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What to expect at regional meetings

Regional Meeting Overview

  • Regional meeting information is posted on the regional meetings page
  • Regional meetings are held twice each year during the winter and summer public comment periods
  • Public comment periods offer an opportunity to provide feedback on public comment items (including proposed changes to OPTN policy, requests for feedback, concept papers, or white papers) 
  • Each regional meeting is chaired by a regional councillor who is the region’s representative on the OPTN Board of Directors

Regional Meeting Agenda

A typical meeting includes the following components:

  • Regional update presented by the regional councillor
  • OPTN update presented by OPTN leadership
  • OPTN committee updates presented by regional representatives of OPTN committees
  • Policy proposals and other public comment items presented by regional representatives from the sponsoring committees followed by discussion 
    • The meeting agenda is divided into two sections: discussion and non-discussion (ND) public comment items
    • Discussion public comment items are presented and discussed at the regional meeting
    • Non-discussion public comment items are not discussed at the regional meeting, but attendees are able to provide sentiment

Sentiment

One representative from each OPTN member organization is asked to submit sentiment on public comment items. Sentiment is advisory and helps the regional councillor represent the viewpoints of the region to the OPTN Board of Directors on each policy proposal.

  • Each organization may submit sentiment one time for each public comment item, but anyone may voice feedback or ask questions. 
  • OPTN contractor staff announce sentiment and take notes on the feedback voiced by meeting attendees to create written comments that express the viewpoints of the region.
  • Regional sentiment and comments on public comment items are posted to the OPTN website in the public comment section* and shared with the sponsoring committee for each item and the OPTN Board of Directors for consideration.

*Members, patients, donor families, caregivers, organ donation and transplant professionals, and general public are encouraged to post individual comments on the OPTN website in the public comment section.