About Us
We Are Sharing Hope SC
Together we inspire our communities, offer hope and change lives through the gift of organ, eye and tissue donation.
As South Carolina’s federally-designated organ procurement organization (OPO), SHSC is responsible for facilitating the gift of organ, eye and tissue donation for transplantation and research across the state (excluding Aiken and Edgefield counties). Dedicated to the community we serve, our teams are passionate stewards of the gift of life, honoring every legacy, every life, every time.
Donate Life South Carolina (DLSC)
The passionate teams at SHSC work in collaboration with DLSC to bring awareness and further educate on the importance and impact donation has on so many. Donate Life South Carolina, a state-authorized nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, is solely responsible for managing the organ, eye and tissue donor registry. Together, we strive to encourage all South Carolinians to make the selfless decision to become a registered donor.
Core Values
Our vision is that every individual embraces organ, eye and tissue donation to save and enhance lives.
Compassion
The ability to recognize and the genuine desire to alleviate the distress or misfortune of others.
Accountability
The acknowledgment and assumption of responsibility for one’s actions and decisions, including the obligation to report, explain and be answerable for resulting consequences.
Integrity
Being honest and truthful with consistency of character.
Excellence
The commitment of ourselves to continuously improve and seek to exceed recognized performance standards.
Stewardship
Honoring the gift by delivering a superior experience for all, sensing their needs and exceeding their expectations.
Unity
A condition of organizational harmony encouraging teamwork, collaboration and celebration of diversity.
Executive Team
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David DeStefano
President & Chief Executive Officer
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Joe Spitz
Chief Information Officer
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Kim Zaruca, BSN
Chief Donation Officer
Leadership Team
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Traci Adams, RN
Director, Organ Utilization and Outcomes
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Krystal Cau
Director, Communications
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Jennifer Drago
Director, Quality Services
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Stephanie Johnson
Director, Human Resources
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Kimberly Kottemann
Director, Hospital Services
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Michael Lotts
Director, Clinical Services
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Erika Masinsky
Director, Family Services
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Michael Palmisano
Director, Tissue Operations
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Matthew Pipitone
Director, Perfusion and Preservation
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Amanda Sapp, MAcc
Senior Director, Finance
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Duane Stillions, MD, MPH
Director, Learning and Development
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Kenneth Woodside, MD
Surgical Director
Board of Directors
Gerald Wilson, MD
Chairman of the Board
Alice Boylan, MD
Medical University of South Carolina
Lori Brigham
Non-Profit Management
Brian Childs, MD
Ethicist
David DeStefano
President, CEO, We Are Sharing Hope SC
Pamela Eyring
Tissue Donor Family
Jacqueline Honig, MD
We Are Sharing Hope SC Medical Director, Organ Recovery Services
Mark Jones, MD
Prisma Health Richland
Todd Merchen, MD
Prisma Health Greenville, Chief of Organ Transplant Surgery
Mike Murphy, PhD
President/CEO, MPowerUSA
Kimberly Perkins
Transplant Recipient
Joe Soto
President/CEO, Epica International
Brian Thurston, MD
Spartanburg Medical Center General Surgeon
Timothy Whelan, MD
We Are Sharing Hope SC Associate Medical Director, Organ Recovery Services
Medical Advisory Board
Dr. Altan Alim
Dr. Ahmed Alqassieh
Dr. Rita Bakhru
Dr. Mac Felmly
Julie Grant
Ryan Hakimi, MD
Dr. Steve Hanish
Matt Hartwig, MD
Amberly Jones
Omar Moussa, PhD, MD
R. Kelvin Satcher, PhD
Zachary Sutton
Accreditations and Regulatory
SHSC is accredited with all pertinent federal and state regulatory organizations
Professional Partnerships
Making donation and transplantation possible requires strong collaboration to ensure that we honor every legacy, every life, every time.
Hospitals
Communication between SHSC and donor hospitals is critical to donation and transplantation in South Carolina. Working in partnership with more than 80 hospitals across the state, SHSC continues to offer hope to those who are waiting and provide comfort to those who are in the midst of loss.
Our Hospital Services (HS) team works with our hospital partners to develop and maintain donation programs at South Carolina hospitals, ensuring every donor family is supported before, during and after donation.
Coroners
Coroners play a crucial role in supporting the donation process, and the South Carolina Coroners’ Association supports and encourages its members to facilitate organ, eye, tissue and body donation when possible. By working to support donations following the death of an individual, coroners can help save and enhance lives in their communities.
Funeral Homes
Funeral homes play an important role in the donation journey as they support families in honoring the life lost. SHSC takes pride in working with funeral homes across South Carolina in support of organ, eye and tissue donation. Honoring the gift of donation and supporting donor families is a shared responsibility, and together, we can honor the hero that said “yes” to saving others.
Regulatory and Financial Transparency
Annual Reports & Impact Statements
2025 Annual Report
2024 Annual Report
2023 Annual Report
2022 Annual Report
OUR COMMITMENT
We Are Sharing Hope SC is an organization with strong values of responsibility and integrity. Our Code of Conduct contains general guidelines for conducting business with the highest standard of ethics. We are committed to an environment where open and honest communication is the expectation. If you need to review the Code of Conduct, submit a report relating to violations stated in our Code of Conduct, or have suggestions/feedback, you can do so at the link below.
We Want to Connect with You
At SHSC, we are committed to providing access and education on organ, eye and tissue donation to ensure our community can make an informed decision. Our teams provide informational presentations and educational resources to communities and partners across the state.
We welcome the opportunity to engage with your community and/or local business. Ready to connect? Use the form below- we can’t wait to hear from you.