Richard N. Formica, MD, professor of medicine (nephrology) and of surgery (transplant), was chosen as vice president/president-elect of the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN). The OPTN is a public-private partnership that links all professionals involved in the U.S. donation and transplantation system.
Formica, who was elected by members of the national organ donation and transplantation community, plans to further the OPTN’s goals of promoting maximized organ supply, effective and safe care, and equitable organ allocation and access to transplantation.
“I hope to improve and evolve the U.S. transplant system while ensuring patients receive the care they need in an uninterrupted fashion,” he said.
A member of the OPTN since 2008, Formica has chaired the Kidney Transplantation Committee, the Simultaneous Liver-Kidney Workgroup, and the Membership and Professional Standards Committee subcommittee that developed new metrics for monitoring transplant programs. His other transplant leadership roles include acting as president of the American Society of Transplantation (AST) and serving on the Visiting Committee for the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients.
My passion for organ donation and transplantation is centered around the fact that, with modern medicine, we can treat patients with life-ending diseases and give them many additional fulfilling years.
Richard Formica, MD
“Dr. Formica has a long history of collaborating with the community to improve the transplant system through service on OPTN committees and as a board member,” said Jerry McCauley, MD, MPH, president of the United Network of Organ Sharing. “He brings a wealth of experience and relationships to draw upon, including his recent presidency of AST. His desire to bring all voices to the table to strengthen the system will serve it well.”
A leading expert in transplant medicine, Formica is dedicated to promoting long and meaningful lives for persons with organ failure. “My passion for organ donation and transplantation is centered around the fact that, with modern medicine, we can treat patients with life-ending diseases and give them many additional fulfilling years,” he said. “The real pleasure is seeing pictures of patients’ weddings, graduations, and vacations. Best of all are pictures of our patients’ babies.”
At Yale, Formica is the director of transplant medicine for the Department of Internal Medicine. He is also the director of the outpatient transplantation service, and the medical director of adult kidney transplantation at the Yale New Haven Transplantation Center.
Formica will serve in his new role from July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024.
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