Board of Directors

Announcing the Nominees for the 2026 OPTN Board Officer Election

The next election for Officers of the Board of Directors will take place in May 2026. The OPTN Board Officers include the President, Vice President, Vice President of Patient and Donor Affairs, Treasurer, and Secretary. During the April 3, 2026, Ad Hoc Board meeting, the OPTN Board of Directors approved a one-year term extension for President and Vice President to maintain leadership continuity during a period of significant organizational change. Therefore, the Vice President position will not appear on the 2026 OPTN Board Officer ballot. The ballot will include candidates for the Secretary and the Vice President of Patient and Donor Affairs, who, per the OPTN Bylaws are elected in even-numbered years. The next election for Treasurer will occur in an odd-numbered year, in Spring 2027. 

All OPTN Board Directors are eligible to serve as Board Officers, regardless of background or committee affiliation, provided they are willing and able to fulfill the responsibilities of the role. The current Secretary and the current Vice President of Patient and Donor Affairs are eligible to seek another term. The OPTN Nominating Committee reviewed applications from sitting members of the Board of Directors and recommend to the Board candidates for both Officer positions. Board Officer candidates’ interest, biographical, and personal statements will be posted ahead of the election. The Board approved the Board Officer slate at the Ad Hoc Board meeting on May 1.

OPTN members with voting privileges will be able to vote virtually for candidates from 9:00 a.m. ET on May 15, 2026, to 11:59 p.m. on May 22, 2026. These OPTN members will receive an email on May 15, 2026, with instructions on how to cast their vote. 

Candidates who are elected by a majority of OPTN voting members will then be ratified by the Board of Directors. Individuals elected as Secretary and Vice President of Patient and Donor Affairs will begin their terms on July 1, 2026.

Board Officer candidates’ interest, biographical, and personal statements are available for review in the 2026 OPTN Board Officer Election Interest, Biographical, and Personal Statements (PDF - 185 KB)

Board Officer PositionNominees
Secretary (vote for one)

Kymberly D. Watt, MD, Medical Director of Living Donor Liver Transplant Program, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, and Professor of Medicine, Mayo Clinic

Justin Wilkerson, MBA, {incumbent} Retired Military Officer, Illinois Army National Guard, Liver Transplant Recipient

Vice President of Patient and Donor Affairs (vote for one)

Jen Benson, BA, Chief Executive Officer and Founder of The Transplant Journey Inc. and The Transplant Collective, and Operations Manager, RLBenson & Associates; Pancreas and Kidney Transplant Recipient

William (Bill) Ryan, MBA, {incumbent} Founder, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Transplant Life Foundation; Family Member of a Deceased Donor

Please submit any questions to OPTNBoardSupport@air.org

Submit a comment to the OPTN Board of Directors

Members of the public also have the opportunity to provide comments to the OPTN Board of Directors. Email the OPTN for further instructions on how to submit a comment. Submissions will be accepted up to two business days prior to the meeting date.

OPTN Code of Conduct

All OPTN volunteers must agree to abide by the OPTN Code of Conduct.

Learn more about the OPTN Code of Conduct.

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