OUR STORY

National MOTTEP Celebrates 30 years of increasing National Minority Organ Donor Rates

African Americans, the population once thought to be among the most resistant to donating organs, today represent the nation’s lead donating population, according to new research from renowned Howard University transplant surgeon Dr. Clive O. Callender.

Founded by Dr. Callender, the organization has been aggressively striving to help solve the number one nation-wide problem in transplantation – the shortage of donors. The first and only organization of its kind, MOTTEP has educated communities worldwide on minority organ donation and healthy lifestyles that can prevent the need for transplants.

“Since MOTTEP began, minority donor rates have doubled,” Dr. Callender said. “Through a community grass-roots approach and the use of multimedia we found the solution to the shortage problem. The community is the most potent change agent. Continued support will keep our work going for another 25 years, and then some.”

Minorities have had a history of being reluctant to donate due to multiple factors: lack of awareness, religious beliefs, medical distrust, fear of premature death and racism. Data on the growth in African American donation rates were analyzed from the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) statistics.

Based on the latest available data from UNOS, African Americans now rank as the number one ethnic group in reference to organ donors per million. In 2010, African-American organ donors per million totaled 35.36 while the results in other ethnic groups are: White (27.07), Hispanic (25.59), and Asian (14.70) populations. Blacks now represent 17 percent of the donor population, while representing 13 percent of the total U.S. population.

There are more than 120,000 people on the national transplant waiting list, more than half representing minorities. Dr. Callender said it was critical that the methodology of the community grass-roots approach be expanded to reach all minority and majority communities across the United States

Facts
About
Organ
Donation
and
Transplantation:

African American donors represented 3% of donors in 1982 and represent 17% of donors in 2010 (while making up 13% of the American population).

Minorities were 15% of donors in 1991, but are now 32% of donors.

African American increased from 8 organ donors per million in 1982 to 35 organ donors per million in 2010.

African Americans represent 17% of donors, but make up 32% of those waiting for a transplant.

Minorities comprise 25% of the total population, but make up more than 60% of those waiting for kidney transplants.

African American and other minorities make up more than 60% of those on the waiting list. Those on the waiting list may wait 5-10 years for a Deceased Donor kidney transplant.

22 people die each day while waiting for a transplant. 60% are minorities.

Diabetes and hypertension are the number 1 and 2 causes of kidney disease which is 3-4 times as common for Blacks and Latinos/Hispanics.

Nearly 300,000 persons are on dialysis; 120,000 persons are on the national transplant waiting list and 30,000 transplants take place each year.

Our Mission

To decrease the number and rate of ethnic minority Americans needing organ and tissue transplants.

Our Vision

To be the trusted voice creating healthy communities through disease prevention, education, and organ donation awareness.

Our Core Values

EQUITY

COLLABORATION