Tissue Transplant Specialist

Why UT Southwestern?

With over 75 years of excellence in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, UT Southwestern is committed to excellence, innovation, teamwork, and compassion. At UT Southwestern, we invest in you with opportunities for career growth and development that align with your future goals and help to provide security for you and your family. Our highly competitive benefits package offers healthcare, PTO and paid holidays, on-site childcare, wage, merit increases and so much more that are all available on the day you start work. UT Southwestern is honored to be a Veteran Friendly work environment that is home to approximately 800 veterans. We value your integrity, dedication, and the commitment you've made to our country. We're proud to support your next mission. Ranked by Forbes as one of the Top 10 National Employers, we invite you to be a part of the UT Southwestern team where you'll discover teamwork, professionalism, and consistent opportunities for growth.

The #1 Best Hospital in DFW | UT Southwestern Medical Center (utswmed.org)

Employee Benefits:

• Free/paid medical insurance for full-time employees
• Contributions to the Teacher Retirement System (TRS)
• Tuition reimbursement programs
• Employee discounts (Hotels, Gym Membership, Cellphone, etc.)
• Onsite childcare facilities
• Attractive paid time off package
• Yearly merit increase based on an employee's fiscal year performance.

To learn more about the Benefits UT Southwestern offers, visit /utsouthwestern.edu/employees/hr-resources/

Job Summary

Works under general supervision to independently perform complex technical aspects of human tissue recovery, evaluation, and processing in accordance with the policies and procedures of Transplant Services Center and the standards of the American Association of Tissue Banks and the Eye Bank Association of America.

Experience and Education

Required

• Six months experience as a Tissue Transplant Technician or equivalent required.
• Completion of two years of college to include at least six (6) hours in basic science;
• OR High School diploma or GED equivalent and an additional six months of tissue transplant experience.

Preferred

• Bachelor's degree in basic science such as Biology or Chemistry and completion or progression to certification as a Tissue Bank Specialist (CTBS) preferred

Job Duties

• Performs all steps of recovery of eyes/corneas, skin, bone/connective tissue, and cardiovascular tissue. Steps include donor preparation, aseptic surgical recovery of tissue, packaging and labeling of tissues, storage of tissues and preparation of tissues for shipment to tissue processors.
• May evaluate and determine suitability of donors for eye and tissue recovery based on review of donor screening information including referral information, donor risk assessment interview, medical chart review, and physical assessment of body.
• May function as a team lead for tissue recovery which includes performing the following functions: Provides working supervision of members of the recovery team; Performs screening of potential donors with tissue processors; Determines timing and location of recovery; Coordinates with personnel of external facilities (medical examiners, hospitals, organ procurement organizations (OPO), funeral homes, transportation companies, etc.)
• Ensures needed supplies and equipment are available and appropriate for use; Determines suitability of recovery site and ensures that pre- and post-recovery cleaning is completed; Ensures that blood sample and/or tissue samples are obtained for testing; Ensures that accurate and complete physical assessment of body is completed; Determines which tissues will be recovered; Ensures that reconstruction of donor is completed following recovery; Ensures accurate and complete documentation of all phases of tissue recovery.
• May coordinate recovery of ocular only donors which includes screening of potential donors as listed in function #2, determining timing and location of recovery, coordinating recovery with personnel of external facilities (OPOs, tissue banks, medical examiners, hospitals, funeral homes, etc.) and dispatching staff to perform ocular recovery.
• Evaluates, processes, packages and labels tissue allografts including split thickness skin, costal cartilage and fascia. Applies final labels and moves ocular and tissue allografts to released inventory. Assists with or performs cornea evaluation.
• Performs cleaning, packaging, and sterilization of instruments and supplies according to operating room standards and Transplant Service Center policies and procedures. Assists with or performs supply inventory and rotation of supplies.
• Assists with or performs packaging of tissues for shipment to end users using methods appropriate to storage requirements for each type of tissue being shipped as needed. Performs pick-up and delivery of tissue allografts as needed.
• Performs cleaning and routine maintenance of laboratories, clean rooms, and equipment (refrigerators, freezers, autoclaves and laminar flow hoods). Assists with training of Tissue Transplant Technicians and per diem technical recovery staff. Ensures accurate and complete documentation for all functions performed.
• Other Duties: Performs other duties as assigned.

Working Conditions

• Work is performed primarily in laboratory, clean rooms, operating room environment, morgue, or funeral home with potential for exposure to one or more disagreeable elements, such as working with cadavers, unpleasant odors, communicable disease(s), airborne particles, or caustic chemicals.

This position is security-sensitive and subject to Texas Education Code §51.215, which authorizes UT Southwestern to obtain criminal history record information.

UT Southwestern Medical Center is committed to an educational and working environment that provides equal opportunity to all members of the University community. As an equal opportunity employer, UT Southwestern prohibits unlawful discrimination, including discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, disability, genetic information, citizenship status, or veteran status.

Benefits

UT Southwestern is proud to offer a competitive and comprehensive benefits package to eligible employees. Our benefits are designed to support your overall wellbeing, and include:
• PPO medical plan, available day one at no cost for full-time employee-only coverage
• 100% coverage for preventive healthcare - no copay
• Paid Time Off, available day one
• Retirement Programs through the Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS)
• Paid Parental Leave Benefit
• Wellness programs
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Qualified Employer
• Learn more about these and other UTSW employee benefits!