What Is Paired Donation, and Why It Matters
Here's something many people don't know: even if you want to donate but aren't a medical match for me, you can still help save my life.
Through a program called paired kidney exchange (also called paired donation), you can donate your kidney to someone you do match with — and in exchange, someone who matches me donates their kidney to me. Everyone gets the kidney they need.
This means your generous spirit is never wasted — even if biology doesn't cooperate.
Paired donation is well established, safe, and coordinated through transplant centers and organizations like the National Kidney Registry, which also runs OHSU's paired exchange partnerships.
To learn more about how paired donation works, visit kidneyregistry.com.
You Are Protected. You Are Supported.
Living donation is a profound act, and it comes with real safeguards.
If you're considering donation, I want you to know your wellbeing comes first, always. OHSU assigns you an independent donor advocate — a team separate from my care team, whose only job is to look out for you.
YOUR HEALTH IS THE PRIORITYYou'll go through a thorough, independent medical and psychological evaluation. If the team determines that donation carries meaningful risk for you, they will not clear you — and that's the right outcome. Your health isn't negotiable.
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE IS AVAILABLEMany donors are surprised to learn there's financial help available for travel, lodging, and lost wages related to donation. The National Living Donor Assistance Center (NLDAC) provides grants to eligible donors, and the National Kidney Registry's Donor Shield program offers additional financial and legal protections for its donors.
Learn more at livingdonorassistance.org.
YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO CHANGE YOUR MINDAt any point, even after you've been approved and right up to the time of surgery, you can decide not to donate. No explanation required. The team supports that decision either way.
LIVING DONORS GO ON TO LIVE FULL, HEALTHY LIVESDecades of research and long-term follow-up show that the large majority of living kidney donors go on to live full, healthy lives, with a careful evaluation process designed to catch anything that would make donation unsafe for a particular person. Your transplant team can walk you through the specific data and long-term outlook in detail.
For comprehensive information on living kidney donation, visit kidney.org.
Ready to take the next steps?
If you're ready to learn more, or even just curious, I'd love to hear from you. There's no commitment in reaching out, and no wrong questions.
OPTION 1Start your screening now:
ohsulivingdonor.org
OHSU's own health-history questionnaire for people interested in living donation. It only takes a few minutes. Note: the form itself doesn't ask who you're donating for, so please also call or email (below) and mention my name so OHSU connects your screening to me.
OPTION 2Call or email OHSU's Living Donation team directly:
503-494-8500 or livingdonation@ohsu.edu
Let them know you're inquiring about becoming a directed living donor for Mark Moore. OHSU will assign you your own independent donor advocate, separate from my care team, to answer questions and guide you — with no pressure and no commitment.
Prefer to talk with me first? You're welcome to email me directly at jmarkmoore2000@gmail.com, and I'll respond personally, and if you like, we can set up a call to meet each other.
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