everything she’s looking for. To her, that includes work-life balance, a supportive manager, and an engaging career with room to grow.
“I really enjoy working for them. I have grown in the organization. I think they’re really good at listening to our concerns and making changes for the better,” she said.
Kali references the fact that each year since she’s been at the organization, new challenges have been addressed and overcome. It makes her feel heard.
Applying for a job at Mid-America Transplant is something that Kali has often suggested to friends and family. “I think the work-life balance is always really good. Our benefits are good. I honestly have no complaints about working here. I definitely support people applying.”
If you feel a calling toward organ and tissue donation, consider joining an organization committed to a lifesaving mission and find a rewarding career with Mid-America Transplant. View our current job openings.
