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FEATURE:
TOSA CHIEF RETIRES

TOSA’s Chief Retires

after 19 Years of Service

Courtesy of TOSA

Patrick J. Giordano, Chief Executive Officer of Texas Organ Sharing Alliance (TOSA) since
1996, has led the organization through many changes resulting in the ongoing evolution of
the federally-designated organ procurement organization covering 56 counties and serving
more than six million people in Central and South Texas. This includes San Antonio, Austin,
the Rio Grande Valley, Laredo, Waco and San Angelo.

Giordano started out as a hospital volunteer in high school, then What drew your interest in working for TOSA,
trained and worked as a respiratory therapist for eight years, includ- formally the South Texas Organ Bank (STOB)?
ing two years at Walter Reed Army Medical Center when he enlisted
in the U.S. Army in the early 1970s. The position with the then South Texas Organ Bank represented
a compelling area of interest for me professionally with a more fo-
He earned a Master’s Degree in Hospital and Health Care Ad- cused mission in a field undergoing significant change. I was drawn
ministration at the University of Minnesota, followed by multiple to those challenges.
executive roles in Southern and Northern California, Kansas City,
Oklahoma City and St. Louis before coming to TOSA. What are the biggest changes you’ve seen in do-
nation in your time at TOSA?
After his 19 years of service, focused upon the advancement of
lifesaving efforts of TOSA and organ donation in Texas, Giordano We basically changed everything about every component and as-
has announced his retirement. Before his departure, Giordano dis- pect of the organization. In 1997, as well as in today’s world, we had
cussed the changes, challenges and joys of his work. some very heavy regulatory requirements regarding the numbers of

24 San Antonio Medicine • September 2016