UAB Division of Transplantation Director Jayme Locke, M.D., MPH spoke on equity in organ allocation at the Cutting Edge of Transplantation (CEOT) 2020, a conference organized by the American Society of Transplantation (AST).

Locke currently serves on the executive committee for the Kidney-Pancreas Community of Practice as well as the Metrics Task Force– a joint effort by the AST and American Society of Transplant Surgeons (ASTS). The Metrics Task Force works to develop better metrics for evaluation of transplant programs, focusing on allocation policies, improving kidney health and access to transplantation.

Locke assisted in leading a COET 2020 pre-meeting symposium before kicking off abstract presentations. The pre-meeting symposium included key stakeholders: patients, nephrologists, insurers and organ procurement organizations. Even a representative from the office of the United States Secretary of Health and Human Services- Alex Azar- was present.

During her keynote and abstract presentations, Locke responded to a new United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) policy seeking to geographically redistribute kidneys for transplantation. According to research presented and conducted by Locke, Michael Hanaway, M.D., Douglass Anderson, M.D., MPH, Rhiannon Reed, MPH, DrPH, and Cozette Kale, M.D., the policy is based on a flawed metric for allocation.

Locke is pleased to have presented strong research along with her colleagues that will potentially impact future allocation to truly be more equitable and fair.

“Although there are gaps in the proposed kidney transplantation allocation policy slated to take effect later this year, we hope that our key findings will be able to guide decision makers to create better policy based on accurate allocation metrics,” said Locke. “Our goal is to make sure that no matter your socioeconomic status, everyone on the waitlist has an equal opportunity.”