Center for Organ Recovery & Education

09/03/2026

Thank you to the Pittsburgh Business Times for highlighting the Center for Organ Recovery & Education (CORE) and our new President and CEO, Deborah Maurer! 💙💚

We are excited for this next chapter of clinical innovation to expand transplant opportunities across our region.

Deborah Maurer, a registered nurse from UPMC's transplant program, takes over as president and CEO of CORE, which coordinates organ donations across western Pennsylvania, West Virginia and New York. >> See the full article below ⬇️

09/03/2026

Today, CORE was happy to welcome undergraduate nursing students and faculty from Keio University's Faculty of Nursing and Medical Care in Japan!

The students learned about CORE and the similarities and differences between organ procurement in the United States and Japan. They also had the opportunity to take a full tour of our facility and learn more about the work we do.

We’re excited to share this opportunity for learning, connection, and cultural exchange while the group visits Pittsburgh!

09/01/2026

Message from our President & CEO: Deborah Maurer, RN, MBA

Dear Partners,

Today marks one month since I officially stepped into the role of President and CEO at CORE. As I begin my second month, I wanted to reach out to the many partners who have helped make CORE’s mission possible and who will continue to be important to our future.

I came to CORE after more than 30 years in healthcare and transplantation, most recently at the UPMC Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute. I knew CORE’s reputation, I knew many of the people and organizations we work alongside and I understood the impact of donation from the transplant side. But the time I have spent here since July has given me an even greater appreciation for the extraordinary coordination, expertise and trust required to make donation possible.

It has also reinforced something I have believed throughout my career: work this important is never accomplished by one organization alone.

CORE serves more than five million people across western Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Chemung County, New York, but our mission extends far beyond the walls of our organization. It depends on healthcare professionals, medical examiners and coroners, government leaders and agencies, fellow organizations in the donation and transplantation community, community partners, vendors and many others working together toward a shared purpose.

I am grateful to step into this role with CORE on such a strong foundation. Following seven consecutive record-breaking years of organ, tissue and cornea donation, we have an opportunity to build on nearly 50 years of experience while preparing for a future that is changing quickly.

Advances in medicine and technology are creating possibilities in donation and transplantation that we could only imagine a few years ago. CORE is continuing to invest in the clinical innovation, people, processes, data and infrastructure necessary to turn more donor opportunities into lives saved and healed. The Susan Stuart Center for Excellence, now under construction next to our existing headquarters in O’Hara Township and expected to open in summer 2027, is one very visible example of that commitment to the future.

But innovation must also be responsible. A family is trusting us with someone they love. A donor is trusting us to honor their decision. Our partners are trusting us to do this work well. We earn that trust through strong processes, honest communication, transparency and accountability.

Those principles are especially important as donation and transplantation continue to evolve. There is significant change taking place across healthcare and across our field nationally, and I believe CORE has both an opportunity and a responsibility to help shape what comes next while remaining firmly focused on the people at the heart of this mission.

My approach as CEO will be to listen, ask questions, communicate openly and build strong relationships. I want CORE to continue being a partner you trust and an organization that is willing to have candid conversations, learn from others and look for better ways to work together.

So, as I begin this next chapter, I hope you will consider this an open invitation to stay connected. I look forward to meeting more of you personally, hearing your perspectives and continuing to strengthen the partnerships that have been so important to CORE and to the people we collectively serve.

There is a great deal ahead for CORE, and I am excited about what is possible. Most of all, I am grateful to have partners like you alongside us as we continue working to Save and Heal more lives through donation.

I look forward to working with you.

Deb

Deborah Maurer, RN, MBA
President/CEO, CORE

08/31/2026

Advocate Spotlight:
Belinda Griggs

When Belinda Griggs was diagnosed with a rare, chronic kidney disease at age 35, there were no warning signs. She was working full-time as an accountant, raising two young kids, and cooking family dinners in her crockpot when everything changed.

What followed was an 11-year battle on dialysis, where her husband stepped up as caregiver while studying for his CPA, and their family shifted into a new normal centered around survival. But through faith, resilience, and the extraordinary gift of an organ donor, Belinda received her kidney transplant in October 2011.

Fast forward to today: Belinda is celebrating 14 years post-transplant with 97% kidney function. For the last 12 years, she has served as a devoted CORE Advocate, sharing her story to show the world what the gift of life truly makes possible.

Because a young man registered to be a donor hero:

- Belinda watched her son, daughter, and granddaughter graduate

- She walked through Disney World side-by-side with her granddaughter

- She and her husband celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary last month

Belinda calls her donor her "wind beneath her wings," knowing his decision gave her family a second chapter filled with milestone moments they will treasure forever.

"Organ donation may be the only option for someone to receive a life-changing transplant. I thank God for my donor hero and his precious gift every day." — Belinda

Join us in celebrating Belinda’s incredible journey and honoring donor heroes everywhere!

08/29/2026

This morning, CORE was proud to be at the Pittsburgh Public Schools Back-to-School 5K + Wellness Social at Obama Academy of International Studies. The event brought students, families, and the community together for a morning focused on movement, wellness, and supporting Pittsburgh students, with proceeds benefiting Bigger Than Sports.

We were excited to partner with The Cameron Heyward Foundation at a joint tent to share stories, connect with the community, and raise awareness about the life-saving impact of organ donation. We also highlighted Craig’s Closet, helping provide young men with suits and dresswear so they can feel confident and ready to pursue their next opportunity. 👔

Grateful for a great morning and an even greater community! 💙

08/28/2026

Today, we honor Donor Hero Jennifer Kuosman.

Jennifer was a loving mother, sister, friend, and cat lover who brought kindness, laughter, wisdom, and love wherever she went.

Jennifer was always known for her great advice and incredible knowledge. A generous woman by nature, she was the kind of person who would help anyone in a heartbeat. She had a gift for storytelling that was unmatched and a special love of poetry.

Her laugh filled rooms and was completely contagious. Jennifer loved sharing her “fun facts of the day” with her friends and children, always bringing something interesting and unexpected to the conversation.

She had a heart full of love for her family, friends, and her beloved cats. Jennifer’s kindness, generosity, humor, and wisdom left a lasting impression on everyone fortunate enough to know her.

Through her final compassionate gift as an organ donor, Jennifer gave others a new chance at life. Her selflessness created hope for others and a lasting legacy that will continue through the lives she helped save.

Jennifer’s life was filled with love, laughter, friendship, family, stories, poetry, and an incredible spirit of giving. Her memory will live on in every person she touched and every life changed by her generous gift.

Jennifer will be forever missed, always remembered, and eternally loved.

Forever a hero. 💚

08/27/2026

Women’s Equality Day 💜

Today, we celebrate the women leaders at the Center for Organ Recovery & Education (CORE) who bring compassion, expertise, and purpose to our mission every day.

From leading teams and inspiring innovation to advocating for organ donation and supporting families through life-changing moments, these women are helping shape a future where more lives can be saved through the gift of donation.

We’re proud to recognize the women who lead with heart, lift others up, and make a lasting impact in the communities we serve.

Here’s to the women who lead, inspire, and make a difference—today and every day. 💜

08/26/2026

This week, we're featuring Jaimie Blosser, an Organ Preservation Specialist II in our clinical operations department, and the passion that drives her commitment to CORE. With a background in biology and organ recovery, Jaimie has built a rewarding career applying her clinical expertise toward a vital, mission-driven cause.

For Jaimie, finding CORE during Donate Life Month felt like fate. She is grateful to advance CORE's culture of innovation and help get patients off the transplant waiting list, while staying active in the community trying new restaurants and cheering at Steelers games.

Swipe through to learn more about Jaimie and her "why."

What inspires your "why"? Share your story in the comments.

08/25/2026

Every emoji tells a story.

Whether you’re a donor, recipient, caregiver, healthcare professional, waiting for a transplant, or someone whose life has been touched by organ donation, there’s a story behind that connection.

Drop an emoji in the comments that represents your connection to organ donation and, if you’re comfortable, share the story behind it. 🫶

Your story could help someone else feel seen, understood, or inspired to become an organ donor.

08/24/2026

Some stories are about surviving. Chris Foust’s story is about what you do with a second chance.

In January 2023, while living in New Jersey, Chris received a simultaneous liver and kidney transplant. It was a life-changing moment, but for Chris, it was just the beginning of a whole new chapter.

After his transplant, Chris moved to Pittsburgh, where his brother and sister live. That’s where he discovered the Transplant Games and found CORE. He signed up for an Advocate meeting and kept coming back. He found a community he enjoyed being part of and people who understood what the transplant journey was all about.

Before long, Chris was competing in the Transplant Games in swimming and golf. His hard work has even led him to break Transplant Games records in swimming.

And while Chris was rebuilding his life, he was also rebuilding a home.

After moving to Pittsburgh, he gutted a house and started rebuilding it from the ground up, one piece at a time. Looking at what Chris has accomplished, it’s hard not to see a connection between the house and his own life.

He was given a second chance through his transplant. In Pittsburgh, he found a community. Through the Transplant Games, he found something new to challenge himself with.

Chris Foust’s story is about more than a transplant. It’s about finding your way forward, taking on new challenges, and making the most of the opportunity you’ve been given.