Team Transplant, UWMC

Our coach:

Alysun Deckert, MSRD, inpatient clinical dietician

Alysun Deckert founded the Team Transplant group in 2001.  As an experienced runner who has competed in the US Olympic marathon trials and with a background in nutrition and exercise sciences, she saw it as a natural extension to her work at UWMC with kidney, liver and pancreas transplant patients. Of the team, she says, “I thought I could do more to promote fitness among the transplant recipients and within the workplace.  Additionally, we are promoting organ donation awareness by showing that transplant recipients can lead active, vital lives even after surgery.”
Each season, she organizes the training schedules for the Team Transplanters as they prepare for their races.  This includes sending out weekly e-mails to team members and supporters, updating them on events and practice information; providing them with helpful training tips; and offering words of encouragement. Each training session brings the team closer to their goal of  completing the 13.1 mile event.

The enthusiastic spirit and camaraderie of the team are what keep her coming back.  “For the recipients, it’s more than training for a race,” she says. “They are just so excited to be able to exercise at all after being so ill. For them, every day is a celebration.  And that’s a wonderful thing to be a part of.”

The Team Transplant Department of Homeland Security:

Janette Morantes, RN, Kidney Transplant clinic

Janette has been a Team Transplanter since day 1.  When she joined the team, she was working as a nurse in the Cardiac ICU, and has since transferred to Transplant Services where she works in the outpatient kidney transplant clinic.   Over the years, Janette has transitioned from a walker to run-walker and has an ongoing rivalry with liver transplant recipients, Mark Rosinbum, Gary Lanis, and Jonathon Baird to see who can finish practices and races first.  Her PR is now well under the 3hour mark having finished the 2008 Seattle Marathon in 2:46:31.

Cathy Seifert, RD, outpatient liver transplant clinic

Cathy is another founding member of the team and has been involved with us now for 8 years.  She decided to jump on the TT bandwagon as a way to continue her training after completing the Honolulu Marathon back in 1999.  She has since completed several other full marathons including Seattle, Capital Cities, and the inaugural Seattle Rock’n Roll Marathon this past June.  And, as a walker, she has brought her PR for the half marathon down below the 3-hour mark.  She also enjoys biking and hiking and states that without a doubt, her favorite part of being on the team is the great Team Transplant camaraderie!

Julie Sprinkle, PharmD, Transplant Services

Julie states that she has been involved with the team since “the beginning of time.”    Her favorite training route is the Leschi-Interlaken course because of its scenery and close proximity to her house.   She takes a laid-back approach to her races and actually has no clue what her PR (Personal Record) is.   In her spare time, she enjoys kayaking, hiking, reading, skiing, and car clubs.    And just what keeps her coming back to Team Transplant?   The team camaraderie…getting to work with a great group of motivated, fun, and organized people.

Susan Bussell,  RD, outpatient kidney, pancreas, and lung transplant clinic

Susan has been on board with Team Transplant from the start and has bragging rights to a very fine PR of 2 hours.  In addition to running and walking, she enjoys hanging out with her husband and kids (and their new dog, Thomas Edward, who provides plenty of opportunities for cross-training); playing tennis; boating; taking pilates lessons; gardening, reading, and cooking.   Her favorite part of being involved with Team Transplant?   “The team!” of course.

Harch Ooi, Chemist for Seattle Genetics and UWMC Team Transplant volunteer extraordinaire!

Harch started with the team back in 2005, citing the expert “guilting” efforts of pharmacist, Mary Chi, who convinced him to come out and train with her.    Of that decision, he says, “I had a great time, met some really amazing people and found it to be such a rewarding experience that I continued to help out….I owe Mary a lot…seriously”  He tends to rate his training locations based on the caliber of the food in available in the area…Alki is first (Alki Bakery is right across the street);  Leschi is next with its close proximity to Pert’s Deli.   He holds a respectable PR of 2:06 from back in 2005. Since then, he’s opted to focus his training efforts on his true love of cycling but has continued to help out on the TT sidelines since it gives him a chance “to hang out with all of the cool people that are involved in Team Transplant!”

Registrar:

Ida Boecksteigel, Operations Supervisor, UWMC 4SE

Ida has been involved with Team Transplant for nearly 4 years now.  Up to this point, she has mostly been seen on the sidelines but hopes to change all that this coming year as she plans to actively train for this fall’s Seattle Half Marathon.  She optimistically states that her PR is “yet to be determined” as she looks forward to spending the 2009-2010 season doing what she loves most about being on the team:  Talking to the transplant recipient team members and walking with them as they train.

Treasurer:

Mikki Dailey, RN

We’ll have an update on Mikki soon.

Webmaster: Lenard Yen, Liver Transplant Recipient, 2004

Lenard has been on the team since 2005 and is man of many talents!  His creative endeavors are not just limited to our website.  He’s also an accomplished painter and writer who occasionally shares his original homemade baked creations with us after workouts.  Training has become a huge part of Lenard’s life as it offers many opportunities for thought and reflection.  It’s also been a big part of his recovery process after transplant as he has continued to get stronger each every year!  This is quite evident by his close to 3-hour PR.

Apparel:

Mark Rosinbum,  Liver Transplant Recipient, 2001

Mark is one of our original team members having taken the leap to join just 2 months after receiving his liver transplant in 2001.  Since then he has been an integral part of the team, helping with planning, ordering team apparel, and leading the warm-up routine at practices.   He has truly incorporated walking into his lifestyle and can be seen out and about walking to work;  to and from the auto shop to have his daughter’s car fixed; and even to pick up his race packet the day before a race.  Currently, he’s off to Spain completing another section of Via de la Plata, a 600-mile pilgrimage route that journeys
along old Roman roads between Seville and Santiago de Campestela.

Rounding out the Team Transplant Planning Committee:

Ron Adkins, heart transplant 2000

Gary Lanis, liver transplant, 2001