Carolyn Welsh has been named CEO of the NJ Sharing Network, the federally designated nonprofit organization responsible for the recovery and placement of donated organs and tissue in the state.
Welsh, who has held several leadership positions at the organization over the past 23 years, will assume her new role Jan. 1.
Welsh, the current chief operating officer, succeeds Joseph Roth, who served as CEO for 23 years. Roth will continue to collaborate with Welsh and the NJ Sharing Network team in a consultant role into 2023.
Welsh said she is eager to take on the role.
“I am excited to lead our efforts to further advance our lifesaving mission working with our caring and compassionate staff,” she said. “They are amazing people who understand that what we do is much more than a job — it is a unified mission to save lives and give hope to those waiting for a second chance at life through organ and tissue donation and transplantation.
Join the organ donor registry
According to United Network for Organ Sharing, there are more than 100,000 Americans — nearly 4,000 of whom live in New Jersey — waiting for a lifesaving transplant. One organ and tissue donor can save eight lives and enhance the lives of over 75 others.
To learn more, get involved and register as an organ and tissue donor, click here.
“Our staff’s dedication and energy inspire me, and I look forward to our future as we work together to reach new heights and save more lives than ever before.”
Welsh has guided effective strategic plans, policies and procedures that resulted in record growth in the number of lives saved and enhanced through organ and tissue donation and transplantation. New Jersey organ and tissue donor registrations also jumped 8.3% in 2021, ranking New Jersey No. 4 in percentage of state population on the National Donate Life Registry.
Roth applauded the announcement.
“Welsh is the perfect leader to guide NJ Sharing Network’s bold vision for the future to save and enhance more lives than ever before, which includes a goal of reaching 300 organ donors in a single year within the next three years,” he said.
