2025 ORLANDO CONFERENCE

The 40th annual STSW conference was held the week of October 13th in Orlando, Florida. This was a significant milestone for the Society! Thank you to Deb Gordon, who pieced together a video of comments that Society members had made about their participation in the Society and how it had impacted their professional practice… a beautiful and memorable addition to the conference.

View the STSW Conference 40th Anniversary Tribute Video -

https://www.tribute.co/society-for-transplant-social-workers-40th-anniversary/

Nearly 250 participants attended, many for the first time.  It is important to reflect on the growth of the society—25 transplant social workers attended the first conference in 1985!

Our keynote speaker, Teri Browne, Dean of the College of Social Work at the University of South Carolina, spoke of the contribution that social workers have made for decades to transplantation and the importance of advocating for our continued involvement and expertise. General and break-out sessions focused on different organ groups, pediatric transplant and MCS programs. 

A thank you to our conference planning members—many hours of planning and collaboration.  And thank you to our exhibitors!

• Slides for presentations continue to be available for those who paid for and attended the 2025 Orlando Conference - click here to request access.
• Click here for the 2025 Conference Program

2024 MADISON CONFERENCE

The 39th annual STSW conference was held in Madison, Wisconsin from October 7 to the 10th.   240 attendees participated in the conference, which began on the 7th with a preconference workshop focusing on diversity, equity and inclusion.   The keynote speaker, Dr. Lisa McElroy, from Duke University, opened our program on the 8th.   She spoke of changes to the transplant process and the importance of social workers continued efforts to play a significant role with team functioning.  We were challenged to share our expertise with the transplant community.   Feedback from our conference evaluations was positive about what attendees gained from the general and breakout sessions.   The conference continues to be an important way for social workers to network and establish connections with our transplant SW colleagues.

We appreciate the continued support of our Exhibitors.  COTA sponsored our Welcome Event on October 8th.  

• Slides for presentations continue to be available for those who paid for and attended the 2024 Madison Conference -  click here to request access.
• Click here to view the 2024 Conference Program

2023 SAN DIEGO CONFERENCE

Three hundred social workers attended our 2023 STSW conference in San Diego the week of October 9th!   The program began with a pre-conference workshop given by Dr. Scott Winder, Addiction in Organ Transplant on Monday, October 9th.   Our key note presentation, Four Decades of Transplant Social Work by Kay Kendall, was the opening presentation on the first full day of the conference, October 10th.  The evening of the 10th we gathered for the Welcome Reception, hosted by our Distinguished Sponsor, COTA.   The two and a half day program offered a number of general and break out sessions.  The setting was beautiful and a wonderful opportunity to connect with other social workers.  Attendees appreciated the opportunity to meet with our exhibitors and we thank them for their support of the conference.   Many thanks to our amazing conference planning committee.   We thank you for attending and we appreciate the support of our exhibitors.