Joyce Trompeta Ph.D., PNP Awarded Fulbright U.S. Scholar Grant from U.S. State Department

Joyce A. Trompeta, Ph.D., PNP, Assistant Professor in the Department of Surgery, has been awarded a Fulbright U.S. Scholar grant from the U.S. State Department's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs / Japan-United States Educational Commission.

Dr. Trompeta will examine the organ donation and transplantation attitudes, beliefs, and knowledge among a population key to Japan’s future - Japanese university students, as well as faculty and healthcare providers who often are the ones who promote and request organ donation consent. Her research will be conducted at Kumamoto University, Japanese Red Cross Kumamoto Hospital, and various academic institutions throughout Japan. Findings from this Fulbright research will provide a better understanding as to why Japan has the lowest organ donation rates in the world and identify areas of education targeted to both young and older generations. 

Kumamoto Model (KM)

Dr. Trompeta has created The Kumamoto Model (KM) that is a strategic plan to increase deceased organ donations in Kumamoto Prefecture in Japan. The KM’s mission is: to change the Japanese' social climate regarding organ donation consent, to establish Japan's self-sufficiency for transplantation by increasing the availability of organs, create an efficient organ procurement organization, and develop culturally tailored organ donation educational programs.

After several invited lectures given by Dr. Trompeta on her research findings on “Importance of Family Discussion to Increase Organ Donation” last year, there were five deceased organ donations (2.84 per million population) in Kumamoto—the most in its history, and the most of any of Japan’s 47 prefectures. Family Discussion about organ donation is now a directive to be addressed during National Family Day in November. The KM is supported by Governor Kabashima and "Kumamon" as the Ambassador of Organ Donation, with the developed slogan: Extend Life. Do the Honor. Be an Organ Donor.

About Joyce A. Trompeta, Ph.D., PNP

Dr. Trompeta’s program of research examines factors related to organ donation and health disparities, including organ donation practices, medical exclusion related to race and ethnicity, and reasons why donors are unwilling to donate. She developed the Organ Donation & Transplantation Knowledge Survey (ODTK), which is psychometrically valid for evaluating knowledge about organ donation and transplantation.

She has served on the Boards of the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) / United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) - Minority Affairs Committee (MAC), and the International Transplant Nurses Society (ITNS). Currently, she is on the Council Board of the International Society of Organ Donation & Procurement (ISODP) as US representative, and President-Elect for ITNS.

As UCSF's International Pacific Rim's Surgical and Medical Liaison, Dr. Trompeta has developed outreach programs to four Hawaiian Islands promoting solid organ transplantation and organ donor awareness. She has developed outreach clinics in Hawaii for UCSF's Interstitial Lung Disease and Lung Transplantation Program, and UCSF's Kidney/Pancreas Transplant Program. 

About the Fulbright Program

The Fulbright Program, which aims to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries, is the flagship international educational exchange program sponsored by the U.S. government. The presidentially appointed 12-member Board is responsible for supervising the Fulbright Program worldwide and approving the selection of all Fulbright recipients, and is made possible through funds appropriated annually by the U.S. Congress.

As a grantee, Dr. Trompeta will join the ranks of distinguished participants in the Program. Fulbright alumni have become heads of state, judges, ambassadors, cabinet ministers, CEOs, and university presidents, as well as leading journalists, artists, scientists, and teachers. They include 59 Nobel Laureates, 84 Pulitzer Prize winners, 72 MacArthur Fellows, 16 Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients, and thousands of leaders across the private, public and non-profit sectors. Since its inception in 1946, more than 380,000 “Fulbrighters” have participated in the Program. 

Senator Fulbright’s goal of developing international understanding depends on a commitment from Fulbright grantees to establish open communication and long-term cooperative relationships. As a Fulbright recipient and a representative of the United States, Dr. Trompeta will have the opportunity to work collaboratively with international partners in educational, political, cultural, economic, and scientific fields. Her award exemplifies the qualities of service, leadership, and excellence that have been hallmarks of this Program for more than 70 years.