An innovative online program developed by former Southeast Missouri State University nursing professor Dr. Linda Heitman has reached more than 5,000 nursing students nationwide and is continuing to expand.
In 2017, Mid-America Transplant issued a call for grants regarding organ and tissue donation. Dr. Linda Heitman, then a professor in SEMO’s Department of Nursing, recognized a national gap in nursing curriculums and textbooks on organ donation and transplantation. Heitman submitted a grant proposal to introduce an online program that would fill that gap.
By spring 2019, the program was piloted with senior nursing students in Heitman’s “Introduction to Critical Care” course at SEMO. Supported by a generous grant from Mid-America Transplant, the online platform featured five comprehensive modules with narrative content, quizzes, video segments (including facility tours and interviews), discussion forums and completion certificates, covering topics including tissue and organ donation, the nurse’s role in the process, family bereavement and aftercare.
“In 1984, Congress passed the National Organ Transplant Act, creating the structure of the modern organ donation system,” said Kevin Lee, CEO of Mid-America Transplant. “While advances in medicine and technology have changed many aspects of the process, one thing remains the same—it begins with the nurse. Dr. Heitman recognized this from her years of experience as a nurse, leader and researcher, and saw the opportunity to leverage SEMO’s expertise in online education to prepare nursing students for this critical role. Working together, we created the nation’s first online learning module to educate future nurses on the donation process.”
By early 2023, the program had already educated more than 3,000 students across 12 institutions. Since then, its reach has continued to grow, now surpassing 5,000 participants, a testament to the program’s quality and relevance.
“I feel very honored and privileged to provide the Organ Donation Online Education Platform for Undergraduate Nursing Students at SEMO,” said Dr. Lisa Job, assistant professor of nursing. “The platform is evidence-based education that prepares students to care for potential donors and their families. Nursing students have shared that the information is understandable, thought-provoking and engaging. This program increases awareness of the life-saving mission of organ and tissue donation as they begin their professional nursing careers.”
Dr. Linda Heitman’s leadership was instrumental in the program’s success. A graduate of the Goldfarb School of Nursing at Barnes-Jewish Hospital, Southeast Missouri State University and Saint Louis University, Dr. Heitman began her career in critical care at Southeast Hospital and later served on the Mid-America Transplant Professional Advisory Board before joining SEMO’s faculty in 1998. Her vision and expertise have positioned SEMO as a leader in nursing education related to organ and tissue donation. She currently serves as nursing education advisor for Mid-America Transplant.
“Surpassing 5,000 participants underscores the real-world impact of Dr. Heitman’s vision and the power of collaborative innovation,” said Dr. Doug Koch, interim vice provost at SEMO. “We couldn’t be prouder of the lives already touched, and those yet to be saved, thanks to this program.”
With over 5,000 nursing students benefiting from this education, SEMO is proud to play a vital role in preparing future nurses to engage knowledgeably and compassionately in organ and tissue donation processes.
“Any individual who plays a role in this platform—faculty, students, staff, IT—stands at the bedside of every transplant recipient,” said Dr. Heitman. “This collaboration between the University and Mid-America Transplant has taken an entire team of people to make it successful.”
As the next generation of nurses step forward to lead with compassion and knowledge, SEMO’s nursing program is fearlessly forward in its commitment to providing an education that saves lives. Learn more about SEMO’s nursing programs and how you can make a difference at semo.edu/nursing.