One organ donor can save eight lives, according to the American Transplant Foundation.

The University of Toledo is using state-of-the art simulation technology to help future medical professionals practice how to preserve and protect the organs of patients who suffered traumatic brain injury and brain death.

Using human simulators, half a dozen UT graduate students will participate in a training scenario this week on caring for brain-dead patients who are organ donors.

Media are invited to the interactive scenario that begins at 10:45 a.m. Thursday, April 13 in the Jacobs Interprofessional Immersive Simulation Center on Health Science Campus.

“Our students are getting hands-on practice on how to medically manage brain-dead patients in order to recover organs and help save lives of others through donation,” said James Judkins, assistant professor in the Department of Physician Assistant Studies and director of the Human Donation Science program.

The students, who are on track to graduate this July with a master’s degree, are studying human donation science in the College of Medicine and Life Sciences.  

As part of program curriculum, the students have been studying the principles of medical management in brain death. The use of the Simulation Center allows these principles to be applied through the use of human simulators prior to going on clinical rotations in spring.