OPTN is a public-private partnership that links all professionals involved in the organ donation and transplantation system in the U.S.
VALHALLA, N.Y. (June, 2025) – Westchester Medical Center’s Chief of Kidney Transplant, Meelie DebRoy, MD, FACS, has been elected to the Board of Directors of the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN), a national body that oversees organ allocation and policy in the United States. Her appointment places the WMCHealth Network at the forefront of shaping the future of organ transplantation during a critical moment of reform and innovation.
With more than 100,000 people waiting for organ transplants in the U.S., and someone added to the waitlist every 10 minutes, the OPTN is tasked with addressing a system under pressure. Dr. DebRoy’s leadership – and WMCHealth’s role as a leader in transplant expertise – will now help steer national policy to increase equity, improve organ utilization and ultimately save more lives.
Dr. DebRoy’s election was recently announced by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) following its special election for the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) Board of Directors.
“I am honored to have been elected to the Board of Directors of the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network,” said Dr. DebRoy. “This a transformational time for transplantation in the United States as we continue the work of the OPTN Modernization Initiative. Here at Westchester Medical Center, we continuously strive to improve access to transplant for our patients and make the journey as seamless as possible.”
Dr. DebRoy is a renowned surgeon with more than 20 years of experience. She specializes in kidney removal surgery and kidney and liver transplants in adults and children. With a career devoted to advancing equity, ethics and innovation in healthcare, she brings a deep commitment to improving our nation’s transplantation system for the benefit of all patients in need.
Dr. DebRoy has served in numerous capacities with the OPTN such as the Minority Affairs Committee (Chair), Simultaneous Liver-Kidney Allocation working group, and Pediatrics Committee. In her new position as a Board member of OPTN, she plans to prioritize policy initiatives that enhance donor registration, improve organ utilization and ensure that every patient—regardless of race, socioeconomic status, or geography—has a fair chance at life-saving care.
WMCHealth is home to one of the most established multi-organ transplant facilities in New York, with teams that perform complicated, life-saving transplants using the most advanced technology. Led by the top surgeons in the field, the transplant program team has performed thousands of heart, liver, and kidney transplants, including multi-organ transplants in both adults and pediatric patients.