Founder's Corner - Dr. Clive O. Callender

Dr. Clive Callender

Dr. Clive O. Callender is a native of New York and was educated in their public schools and colleges. 1) P.S. 113, 2) P.S. 68, 3) Edward W. Stitt Jr. H.S., 4) Commerce H.S., and 5) Hunter College. After completing Meharry Medical College in 1963 as the top ranking medical student and his surgical training at Freedmen's Hospital in 1969, he received his transplant surgical training at the University of Minnesota, under Dr. John S. Najarian (Kidney) 1971-1973 and at the University of Pittsburgh under Dr. Thomas E. Starzl (Liver) 1986-1987; two of the premier transplant training programs in the U.S.

Since returning to HUH in 1973, Dr. Callender helped develop the first minority directed dialysis and transplant center and histocompatibility and immunogenetic laboratory in this country. On August 8, 1991, the New England Journal of Medicine, this country's premier medical journal, chronicled the 10 year experience of the first National Organ/Tissue Donor Program in America. (Originated by HUH, the National Kidney Foundation of the National Capital Area (NKF/NCA), and the DOW Chemical Company (DOW)). This article referred to National Gallup Polls which were conducted in 1985 and 1990 and demonstrated a tripling of both the number of Blacks signing donor cards and the number of Blacks aware of the highly successful nature of transplantation.

These successful joint HUH and Dow Chemical Company efforts targeted the Black community and were the models used in 1991 to conceptualize and develop the National Minority Organ/Tissue Transplant Education Program (MOTTEP®) for the purpose of increasing minority donation rates nationally. In June of 1993, National MOTTEP® received contract funding of $1.2 million from the Office of Research on Minority Health (NIH) to develop a minority donor strategic plan and implementation in eleven cities (June 1993 - June 1995). In July 1995, the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) awarded National MOTTEP® $5.8 million to expand National MOTTEP® into 15 cities between 1995 and 2000.

National MOTTEP® is the first national organization to identify a two fold solution to the number one problem in transplantation - the shortage of donors. The solution includes decreasing the number of persons being added to the national waiting list through a health promotion, disease prevention campaign while simultaneously increasing the number of minority donors. As a result of National MOTTEP®'s efforts, more than six million persons have been reached, 500 volunteers recruited and more than ten billion media impressions generated.

In January 1996, Dr. Callender was appointed Chairman of the Department of Surgery and in February 1996, appointed the first LaSalle D. Leffall, Jr. Professor of Surgery at the Howard University College of Medicine. As the Senior African American Transplant Surgeon and expert as it relates to minorities and organ/tissue donation and transplantation, Dr. Callender's media appearances have included the Oprah Show, Maury Povich Show, Dateline, Nightline, CNN News and the CBS Evening News. Dr. Callender has spoken to both professional and lay audiences at more than 700 meetings/forums on the subject of transplantation, and has authored over 100 scientific publications. He is a member of numerous professional societies, and has served as referee for ten scientific journals.

He serves as a member or advisor to numerous boards, committees and task forces involved with transplantation issues. Although, Dr. Callender has received many honors and awards in recognition of his significant contributions in these areas, it is his dream that he be remembered as a God fearing surgeon who reached the "unreachable stars".