Highland teacher recognized by organ donor network

RIVERSIDE — The Iowa Donor Network announced Highland High School P.E., health and driver’s education teacher Jody Fink as the winner of its yearly Excellence in Partnership Donation Champion Award on Monday.

IDN Partner Relations Coordinator Natalie Oakes, who nominated Fink, said the award honored people who go above and beyond to advocate for and educate about organ donation.

She said Fink raised the bar by bringing in speakers from IDN, rather than sticking to the subject’s minimum curriculum in his courses. While the organization works with many driver’s ed programs across the state, Oakes said it was a rare but welcome opportunity to work with classroom health instruction.

“He demonstrates a commitment to educating the public,” Oakes said. “He’s going above and beyond my having me in front of his students to talk about the science behind organ tissue and eye donation, what can be donated and the process, that sort of thing.”

Fink, for his part, said the nomination took him by surprise.

“It was nice, and a great feeling to sit there and get, but I had no idea what it was for, honestly, at the time,” he said.

Students in Fink’s classes are given a chance to sign up as organ donors and volunteers for the network. He said he was passionate about promoting the group and its mission.

He said a single donor who passed away could improve or save the lives of up to 79 others by checking ‘yes,’ on their license, but that people were often under-informed about the option.

“I don’t want to pressure anybody into being a donor,” Fink said. “You could give life, after death, or you could give the gift of sight … I’ve had people in my life that have had an organ transplant, whether it be a heart, or a kidney or things like that. And without those donors, those people might not be around anymore.”

Comments: Kalen.McCain@southeastiowaunion.com