Hospitals, State Leaders Encourage Pennsylvanians to Register as Organ Donors

August 04, 2025

More than 6,000 Pennsylvanians are on the transplant waiting list, highlighting the importance of organ donation.

Last week, the Shapiro administration, hospital leaders, organ donation organizations, and families gathered at UPMC West Shore to celebrate PA Donor Day and encourage more people to register as donors.

“Only about half of eligible individuals are registered as donors,” Dr. Manish Gupta, surgical director of UPMC Central Pa.’s Kidney Transplant Program, said in a statement. “We believe that gap is largely due to a lack of information. Thanks to advancements in technology, organ donation is safer and more accessible than ever—and events like this help inspire people to take action.”

Here's what you need to know:

• Background:  Celebrated at the start of the month, PA Donor Day emphasizes how eight lives can be saved by one donor.
• Even larger impact:  Tissue donation also plays a critical role, aiding patients recovering from spinal injuries, burns, vision loss, and more, state officials said.
• By the numbers:  About five million Pennsylvanians are registered organ donors. This is about half of driver’s license and state ID holders.
• Where to go:  Residents can register when visiting any PennDOT Photo License or Driver License Center or register online.
  • Those under 18 must have a parent or guardian’s consent.
• Quotable:  “As a practicing pediatrician, I saw firsthand the life-changing impact of organ donation,” Dr. Debra Bogen, Pennsylvania health secretary, said in a statement. “Children and families were given a new lease on life thanks to the selfless action of someone they often never met. We need more Pennsylvanians to sign up and help save lives.”

HAP joins the Pennsylvania Department of Health, the hospital community, and organ donation organizations to celebrate this importance of organ donation. Be on the lookout this month for additional stories about how Pennsylvania hospitals are supporting organ donation in their communities.

Learn more about last week’s event online.