June 28, 2012

Zavala lands transplant administration award

Zavala lands transplant administration award

Edward Zavala, MBA, administrator for the Vanderbilt Transplant Center, was recently named the first recipient of the Deedle Heckenkemper Leader in Transplant Administration Award. Zavala received the honor during the 2012 Transplant Management Forum held in Puerto Rico.

Edward Zavala, MBA

Edward Zavala, MBA

Frank Joseph “Deedle” Heckenkemper was a leading authority in transplant cost analysis and Medicare rules and regulations. His career spanned 40 years and he was the co-founder of the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network/ United Network for Organ Sharing (OPTN/UNOS) Transplant Administrator’s Committee. He died in 2011. The award is named in recognition of his pioneering efforts in the field of Transplant Administration.

Zavala received the peer-driven award from the OPTN/UNOS Transplant Administrators Committee for his significant contributions and positive impact in transplant administration.

“It is an incredible honor to be chosen to be the first recipient of this award,” said Zavala. “Deedle was a strong administrator who was a mentor of mine who helped pioneer the specialty of transplant administration.”