UC Regent Charlene Zettel was announced Wednesday to be the first CEO of Donate Life California — a private, non-profit organization created to administer the state’s organ and tissue donor registry.
Zettel — appointed to the board by former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger for a 12-year term in 2009 — is the newest UC Regent. In addition to her new title with the organization, Zettel has served in the fields of education and health, as well as positions with the California State Legislature and the San Diego Regional Airport County Authority. Like almost all the other current UC Regents, she has navigated a multi-faceted career in both the public and private sectors.
As CEO of Donate Life, she will be charged with the task of carrying out day-to-day functions to assist in the organization’s long-term goal for growth, according to Lisa Stocks, president of the board of directors for Donate Life California.
“(Zettel) was the best person for the biggest registry in the U.S.,” Stocks said. “She has the background and experience within the legislature, within the government and with schools for us to be able to grow the registry to the point where we will be able to make a difference in California.”
Although a private entity, Donate Life California works with public institutions such as the California Department of Motor Vehicles and the four organ procurement organizations of California that recover organs for transplant in specific geographic areas. According to Stocks, the registry acts as a tool to facilitate the process of organ donation.
According to Stocks, the board decided to appoint a CEO in order to help fulfill their long-term goal of expanding the registry from its current 8.5 million to 20 million registered organ donors by the year 2012.