Women in Transplantation (WIT) is delighted to announce our WIT Award winners for 2024!
Join us at TTS’s 30th Congress in Istanbul, Turkey, where the WIT Awardees will be announced and presented during the President’s Plenary on Wednesday, September 25th at 10:40am local time.
Woman Leader in Transplantation Award
2024 Awardee
After much consideration from a pool of outstanding nominations, WIT is honoured to recognize Dr. Curie Ahn as our Woman Leader in Transplantation, 2024.
Curie Ahn, Korea
MD, PhD, Nephrology
National Medical Center
MD, PhD, Nephrology
National Medical Center
This award is designed to recognize women who have helped further the field of transplantation through research, policies, leadership, initiatives or other regarded contributions. This award serves not only as a means to recognize individual achievements, but also serves as a means to inspire other women to pursue leadership roles in transplantation.
The key criteria for award nominees:
- Leadership and Vision: Demonstrated exceptional authentic and inclusive leadership skills and the ability to drive positive change in the transplant community.
- Professional excellence: Recognized excellence in the transplant field as clinicians, researchers, educators or major administrative roles within The Transplantation Society.
- Innovation and Research: Honoring individuals who have contributed to advancing transplant science, technology, or clinical innovation through research or clinical innovation.
- Advocacy: Demonstrated efforts in public and patient advocacy including access to transplantation or other work to improve patient experience, care and/or outcomes.
- Education: Evidence of commitment to increase understanding of organ donation and transplantation through education to trainees, other professionals, patients and/or the public.
- Mentorship: Fosters the development of future leaders in the field particularly for women choosing careers in transplant
Unsung Hero Award
2024 Awardees
This year we are thrilled to be able to award 2 separate awards to 2 outstanding women – Dr. Wenshi Jiang and Dr. Katayoun Najafizadeh – who are our Unsung Hero(ine)s for 2024.
Wenshi Jiang, People's Republic of China
Senior Consultant
Second Affiliated Hospital, Guangxi Medical University
Senior Consultant
Second Affiliated Hospital, Guangxi Medical University
Katayoun Najafizadeh, Iran
Iranian Society of Organ Donation
Iranian Society of Organ Donation
This award honors women who have had an extraordinary impact in transplantation through community service, volunteering, mentorship or other community-based activity. This award is a means to recognize and appreciate the unseen efforts and contributions of women who have played vital roles in the success and progress within transplant by advocacy and mentoring efforts. By honoring these unsung heroes, this award brings attention to the significant volunteer efforts completed by awardees.
The key criteria for award nominees:
- Dedication and Commitment: Recognizing women who have shown unwavering dedication to the field of transplantation and consistently go above and beyond in their roles.
- Behind the Scenes Impact: Acknowledging individuals whose contributions may not be widely known or published in the literature, but who have had a profound and positive impact on the transplant community including recipients and donor families.
- Team Player: Honoring women who have demonstrated exception ability to not only lead, but also participate in teams that further the goals of organ donation and transplant. This individual finds ways for a team to improve processes despite conflicts and moves the field forward.
- Mentorship: Highlights the role of the recipient in providing mentorship and guidance to trainees, colleagues and contributes to the success of all.
- Service to the Community: Recognizing women who have been actively involved in education and outreach efforts related to organ donation and transplantation as an option to cure end organ failure.
- Resilience: Demonstrated grace under pressure, contributing to a positive and uplifting atmosphere within the transplantation community.