The 'Transplant Coordination Professional Certificate', a six-week online course, accredited by the CPD Standards Office with 100 CPD hours was hosted by the MOHAN Foundation. The batch May-June 2026 which commenced on May 6, 2026 invited registrations from 121 candidates (116 from India, 4 from Bangladesh and 1 from Myanmar). The key elements of the course included access to the e-learning platform with study materials and resources, online assignments and assessments to reinforce learning, and weekly interactive webinars featuring professionals in organ donation and transplantation.

• Basic Concepts of Organ Donation and Transplantation - Ms. Poonam Sharma, Curriculum Coordinator, MOHAN Foundation

 The session provided participants with a comprehensive introduction to the fundamentals of organ donation and transplantation. It covered living donation, including both related and unrelated donors, deceased organ donation, tissue donation, Donation after Circulatory Death (DCD), and Donation after Brainstem Death (DBD). Participants were also introduced to advanced transplant procedures such as split, swap, and domino transplantation. The session concluded with an overview of global consent systems, India's opt-in model, and the importance of donor pledging, donor cards, and family discussions in supporting informed donation decisions.

• THO Act & Rules - Ms. Poonam Sharma, Curriculum Coordinator, MOHAN Foundation

 This session provided participants with an overview of the legal framework governing organ donation and transplantation in India. Key provisions of the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act (THOTA) and the associated Rules were discussed, with emphasis on brainstem death certification, living donation approvals for both related and unrelated donors, hospital registration requirements, and ethical practices in organ donation. The session also explained the roles and responsibilities of the Appropriate Authority, Authorization Committee, and Brainstem Death Certification Committee, while highlighting the documentation and regulatory processes essential for compliant transplant practice.

• Brainstem Death - Dr. Pranam Hathwar, Critical Care Medicine, KIMS Hospital, Bengaluru

 The session focused on the identification and certification of brainstem death, covering the essential preconditions, apnoea testing, and ancillary investigations. Dr. Hathwar explained the physiology of brainstem death, principles of donor management, and the documentation required for certification. The discussion also addressed the importance of medical management of brainstem dead donor, contraindications, paediatric donor considerations, and the legal responsibilities associated with brainstem death determination.

• Deceased Donation Coordination – Dr. Navdeep Bansal, Senior Transplant Coordinator, PGIMER, Chandigarh

 The session provided an overview of the deceased organ donation pathway, outlining the coordination processes, essential documentation, and procedures followed in medico-legal cases. Through real-life case studies, participants explored common operational challenges and discussed practical approaches to managing complex situations encountered during deceased donor coordination.

• Living Donation: Medical and Psychosocial Evaluation – Mr. Girish Shetty, Chief Transplant Manager, Apollo Group of Hospitals, Telangana & Andhra Pradesh

 The session examined the multidisciplinary evaluation of living donors, highlighting the importance of comprehensive medical and psychosocial assessments before organ donation. Key topics included donor safety, ethical considerations, risk assessment, and the transplant coordinator's role in ensuring that the evaluation process is thorough, transparent, and patient-centred.

• Live Donor Transplant: Coordinating Legal Workup and Documentation- Mr. Girraj Pareek, Chief Transplant Coordinator (Multi Organ) & Quality Team Member, Santokba Durlabhji Memorial Hospital, Jaipur

 This lecture focused on the legal and administrative aspects of living donor transplantation. Participants gained an understanding of the documentation required, verification of donor-recipient relationships, statutory approval processes, and the responsibilities of transplant coordinators in ensuring compliance with legal and regulatory requirements throughout the transplant pathway.

• Approaching families for organ donation - Ms. Iva Pandey, Manager – Medical Services, Artemis Hospital, Gurugram

 This session highlighted the importance of compassionate, structured communication when supporting families and approaching them for organ donation. Drawing on the Kübler-Ross model of grief, the speaker explained how families experience and express grief differently, underscoring the need for individualized counselling. Practical guidance on effective communication, including key dos and don'ts, was shared, with particular emphasis on building trust, providing emotional support, and fostering informed decision-making rather than simply seeking consent.

• Coordinating Deceased Organ Donor Call - Role of Recipient Coordinator: Mr. Ciju Nair, Manager – Transplant Unit, KIMS Hospitals, Thane

The session outlined the recipient coordinator's role in managing a donor call, from preparing transplant candidates in advance to coordinating with recipient families, donor hospitals, state authorities, and multidisciplinary clinical teams. It also highlighted the logistical aspects of organ retrieval and transportation, including green corridors and air transport, to facilitate timely transplantation. The importance of clear communication and regular updates to recipient families throughout the transplant process was also emphasized.

• Ethical dilemmas in organ donation and transplant – Ms. Sujatha Suriyamoorthi, Associate Director – Courses, MOHAN Foundation

 Participants explored the ethical principles that underpin organ donation and transplantation, including beneficence, non-maleficence, justice, autonomy, confidentiality, and equity. Interactive case discussions encouraged participants to apply these principles to real-world scenarios, promoting critical thinking and ethical decision-making in transplant practice.

An online proctored examination was conducted on 20 June 2026, with a reattempt opportunity provided on 30 June 2026. Participants who successfully passed the examination by securing a minimum score of 60% were awarded a CPD-accredited Course Completion Certificate.

Feedback

Sedekieno Rino (⭐⭐⭐⭐)

MOHAN Foundation, Programme Executive, Nagaland 

Overall, I found the course very informative, comprehensive, and beneficial in enhancing my understanding of organ donation and transplantation. The sessions covered most of the important topics effectively, and the resource persons explained the concepts in a clear and engaging manner. The course was a valuable and enriching learning experience, and I sincerely appreciate the efforts of the organizers and speakers.

Ayana Babu (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)

Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences and Hospital, Kerala 

They covered the important topics well. However, I wish they had also covered the transplantation of individual organs and tissues in greater detail. While going through the modules on my own, I found some of the lectures by the doctors difficult to understand because of the technical terminology. However, the faculty members were very helpful, and whenever we had any doubts, they clarified them promptly.