Healthcare Professionals and Local Hospitals to be Honored for Saving Lives.

MIAMI -- On Saturday, October 1st, Life Alliance Organ Recovery Agency will present its 2005 "Luminare Awards" to medical professionals and local hospitals who have demonstrated extraordinary support of its mission to save and enhance the lives of as many people as possible through organ and tissue donation. The gala is to be held at the Sheraton Bal Harbour Beach Resort located at 9701 Collins Avenue, commencing at 7:30 p.m. with a reception, followed by an awards dinner program and dance entertainment.

To assist with the honors will be Gala Host Neida Sandoval, international television anchor of Univision's "Despierta America" program, and Master of Ceremonies Humberto Cortina, WQBA-AM radio personality and former state representative. "This is our opportunity to acknowledge individuals and hospitals who demonstrate a high level of commitment to turning tragedies into miracles and saving lives through organ and tissue donation," said David Levi, M.D., LAORA's Medical Director.

The following award winners were selected from among seventy South Florida hospitals: Physician of the Year, Robert Borrego, M.D. from St. Mary's Medical Center; Nurse of the Year, Dawn Dunbar, RN, BSN, CCRN, CNRN from North Broward Medical Center; Hospital Unit of the Year, Jackson Memorial Hospital Trauma Resuscitation Unit; Ancillary Services Practitioner of the Year, Debbie Allen, CRRT from South Miami Hospital; Support Services Practitioner of the Year, Rose Allen, RN, MSM/HM from Baptist Health South Florida; and Transplant Program Supporter of the Year, Julio Mesa, Administrator from UM/JMH Transplant Program. The following hospitals will also receive Hospital Achievement Awards for having an exceptional donation rate among all South Florida's hospitals during the last fiscal year: JFK Medical Center, North Broward Medical Center, and Jackson Memorial Hospital.

Furthermore, the following organizations and individuals will be recognized for their efforts in raising donation awareness: Media Excellence - Univision, Community Service Excellence - Miami-Dade County Fire Rescue Department, City of Hialeah Fire Department and the City of Miami Fire Rescue Department, and Volunteer Excellence - Barbara Lawrence, donor family member.

All proceeds will be devoted to Life Alliance's vitally important donor family services and public education programs.

Life Alliance Organ Recovery Agency was established in 1978 and has the unique mission of providing transplantation opportunities for patients in South Florida by maximizing the availability of organs and tissues, educating healthcare professionals and the community about organ donation, and providing support and comfort to bereaved donor families. It operates as a division of the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine's DeWitt Daughtry Family Department of Surgery, and is a tax-exempt, nonprofit community service, organ procurement organization that is certified and regulated by the federal government. Life Alliance serves the Bahamas and, in South Florida, Miami-Dade, Broward, Monroe, Palm Beach, Collier, Martin, and St. Lucie counties.