A new initiative launched by Tennessee Donor Services is bringing together some of Nashville’s most influential leaders to address a critical health disparity impacting Black communities across the state.
The nonprofit organization has formed the Black Family Health Advisory Council, a group focused on increasing organ donor registration among Black Tennesseans and raising awareness about the life-saving impact of organ donation.
The effort comes in response to a significant disparity: while Black patients make up nearly half of those waiting for organ transplants in Tennessee, they represent a much smaller percentage of registered donors. According to Tennessee Donor Services, 1,316 Black patients are currently on the transplant waitlist (accounting for 46% of the total) yet only nine percent of registered donors are from the Black community.
Health experts note that this gap can have serious consequences, as transplant outcomes are often more successful when donors and recipients share similar racial or ethnic backgrounds.
The newly formed council is co-chaired by Mark Yancy, CEO of NashvilleHealth, and Stacey Nickens, vice president of corporate communications and marketing at Nashville International Airport. Both leaders say the mission is deeply personal and rooted in community impact.
“It is an honor to serve as co-chair of the Tennessee Donor Services Black Family Health Advisory Council and help educate communities of color on the life-changing impact of organ donation,” Nickens said. “Sharing this message alongside such an inspiring and dedicated council gives me great hope for the meaningful change we will bring together, one new donor at a time.”
Yancy echoed that commitment, emphasizing the urgency of the work.
“This mission is deeply personal, and it is an honor to serve in this capacity with a steadfast commitment to bring meaningful change to our community,” he said.
The council includes more than a dozen leaders from across sectors, including healthcare, business, faith and nonprofit organizations. Among them are Rev. Dr. John Faison, Sr. of Watson Grove Baptist Church; Clifton Harris of the Urban League of Middle Tennessee; and Derrick Moore, co-founder of Slim & Husky’s.
Organizers say the group will focus on building trust, addressing misconceptions about organ donation and providing culturally relevant education to communities that have historically been underrepresented in donor registration.
“We are honored to have this group of inspiring leaders so deeply integrated and committed to their communities in Tennessee,” said Jill Grandas, CEO of Tennessee Donor Services. “Our collective goal is to save more lives in the Black community, and we have already had incredibly insightful conversations about fostering trust and providing education to potential donors.”
Tennessee Donor Services, which serves nearly 5.5 million people across Tennessee and Virginia, connects organ and tissue donations to patients in need. Through the new advisory council, the organization hopes to significantly increase donor registration rates and ultimately reduce the number of lives lost while waiting for transplants.
Leaders say the initiative represents a proactive step toward addressing inequities in healthcare and ensuring that more families have access to life-saving opportunities.
