New initiative to make UC Davis Health a leader in organ transplant equity

UC Davis Health has launched a new initiative to improve the organ transplantation system throughout California and work toward equity in organ donation.

The initiative is called “Pluralist,” which stands for “patient centered precision digital health education.” Pluralist hopes to increase the availability of donor organs and access to life-saving surgery regardless of a patient’s socioeconomic standing. It will achieve this by developing scalable health education interventions that will be delivered by culturally competent health care providers.

“UC Davis Health is committed to advancing health equity and improving health outcomes for people in need of a life-saving transplant,” said David Lubarsky, CEO of UC Davis Health. “Many members of our historically underserved communities are less likely to be placed on transplant waitlists and have had a lower likelihood of transplantation. This initiative will help identify potential system-wide improvements that would increase organ donations and advance equity in organ donation and transplantation.”

According to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, communities of color have much higher rates of high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, and heart disease, all of which increase the risk for kidney disease. Black Americans are almost four times more likely, and Latino Americans are 1.3 times more likely, to have kidney failure compared to White Americans. Despite the higher risk, data shows Black and Latino patients on dialysis are less likely to be placed on the transplant waitlist and have a lower likelihood of transplantation.

“In my practice I often see patients who are in need of a transplant not be able to receive one due to the lack organ donors,” said Martin Cadeiras, medical director for the Advanced Heart Failure, Heart Transplantation and Mechanical Circulatory Support Device Program at UC Davis Health and principal investigator of the Pluralist Program. “Addressing this problem requires a multidisciplinary approach that challenges traditional interventions, which are currently falling short. We plan to leverage technology and social power to create a movement for better health that will reduce health disparities in organ transplantation throughout California.”

Using a patient-centered precision approach, Pluralist combines data and artificial intelligence to learn about the needs of the community and tailor proper education intervention using social networks and digital media to create greater organ donation awareness. Patient testimonials and interviews will be used to create educational content that will be shared among targeted communities throughout California to urge people to become donors, especially within communities of color.

The program anticipates reaching more than 22 million Californians over a two-year period with at least 70% from targeted racial and ethnic minorities, low-income groups, and rural area residents, as identified by the United States Census.