As the Assistant Secretary for Health, I have the honor of advancing a broad portfolio of public health issues on behalf of the Department of Health and Human Services. Organ transplantation safety and availability has been a priority for several decades. In 1984, Congress passed the National Organ Transplant Act to establish the public health infrastructure for organ transplantation in the United States. Since then, advances in the organ transplantation field have improved outcomes, increasing survival for many. Critical to this entire process is the willingness of individuals to be organ donors. Transplantation for those in need depends upon the altruism of individuals and families of deceased donors to consider organ donation. The accompanying commentary by Kenneth Moritsugu in this issue represents one extraordinary example of such generosity and courage.
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