Vice President ‘Trailblazer’ of The Liver Institute at Methodist Dallas Wins Prestigious National Award

The Liver Institute at Methodist Dallas Medical Center is proud to announce Tracy Giacoma as the 2015 award winner of the Deedle Heckenkemper Leader in Transplant Administration. Giacoma, Vice President of Transplant Services at Methodist Dallas, pioneered the startup of the Methodist Dallas liver transplant program and designed the model of care at The Liver Institute, which is one of Methodist Health System’s most successful programs.

The Frank “Deedle” Heckenkemper award was named by recognition of his efforts and co-founder role of the OPTN/UNOS (Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network/United Network for Organ Sharing) Transplant Administrators Committee.

Winners of this prestigious award are selected by their peers for their significant contributions over the years to the betterment of the field of transplantation. The award highlights the winner’s positive impact in the areas of:

• Promoting patient-centered models and practices
• Improving safety in care delivery systems
• Encouraging research and “best-practice initiatives”
• Providing leadership and input in public policy development impacting transplant programs

For more than 30 years, Giacoma has not only dedicated her professional career by paving paths for successful organ transplant programs through strategic planning, policy development and teaching, but also devotes much of her private time through volunteer and community services. A small measure of these services include: UNOS Committees and volunteering with the American Liver Foundation, along with the Red Cross Food Bank, Gift of Life Organization, American Kidney Foundation, Southwest Transplant Alliance and the United Way.

During her acceptance of the award, Giacoma commented, “Working in the field of transplantation has been for me an exciting and challenging adventure and being able to serve the brave individuals who seek transplantation has been a privilege I never have nor ever will take for granted.”