WNH Honored by Midwest Transplant Network for Tissue Donation Excellence

May 28, 2025

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William Newton Hospital (WNH) was recently recognized by Midwest Transplant Network (MTN) for its outstanding contributions in 2024. The hospital was named among 24 Midwest hospitals, acknowledging WNH's higher-than-average number of families granting authorization for donation.

"We are incredibly proud of our team's dedication to supporting families through the donation process," said William Newton Hospital CEO Brian Barta, CPA. "This award reflects our commitment to honoring the wishes of patients and their loved ones, ultimately giving the gift of life and hope to others."

WNH was honored with the 2025 Excellence in Tissue Donation Award for achieving a tissue conversion rate of 47 percent in 2024, exceeding the target of 40 percent. Out of 15 eligible donations, seven recovered donors were facilitated by hospital staff. This recognition highlights the crucial role WNH staff play in connecting families with Midwest Transplant Network, empowering patients and their family members to make informed decisions about organ, eye, and tissue donation.

The award features special artwork commissioned by MTN from local Kansas City artist Jenny Meyer-McCall. The artwork is inspired by Gretchen’s Garden of Heroes at MTN, a place of reflection named in honor of Gretchen Gosch, a beloved MTN staff member and organ donor. The flowers and butterflies in the award are inspired by original art Gretchen created as a child, and the piece incorporates remnants of a purple and gold scarf that belonged to her. The award serves as a tribute to Gretchen and all donor heroes.

William Newton Hospital plans to display this special artwork in the Hal & Nancy McCoy Surgery Waiting Room, located in the H. L. Snyder Medical Foundation Surgery Center.

Midwest Transplant Network collaborates with 242 hospitals and other professional healthcare organizations to save lives through organ, eye, and tissue donation. As the federally designated not-for-profit organ procurement organization (OPO) for Kansas and the western two-thirds of Missouri, MTN provides services including organ procurement, surgical tissue and eye recovery, laboratory testing, and 24-hour rapid response for referrals from hospital partners. Midwest Transplant Network ranks in the top 10% nationally among OPOs, reflecting its quality, professionalism, and excellence in regional partnerships. MTN commemorated 50 years of service in 2023.