2021 Donation Healthcare Hero - Dr. Rosemary O'Meeghan

Occupation:          OneLegacy, Referral Management Medical Director

Location:          Newport Beach, California

Sponsor:                   Honored by OneLegacy

HONORED BECAUSE

Dr. O'Meeghan has inspired the donation and transplantation community personally and professionally, and her leadership and innovation in addressing perhaps one the most pressing healthcare needs during the COVID-19 pandemic will remain for years to come. In 2019, Dr. O'Meeghan became the Referral Management Medical Director for OneLegacy. This role includes oversight of the potential organ donor referral process and also entails being a champion for preserving opportunity for organ donation, hospital engagement, peer to peer conversations around challenging donation referrals, and leveraging community standards and regulatory practices.

BIOGRAPHY

Dr. Rosemary O'Meeghan is an Intensivist from Newport Beach, California with 40 years of medical experience. She graduated from the University of Auckland, Faculty of Medicine in New Zealand and has fellowship qualifications both in Anesthesiology and Multidisciplinary Intensive care. Her intensivist experience includes time in Philadelphia at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, the Mercy Hospital of Pittsburgh, and at Hoag Hospital in Newport Beach California.

Dr O'Meeghan has championed organ donation in donor hospitals since 2008 and with that, created innovative practices to develop and promote donation best practice. She has presented at multiple educational events at both national and international venues.

Of special importance was the 2011 installation of the Tree of Life sculpture and development of the Tree of Life program at Hoag Hospital that gives formal recognition to the organ, eye and tissue donors from the hospital. This annual special event brings together the donor families, hospital and OneLegacy staff and local civic administrators and has since been emulated in the local region.

Dr. O'Meeghan currently serves as OneLegacy's Referral Management Medical Director.