Episode 23: Bobby Schrichten’s Passion For The Recovery Of Organs and Tissues For Transplantation

During episode 23 of This Thing Called Life podcast, host Andi Johnson talks to Bobby Schrichten; He is a manager at the Tissue Services Department and a long-time staff member at the LifeCenter. Andi and Bobby discuss how organ donation happens and the moving parts that contributes to giving the gift of life. Tune in for this important, informative talk!

 

Episode Highlights: 

• Bobby talks about his journey at the LifeCenter, where he joined 15 years ago as a Perfusionist. 
• A perfusionist is an individual who is available in the operating rooms and makes donations happen from respective organizations and teams for recovery.  
• A perfusionist is also a transporter and logistic role who travels all over to recover organs and bring them back to the center.
• Andi confirms that so much happens for an organ to recover from the patient. Transporting an organ requires a lot of effort; It also has to be matched with a patient in a short period of time.
• Bobby says he took a short time break from the Perfusionist position and joined the community center, which is now a donation support service center.
• The donation support service team manages and deals with all referral aspects of individuals and hospitals.
• Andi informs that the law requires hospitals to report every death to LifeCenter and other organ procurement organizations throughout the country.
• Bobby’s career journey led him to return to his role of perfusionist and after 3 years, Bobby got the responsibility of the Tissue recovery center at the LifeCenter.
• Andi asks Bobby “Before working at the LifeCenter, what did you know about organ or tissue donation?”
• Bobby shares about the EMS program that he has created.
• The person who dies on the scene are tissue donors, not the organ donor, because in order to become an organ donor, you have to be in the hospital.
• Ensuring that his team is emotionally and physically well is the most challenging thing for him at the LifeCenter, because they have to make a recovery and also have to cope with families who have lost their loved ones.
• Andi addresses organ, eye, and tissue donation in regards to the LGBTQIA community. She asks Bobby to share his insights and what the restrictions are around donation? 
• Due to a lifestyle that is allegedly associated with gay men,  the Tissue Banking industry has decided that we can’t donate tissue, says Bobby. They allow donated organs, but not eye or tissue. 
• There are so many tests to make sure that everything is safe and can be transplanted. 
• As demand is increasing, we will see many changes in the coming years when it comes to tissue, eye, and organ donation. It will allow more people to help more people, and that’s what is most important.
• The HIV Organ Policy Equity act was passed, and it allows organ donation between HIV-positive individuals.
• Bobby says that due to the HIV act, required organs are available for needed folks to live on, make changes, and be the people in society that they were supposed to be.

3 Key Points:

1. Bobby talks about his love to help people, save lives,  and change lives forever. He also talks about the motivating factors that push him forward. 
2. Andi refers to Bobby as a compassionate leader who truly cares for every person on his team. He comes every day and gives everything to the LifeCenter.
3. Bobby says he loves everything about LifeCenter, not because of his position but due to the people he works with, the team he has, and the overall mission and vision of the LifeCenter.

Resources Mentioned:

• LifeCenter  website | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube|  Twitter
• Andi Johnson  website |LinkedIn 
• Organ Donation Website 
• Bobby Schrichten | https://lifepassiton.org/who-we-are/leadership/