(NEW YORK, NY) December 22, 2005 -- The following new officers have been elected to serve on the New York Organ Donor Network’s board of directors, effective January 1, 2006:

Chairperson - Dale Distant, M.D., currently board vice-chairperson, and director of the division of transplantation at SUNY Downstate Medical Center/Department of Surgery.

Vice-Chairperson – Tim Ettenheim, currently board secretary, and vice president of pastoral care services at the HealthCare Chaplaincy, Inc.

Secretary - Jean Emond, M.D., currently a board member, the Thomas S. Zimmer Professor of Surgery, and vice chairman and chief of transplantation at New York Presbyterian Hospital.

Treasurer - Peter Hutchings, a retired Guardian Life CFO, will continue in this position.

Joseph Porrino was also elected to the board. After 21 years of practicing law and seven years as the executive vice president/chief administrative officer of New School University in New York City, Mr. Porrino provides consulting services to senior executives in higher education and other nonprofit and for-profit organizations.

Lloyd Ratner, M.D., was appointed to the medical board as vice-chairperson. Dr. Ratner will also serve ex officio on the board of directors. He is director of renal and pancreatic transplantation at New York Presbyterian Hospital-Columbia Presbyterian Campus.

Media Contact: Martin Woolf at 646-291-4460 or mwoolf@nyodn.org.