A single flag will soon carry hundreds of names, each one representing a life saved or forever changed by organ donation.
In honor of National Donor Day, traditionally observed on February 14, Renown Health and Nevada Donor Network are hosting a Donate Life flag-signing ceremony on Friday, February 13, to recognize the lifesaving impact of organ, eye, and tissue donation. Hospital staff, donor families, transplant recipients, hospices, funeral homes, first responder agencies, and community partners are invited to sign the flag as a tribute to people who have given the gift of life.
National Donor Day recognizes donor heroes who have saved and healed lives through donation.
It also highlights the ongoing need. More than 108,000 Americans are waiting for a lifesaving transplant, including nearly 700 people in Nevada. Every 8 minutes, another person is added to the national organ transplant waiting list. On average, 13 people die each day waiting for the organ they need.
Following the ceremony, Nevada Donor Network and other donation-related organizations will host donor registration drives from 10 a.m. to noon at Renown Regional Medical Center and Renown South Meadows Medical Center.
Organizers are encouraging the community to honor donors, celebrate recipients, and raise awareness about the need for registered donors in Nevada.
"The support for our mission in this community is truly remarkable. We are proud to stand alongside Renown Health, donor families, recipients, and our dedicated community partners to save and enhance lives”, said Joe Ferreira, Nevada Donor Network President and CEO. “Together, we honor our donor heroes—whose selfless gifts bring hope, strength, and a second chance at life to those in need across Nevada and beyond."
The event comes as the Renown Transplant Institute reports completing three living donor kidney transplants, building on Northern Nevada’s first kidney transplant program.
“These outcomes reflect more than surgical success—they demonstrate what is possible when we come together as a community,” said Ernesto Molmenti, MD, PhD, MBA, who performed the transplants with co-surgeon David Mulligan, MD. Following the first three successful transplants, the Renown Transplant Institute will apply for Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services certification. Once certified, the Institute expects to remove current barriers, including insurance limitations, and will welcome commercial payers, allowing more Nevadans to receive care close to home.
“This is an extraordinary achievement that represents years of preparation, planning, and training,” said Brian Erling, MD, MBA, president and CEO, Renown Health. “We are in awe of these three families, the donors and the donor transplant teams. Their courage and love for one another inspire us all, and their stories bring hope and determination to our community.”
Live donor kidney transplants offer shorter wait times, longer-lasting kidney function, and improved overall outcomes, according to Rahul Mediwala, MD, MBA, CEO of Renown Medical Group.
“Live donor kidney transplants provide benefits, offering shorter wait times, longer-lasting kidney function, and improved overall outcomes,” said Mediwala. “This milestone advances our mission to deliver life-saving care for patients with end-stage kidney disease. For the first time, Nevadans can receive comprehensive transplant care close to home, eliminating the need for long waits, out-of-state travel, and the financial, physical, and emotional strain. It is both exciting and inspiring to offer this life-changing care to our patients, our community, and our state.”
Mediwala, a nephrologist, has practiced in the community for nearly 20 years.
The Renown Transplant Institute opened in December 2024 through a partnership with the Nevada Transplant Institute to address a shortage of organ transplant services in Nevada. The institute invested in advanced technology, specialized staff, and patient support programs. Its services include living donor evaluations, transplant surgery, post transplant follow up care, and community education about organ donation.
The institute is accepting referrals for kidney transplant candidates. Physicians may refer patients, and people with end-stage kidney disease who want an evaluation can call (775)-982-3313 or visit renown.org and nvtransplant.org for more information.
Community members can also mark National Donor Day by registering as organ, eye, and tissue donors at nvdonor.org/renown or by checking yes to the organ donation question at a Nevada DMV office.
