The First 'Transplantation Tree Of Life' Is Planted At SNU Hospital As A Part Of 'Save Lives Campaign' Supported By Novartis

Main Category: Transplants / Organ Donations
Article Date: 29 Mar 2009 - 0:00 PDT

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The 'Transplantation Tree of Life' was planted on March 25 by congress woman Lee Ae-ju, a MOHWF official, TV actress Kim Ji-Ho, Dr Seong Sang- cheol, Superintendent of Seoul National University Hospital, an executive from Novartis global and Himalayan Expedition members/patients to highlight the importance of organ donation.

-- Starting with Korea, Novartis plans to host Transplantation Tree of Life campaign with alliance partners in an effort to increase public awareness organ donation around the world.

On March 25 (Wednesday), Seoul National University Hospital (SNUH) (Superintendent: Seong Sang-cheol, MD) hosts an event of planting the first 'Transplantation Tree of Life at SNU Hospital as sponsored by Novartis Korea (President: Peter Jager) as a part of "Save Lives Campaign" to raise awareness for organ donation.

The transplantation tree of life planting event was attended by more than 50 participants of government officials, a celebrity, medical personnel, patients, including congress woman Lee Ae-ju, officials of Ministry of Health, Welfare and Family, TV actress Kim Ji-Ho as celebrity ambassador, Dr. Seong Sang-cheol (Superintendent of SNUH), Prof. Ahn Cu-rie (Head of SNUH Organ Transplantation Center), Prof. Suh Kyung-suk (SNUH, Dept of Surgery), Emmanuel Puginier (Global Head of Marketing & Sales of General Medicines of Novartis), Choi Yong-Bum (Head of Transplantation and Immunology BU, Novartis Korea), alpinist Park Yeong-seok, Himalayan Expedition team members/patients. They participated in the event to take leadership in publicizing the organ donation culture and organ donating activities.

Prof. Seong Sang-cheol, Superintendent of SNUH, said, "Each year more than tens of thousands of people who need organ transplantation around the world die due to lack of organ donations, and in Korea alone over 800 patients die annually while waiting for organ transplantation. I hope this symbolic event of planting the Tree of Life will become a cornerstone for deepening understanding of organ donation and having an effect on organ donation in Korea."

A celebrity ambassador Kim, Ji-ho (TV actress) said, "I am deeply interested in organ donation, and I am happy to participate in this event. I thought the donation of organs was a special action that only selected people can take, but now I realize it is the most valuable and easy decision that can be made by all of us."

As a global program designed to raise awareness of organ donation around the world, the Novartis 'Transplantation Tree of Life Campaign' was rolled-out today in Korea by planting the first transplantation 'tree of life' in the 'Memory Garden' at the Seoul National University Hospital. The tree is selected as a universal symbol of life, longevity and regeneration, which represents the gift of life that transplant recipients experience when matched with an organ and tokens of gratitude towards organ donors and their families.

The program is also of great significance that the ceremony, aimed to raise awareness and eliminate public bias against organ donation in Korea, is followed by Himalayan Expedition Project that in the last December the 'Himalayan Expedition Team of Life-shared People' with Korean organ recipients and donors conquered the Island Peak (6,189 meters above sea level) of Himalayan Mountains for the first time in the world. Mr. Park Yeong-seok, a famous alpinist and the leader of the Himalayan expedition team, and Himalaya Expedition team members/patients were also in attendance at the event.

Mr. Kim, Sang-Don, an organ recipient and one of Himalayan Expedition Team members, said in his speech that he would not have been able to be there at the event unless he received a transplant from a brain-dead organ donor. Mr. Kim also expressed his hope that this event will help people understand organ donation.

Emmanuel Puginier, Global Head of Marketing & Sales of General Medicines of Novartis said, "Novartis is proud to be co-hosting the meaningful first event of the global Transplantation Tree of Life program in Korea with Seoul National University Hospital as a partner. While Novartis seeks to extend and improve the quality of life of transplant recipients by providing life-saving medicines, we believe that today's event will help raise awareness on the importance of organ donations and will give hopes & lives to patients waiting for organ donation."

It is expected that the 'Transplantation Tree of Life' launching ceremony today held in Seoul will be the first step moving forward to boost organ donation around the world, partnering with alliance partners including medical community, government and related organizations.

At the ceremony, Novartis Korea delivered over 100 written pledges for organ donation of its employees to the SNU Hospital's Organ Transplantation Center. Actress Kim Ji-Ho participated as a celebrity ambassador and submitted her pledge for organ donation to the center on the day.

In addition, 'Photo Exhibition of Himalayan Expedition team of Life-shared Group' is held from March 25-27 at the lobby of Seoul National University Hospital.

Novartis Korea sponsored the exhibit in commemoration of the 25th anniversary of its launch of 'Sandimmun' (ingredient: cyclosporine), a treatment that marked the turning point in the history of immunosuppressive drugs and for reinvigorating organ transplantation, and to arouse affirmative attention of the society to organ transplantation and donation.

About Novartis Korea

Novartis Korea Ltd., (President; Peter Jager), the Korean subsidiary company of the world's famous pharmaceutical company, Novartis Group is has its head office in Seoul, Joong-gu, Namdamuun-ro, with around 480 employees. Key products of NKL includes Diovan, Exforge, Rasilez (Hypertension treatment), Glivec (Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia and Metastatic Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor Drug), Sandimmun Neoral (immune system suppressant), Trileptal (Antiepileptic drug), Femara (Breast Cancer drug), Exelon Patch (Alzheimer's disease), Stalevo (Parkinson's disease), Lucentis (wet macular degeneration drug) etc. The company has been focusing on fostering global leaders through the talent management programs, as can be seen in the fact that it received the Excellence Award in Talent Management from Korea Management Association in 2006.

About Novartis Transplant

For more than 25 years, Novartis has sought to extend and improve the quality of life of transplant recipients. Novartis offers the broadest range of immunosuppressive agents that help optimize success for most transplant recipients' needs. Novartis Transplant works with healthcare providers to shape successful outcomes for transplant recipients by addressing their individual needs to ensure long-term graft and survival.

Novartis will continuously strive to make an unprecedented commitment in advancing transplantation medicine by investing in cutting edge clinical trial programs and a robust pipeline of products to continually identify innovative ways to address the treatment needs of transplant recipients. Novartis has more than 50 clinical trials currently underway and planned, involving more than 9,000 participants.

Source
Novartis Transplant