Transplant Radio

In this impactful episode, Glen Kelley—Patient Voice and Advocacy Leader with The Mended Hearts—shares his extraordinary journey as a multi-organ transplant recipient and his mission to transform patient support worldwide.

Glen recounts his decades-long health journey, from surviving Hodgkin’s lymphoma as a teenager to navigating heart failure, a heart transplant, and later a kidney transplant. Through these experiences, he discovered the life-changing impact of patient-to-patient connection—something he now champions through The Mended Hearts organization.

The conversation explores how The Mended Hearts delivers support, education, and advocacy to more than 100,000 patients globally. Glen highlights the organization’s accredited visitor programs, digital outreach, and growing international presence, all designed to empower patients and caregivers across every stage of cardiovascular disease and transplant care.

Hosted by Rob Horel of Eurofins Viracor.

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The discussions in this podcast are meant to inform and spark conversation, not to provide medical advice. For guidance on personal health questions, diagnoses, or treatment decisions, always speak directly with a licensed healthcare professional.

For more information visit: Eurofins-Viracor.com or call (800)305-5198

We learn today from Peggy Burkhard that transplant is not just a medical experience — it’s an emotional, creative, and community‑driven journey that patients, caregivers, and families navigate together.

Peggy shares how the National Bone Marrow Transplant Link has evolved since its founding in 1992, offering a wide range of free programs that support patients from diagnosis through survivorship. She highlights the often‑overlooked emotional load carried by caregivers and explains how "the Link" (nbmtLINK), builds connection through healing arts sessions, book clubs, lunch‑and‑learn programs, and survivorship education.

We hear about their thriving “Marrow Masters” podcast with 160+ episodes and 40,000 downloads, as well as their expanding resources such as Spanish‑language materials, financial guidance books, and partnerships with groups like the GVHD Alliance and Blood Cancer United. Peggy also gives an inside look at GVHD Awareness Day and the organization’s growing social media footprint, which helps elevate patient voices and practical wisdom to the global transplant community.

Hosted by Kevin Foth of Eurofins Viracor.

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The discussions in this podcast are meant to inform and spark conversation, not to provide medical advice. For guidance on personal health questions, diagnoses, or treatment decisions, always speak directly with a licensed healthcare professional.

For more information visit: Eurofins-Viracor.com or call (800)305-5198

In this powerful episode of Transplant Radio, moderator Kevin Foth sits down with Meredith Cowden, Executive Director of the Meredith Cowden Foundation and also the AGVD Alliance, who shares her extraordinary 25‑year journey living with chronic graft-versus-host disease (GvHD).

Meredith opens up about her diagnosis with AML in 2001, her challenges with acute and chronic GvHD, and how her personal experiences inspired the creation of a foundation dedicated to education, empowerment, survivorship, and improving patient quality of life.

Together, Kevin and Meredith explore the importance of patient-provider communication, the emotional impact of rare diseases, the role of social media in connecting isolated patients, and the groundbreaking work of the GvHD Alliance. 

Hosted by Kevin Foth of Eurofins Viracor.

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What happens when an ER resident working 80-hour weeks suddenly becomes the patient who needs a heart transplant? Dr. Alin Gragossian shares her extraordinary journey from emergency medicine resident to heart transplant recipient, and how that experience transformed her perspective as a physician.

She discusses her path into critical care, the life-changing night that led to her transplant, and how her personal story shapes her empathy and advocacy for patients and caregivers today.

Dr. Gragossian also highlights her blog A Change of Heart, her co-hosted podcast Both Sides of the Stethoscope, and her leadership role as Chair of the AST Transplant Community Advisory Council. A powerful conversation on resilience, advocacy, and the human side of medicine.

Hosted by Kevin Foth of Eurofins Viracor.

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Dr. Keith Hansen shares his journey from biomedical engineer to transplant surgeon and innovator. As Founder and CEO of Diatiro, Dr. Hansen details the development of the Kidney Pod, an FDA Breakthrough-Designated device designed to keep kidneys at safe temperatures during transplant surgery.

He explains how human-centered design, engineering innovation, and clinical insights led to a solution that could prevent delayed graft function, reduce dialysis dependence, and save thousands of organs each year. Dr. Hansen also reflects on collaboration, design thinking, and the future of surgical innovation.

Hosted by Kevin Foth of Eurofins Viracor.

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Patricia Draper, MSW, LCSW, Program Director of the Transplant Mentors program at Gift of Life joins us on Transplant Radio from the World Transplant Congress in San Francisco, CA.

With a background in clinical social work and years of experience supporting transplant patients, Patricia shares how mentorship can profoundly shape the transplant journey, from evaluation through recovery. She explains how the Transplant Mentors program connects recipients, living donors, and caregivers with trained volunteers who offer the kind of insight only someone who has “walked the walk” can provide.

Patricia emphasizes the importance of thoughtful matching, pairing mentees with mentors based not just on medical conditions, but on personality, coping styles, and life motivations. She also explores the deeply existential nature of transplantation, addressing the complex emotions of guilt, hope, and gratitude that often accompany the experience.

Hosted by Rob Horel of Eurofins Viracor.

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In this heartfelt episode of Transplant Radio, Rob interviews Shara Brice, Executive Director of Gift of Life, whose 40+ year journey in nonprofit work and community building shines through every story she shares.

From founding youth empowerment programs in East London to leading impactful education and mentorship initiatives in Kansas City, Shara discusses how her journey has been shaped by a passion for service and connection.

Despite having only six staff members, the Kansas City-based organization has nationwide impact in bridging the gap between organ donation awareness and actual registration.

Hosted by Rob Horel of Eurofins Viracor.

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For more information visit: Eurofins-Viracor.com or call (800)305-5198

In this episode, Eurofins Viracor scientist Evan Sander discusses the development and validation of a novel multiplexed real-time qPCR panel for detecting and quantifying Trypanosoma cruzi, the parasite responsible for Chagas disease.

The conversation highlights the abstract presented at WTC2025, explores the impact of this research on transplant medicine, and showcases the scientific advancements emerging from Eurofins Viracor.

🎙️ Hosted by Kevin Foth of Eurofins Viracor.

For more information visit: Eurofins-Viracor.com or call (800)305-5198

Valuable insights into the role of AI & machine learning in clinical diagnostics from team members of Eurofins Viracor, Eurofins Viracor BioPharma, and Eurofins Transplant Genomics. They discuss how these advancements will shape their field, enhance patient care, and ensure compliance with regulatory standards.

For more information visit: Eurofins-Viracor.com or call (800)305-5198

Listen to our Transplant Radio interview series, Part 10 of 10 from ATC 2024 in Philadelphia, PA. We exhibited as our Eurofins Transplant group, which is comprised of Eurofins Viracor, Eurofins Transplant Genomics, Eurofins Donor & Product Testing (DPT), Eurofins CellTx, and Ascend Clinical.

For more information visit: Eurofins-Viracor.com or call (800)305-5198