Sarah Turner, a supervisor at the Washoe County Regional Medical Examiner's Office, earned statewide recognition for her work preserving organ, eye and tissue donation opportunities.
Turner, a Medicolegal Death Investigator/Technician Supervisor, received the Individual Non-Hospital Partner of the Year Award from Nevada Donor Network at the organization's annual Hope Dinner on Thursday, Nov. 5, in Reno, Washoe County said on Instagram.
The county cited her dedication, positive attitude and willingness to go above and beyond in the role.
The award connects to a specific function of the Medical Examiner's Office. When a death falls under the office's jurisdiction, the medical examiner must approve any donation and ensure evidence collection happens first, according to the office's organ and tissue donation page. The office maintains a dedicated tissue procurement operating room and partners with Nevada Donor Network to offer tissue donation for people who die outside a hospital.
The Medical Examiner's Office serves Sparks, Reno and the rest of Washoe County as its primary jurisdiction. It also covers 13 additional Nevada counties and five California counties through interlocal agreements, according to the office's website.
The Hope Dinner drew law enforcement agencies, fire departments, hospitals, hospices, funeral homes and other partner organizations, according to a weekly message from Lyon County Sheriff Brad Pope published by the Pizen Switch Times. Turner was not the only honoree. Lyon County Deputy Coroner Cori Norman received the Coroner Partner of the Year award, and Commander Abel Ortiz received the Legacy Award for starting and maintaining outreach programs and the partnership between Nevada Donor Network and the Lyon County Sheriff's Office, Pope wrote.
Nevada Donor Network describes itself as a nonprofit organ procurement organization responsible for facilitating organ, tissue and cornea donation statewide, according to the group's website. As of Oct. 15, 670 Nevadans were waiting for a transplant and more than 1.66 million were registered as donors.
Residents can register as organ donors at nvdonor.org.
