Sharing Hope SC Bolsters Team, Enhances Services

Press Release

We Are Sharing Hope SC (SHSC), the state’s non-profit organ and tissue recovery service, is proud to welcome several new team members to the organization in a variety of new and existing roles.

• Dr. Laia Hernandez, Donor Recovery Surgeon
• Matt Pipitone, Director of Operations Center
• Dr. Duane Stillions, Director of Learning and Development
• Kim Zaruca, Chief Donation Officer

“We are grateful to welcome these highly skilled professionals to our team, each who brings compassion and expertise to their role. Their arrival marks a new period of growth for our organization and allows us to enhance our services across the state,” said SHSC President and CEO Dave DeStefano. “I am proud to work alongside such a dedicated and passionate team committed to our donation mission, saving lives and honoring every legacy.”

Zaruca moves into a newly created executive position, Chief Donation Officer after joining as SHSC’s Director of Hospital Services in November of 2021. In her new role, Zaruca is responsible for strategically enhancing and developing SHSC’s Donation Systems processes that enhance the donation pathway and create a legacy of “YES”.

“It is such an honor to be a part of this executive team and to be trusted with these important initiatives  that will support our donor families and community partners,” said Kim Zaruca, Chief Donation Officer at SHSC. “Inspiring our hospitals about their crucial role in the donation process and ensuring our donor families have a positive and compassionate experience is paramount. I look forward to enhancing our mission and building strong donation pathways with our Transplant Center partners.”

Matt Pipitone joins the team as the Director of Operations Center (DOC). In this role, Pipitone is responsible for the oversight, administration and management functions of the Operations Center. He will also manage the departmental compliance of established regulatory standards, continuous quality and process improvement initiatives.

Dr. Duane Stillions steps into the new role of Director of Learning and Development. Stillions will monitor the organization’s learning and development practices and standardization. He will also take the lead in building and improving our simulation laboratory (Sim Lab), an integral part of the training process. Stillions will also play a key role in advancing our clinical training methods.

As a Donor Recovery Surgeon, Dr. Laia Hernandez is responsible for recovering abdominal organs for transplant, research and therapy and ensuring all suitable organs are made available for transplant in the operating room. Hernandez is the second Donor Recovery Surgeon to join SHSC this year and one of only three organ procurement organizations (OPO) recovery surgeons in the southeast.

Additionally, SHSC was recently recognized among the 2023 Top 50 Inspiring Workplaces in North America, placing top five in the “Government and Non-profit” category. In December, DeStefano was among 38 winners worldwide to receive the 2022 Inspiring Leaders Award from Inspiring Workplaces. The award recognizes leaders who have  significantly contributed significantly to their organizations and communities.

Last year marked a donation milestone in South Carolina. In 2022, there were 230 organ donor heroes, resulting in 612 organs transplanted and 512 lives saved by South Carolina donors. 390 tissue donor heroes helped enhance the quality of life of 48,000 Americans, a 10% increase since 2021. Today more than 1,600 South Carolinians are on the national transplant waiting list.

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