Gregory Welsh, a 50 year old father of one daughter, has experienced the lifesaving benefits of donation first hand. After a fatal car accident in 1996, Gregory made the decision to donate his wife’s eyes, tissues and organs. Fifteen years later his generosity came full circle when on May 18, 2011, four months after suffering a heart attack that made him reliant on an artificial heart, Gregory received a heart transplant. He has since become an advocate and voice for donation. He is currently employed by Gervasio, & Assoc., Inc, an engineering consulting firm. Past experiences include business ownership and technological expertise in the computer field. Besides working full time, organ donation awareness has become a full time passion. Gregory brings personal experiences and dedication to the mission of the New Life Board.

Judy Maltz has been talking reimbursement since 1986 when she began her career in the home infusion therapy business…what she calls “the original specialty pharmacy”. After 10 years Judy left the provider environment to work for Healthcare Delivery Systems, a small but growing division of McKesson, which today is McKesson Specialty Solutions. Offering reimbursement consulting to manufacturers, conducting Provider Education, designing and managing Patient Assistance Programs and Reimbursement Hotlines across multiple therapeutic areas established Judy’s depth of knowledge in policy, coverage and reimbursement of pharmaceuticals. As Reimbursement Program Manager for United BioSource Corporation (UBC), Judy fine-tuned her skills by developing payer advocacy strategies, providing payer coding and policy analysis, creating provider education modules and reimbursement programs for biotech and pharmaceutical companies including Sanofi Pasteur, Bayer, Novartis, and Gilead Sciences. It was during these last 8 years at UBC when Judy worked as the reimbursement ambassador for Novartis Pharmaceuticals’ Transplant franchise that she found her true passion. In serving the transplant community, Judy always takes a patient-centric approach, working to resolve immediate reimbursement issues while continuing to clear the path to secure future medication coverage. This takes solid collaboration and consistent communication with patients, families, providers and payers. Her trademark is bringing insight and clarity to the most complex of payer issues through education, support, patience and perseverance. Judy has presented at over 100 Transplant Centers across the country and is a speaker at transplant patient support groups. Currently working as an Associate Director at Xcenda, LLC, a consulting company, Judy is also an active volunteer with her local chapters of the American Liver Foundation, the American Kidney Foundation and was appointed a board member of Transplant Community Alliance in 2016.

Born in 1948 in Nashville, Tennessee,  Ben graduated high school in Richmond, Virginia, where he set the Virginia state high school record in the mile of 4:14.2.  While Ben earned his bachelor’s degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1971, he also merited national recognition as small college All-American in track and cross country.  Ben’s engineering education led to a successful thirteen year career in the defense industry as a Computer Aided Manufacturing engineer.  He then joined Alcon Laboratories as a senior engineer in their Intraocular lens manufacturing facilities. Back surgery and the need for a liver transplant forced Ben to retire as Senior Director of Engineering at Alcon’s Huntington, West Virginia plant in at age sixty. Ben received the gift of liver transplant in 2008 and now lives in Phoenix with his wife of forty years Robinn Miller Wilson. Thanks to Ben’s transplant, the couple continues to enjoy their two daughters and four grandchildren.  Ben’s athletic background gives him natural attraction to Transplant Team Arizona, Inc.  He has earned six gold medals, a silver and a bronze in the US Transplant Games. He served as Treasurer for the Transplant Team from 2013 until 2017 and is a Director on the Board of Transplant Community Alliance. In 2019, he was elected Treasurer for the Alliance. Ben also contributes time for Donate Life Arizona. When not busy with his numerous volunteer activities, Ben can be found on the tennis court vigorously enjoying another benefit of his donated liver 

My life dramatically changed on April 11, 2003, when I woke up in the recovery room at John Hopkins following my transplant. I instantly felt I had regained all the energy that had been gradually declining over the years, prior to my transplant. Like many recipients, I realized then more than ever, just how precious each and every day is and try hard to take advantage of that. The first “big” thing that Shari and I decided to do in 2006 was adopt a six-month old boy from Guatemala named Michael. I always wanted kids but because I married late I never thought that would be possible. Today I “pretend” to have the energy needed to keep up with a teenager, which prior to my transplant, would have been truly impossible. Three years ago I retired from teaching and spend a lot of time playing tennis, writing and promoting organ donation. I am a volunteer with the National Kidney Foundation of Arizona, Donor Network of Arizona, Transplant Team Arizona and Transplant Community Alliance.

Dan was born in Tucson, Arizona. His family believed in organ donation and Dan registered as an organ donor while a teenager with the approval of his parents. Little did Dan know that organ donation would directly affect his life in the future. Dan completed his studies in the Phoenix area. He began his career in the aerospace industry with Sperry Flight Systems in 1981. While working there he met the love of his life Anna who was employed at Honeywell. Eventually Sperry merged with Honeywell, and Dan and Anna became life-mates as well. In 2001 Anna became very sick. Changing doctors in search of answers, it was determined that Anna had liver failure caused by Hepatitis C. In November 2002 she received a liver transplant at Mayo Phoenix. After recovery from her surgery with Dan at her side, Anna and Dan became involved in the transplant community with the idea of helping others. They volunteered time and effort with the Donor Network, the Liver Foundation, the Kidney Foundation and Transplant Team Arizona. Anna participated in the Transplant Games of America. and eventually she and Dan immersed themselves in the Transplant Team program. Dan became a board member and then President of the Board. In 2017 Dan was a leader in the merger of Transplant Team Arizona with the New Life Society, where he now adds strength as a board member.

Robert Scanlan is the grateful recipient of three organ transplants: a liver in 1998 and another liver plus a kidney in 2008. He is the author of the highly acclaimed true memoir Tigers Under My Bed: Life Lessons Tamed During Three Organ Transplants. Prior to transplant, Robert founded with Nobel Laureate Dr. Milton Friedman the nations’ first non-bank to fund Small Business Administration loans. This innovation has become a multi-billion dollar industry. Robert later formed another lending company to personally fund over 200 small businesses. While he managed investment portfolios for wealthy individuals, Robert’s liver failed without warning. He received a transplant in two weeks, and returned home six months later having lost everything. He spent years creating a new successful career, and a new personal life. Ten years later the new liver failed, and Robert received another liver and a kidney. He has received numerous accolades and awards from One Legacy in Los Angeles, from Donor Network of Arizona in Phoenix, and from United Blood Services in Phoenix. Robert is a professional inspirational speaker. He has addressed thousands, often in participation with Donate Life, The American Kidney Association, The National Liver Foundation, United Blood Services, and Prime Care Hospice to deliver their message to the general public and professional groups. Currently he lectures to social worker classes in post graduate studies at the University of Southern California. His book is reference material for students at USC, and is used at UCLA’s Ronald Reagan Medical Center for education of patients and caregivers.