MOHAN Foundation launched an educational simulation film series for transplant coordinators on ‘Family Approach for Organ Donation’ on 22^nd May 2021. The evening commenced with a welcome address by Dr. Sumana Navin, Course Director, MOHAN Foundation, who elaborated on MOHAN Foundation’s training initiatives for transplant coordinators. During her talk, she conveyed her heartfelt thanks to Rtn. Vijayagopal Reddy, Managing Trustee, Dodla Parthasarathy Reddy and Lalithamma Trust for their generous sponsorship for developing this series of films. She also acknowledged Rtn. K V Prakash, President and Rtn. Dr. Ilangovan from Rotary Madras Southwest (RMSW) for extending their support.

Dr. Sumana apprised the audience about the need for this project and how these films would play a crucial role in the training process of upcoming transplant coordinators. She said that MOHAN Foundation’s e-Learning portal for transplant coordinators has been well received by many countries (el.mohanfoundation.org).

She informed the audience that MOHAN Foundation has trained 2,669 transplant coordinators from December 2009 – April 2021 across the globe through both face-to-face and tele training.  She said that the structured e-learning courses by the Foundation are continuing to offer training for transplant coordinators through virtual platforms. She also threw light on the dramatic increase in tele-education following the COVID pandemic. As she concluded her talk, she listed the themes of four films (two in Tamil and two in English) which the new online course aims to cover – directed and conditional donation, guilt and grief of family, socio-cultural influences and influence of media. She added that excerpts of some of these films would be showcased at the 17^th Congress of the Asian Society of Transplantation, Malaysia in July 2021. Following that, Mr. Jehroome A, Director Operations, Wanderers Media Works Pvt. Ltd spoke about his journey in associating with MOHAN Foundation for the past 10 years and shared his experience on making this series of films.

Next was the most awaited event of the evening, the formal launch of the film, ‘Shakti- the power within.’ The film was seen by approximately 52 guests via ZOOM platform. After the film was played, Ms. Sujatha Suriyamoorthi, Manager-Information Systems invited Dr. Sunil Shroff, Managing Trustee, MOHAN Foundation to deliver his address. Dr. Sunil Shroff spoke about the journey of MOHAN Foundation and its activities in the field of organ donation and transplantation. He highlighted that the most difficult part in the whole process of organ donation is counselling the families while they are grieving and that these films on family approach for organ donation would be of great help in training the transplant coordinators. He concluded his talk with a word of gratitude towards the sponsors.

The talk was followed by Rtn. Vijayagopal Reddy, Mr. P W C Davidar, IAS, Retd Additional Chief Secretary and Rtn. K V Prakash, President, RMSW who addressed the audience. All the dignitaries who spoke appreciated the new initiative, the work that is being done by MOHAN Foundation and extended their support in further promoting the noble cause of organ donation.

 As the event came to an end, Ms. Sujatha Suriyamoorthi delivered the vote of thanks to the audience and all the well-wishers who had made the evening special.