Columbia Memorial Health Raises Donate Life Flag in Recognition of Donate Life Month

Columbia Memorial Health (CMH) raised a Donate Life flag atop Columbia Memorial Hospital today in recognition of Donate Life Month (April). The event was held in coordination with the Center for Donation & Transplant (CDT) to raise awareness of the lifesaving impact of organ, eye, and tissue donation, and to encourage the public to enroll in the New York State Donate Life Registry.

While more than 3,000 lifesaving organ transplants were performed in New York last year, nearly 8,000 New Yorkers remain on the national organ transplant waitlist. In 2025, more than 500 patients awaiting an organ transplant in New York State died because the organ needed to save their lives was not donated in time. A single organ donor can save up to eight lives, while tissue and cornea donors can improve more than 75 lives.

CMH is proud to partner with CDT, the local organ procurement organization, to save and improve the lives of those in need of transplants.

“Organ and tissue donation emphasizes selfless sacrifice, and by raising the flag, we honor those who have given the gift of life through organ and tissue donation,” said Dorothy Urschel, president and CEO of CMH. “We encourage others to register their intent to donate their organs by enrolling in the New York State Donate Life Registry, a powerful step towards helping to save and improve the lives of those in need.”

Seven million New Yorkers have already enrolled in the New York State Donate Life Registry, the state’s electronic database that documents a person’s authorization to be an organ, eye, and/or tissue donor upon their death. New Yorkers aged sixteen or older who haven’t already enrolled have several opportunities to do so:

• Check “yes” in the “New York State Organ and Tissue Donation” section when applying for or renewing your driver license, learner permit, or non-driver ID. The DMV will transmit your enrollment to the Registry and print a heart icon and the words “Organ Donor” on your photo document.
• Enroll online in just minutes by visiting www.cdtnyvt.org.
• Complete the optional “Register to donate your organs and tissues” section on the back of your NYS voter registration form. Your county Board of Elections will forward that page of the form to the New York State Donate Life Registry.
• Check “yes” to organ and tissue donation when applying for health insurance through the New York State of Health Online Insurance Marketplace (nystateofhealth.ny.gov).