–Dr. Hall McGee IV to lead CORE’s corneal transplant program –

Pittsburgh, November 21, 2016 – The Center for Organ Recovery & Education (CORE) has appointed Dr. Hall McGee IV as medical director of its Eye Division. In this role, Dr. McGee will lead CORE’s corneal transplant program as well as foster strategic and collaborative relationships with key stakeholders in the CORE service region and in the healthcare community at large.

“As a specialist in the medical and surgical treatment of the cornea and external eye, Dr. McGee brings significant clinical experience in traditional and advanced transplantation techniques to CORE’s cornea transplant division,” said Susan Stuart, president and CEO, CORE.
More than 48,000 Americans have their sight restored each year as a result of corneal transplants. In 2015, CORE coordinated 295 corneal transplants in Western Pennsylvania.

“CORE’s structure as a complete organ procurement organization directly improves the cornea transplantation process by saving surgeons precious time in the operating room,” said Dr. McGee. “I’m honored and energized to serve in this role at CORE and help restore sight to transplant recipients.”

In addition to being a CORE board member, Dr. McGee has been a private-practice ophthalmologist for nearly a decade. Dr. McGee completed his doctor of medicine at the University of Virginia and trained at the prestigious Casey Eye Institute.

Remembering Dr. Robert Arffa
Dr. McGee is filling the position formerly held by Dr. Robert Arffa, who passed away suddenly in a plane crash earlier this year. For nearly 30 years, Dr. Arffa was a pioneer in corneal transplantation. Since 1992, he served as the medical director of the Eye Bank of Western Pennsylvania, and he continued in that role when the Eye Bank merged with CORE in 1996.

“Every individual who works with CORE is, in some way, responsible for forever changing someone’s life,” Stuart said. “Dr. Arffa’s leadership and vision ensured that CORE was using the very latest technology to improve corneal recovery and transplantation. In doing so, he enabled CORE to give the gift of sight to thousands of people, which is now an integral part of his legacy.”

About CORE
The Center for Organ Recovery & Education (CORE) is one of 58 federally designated not-for-profit organ procurement organizations (OPOs) in the United States. CORE works closely with donor families and designated health care professionals to coordinate the surgical recovery of organs, tissues and corneas for transplantation. CORE also facilitates the computerized matching of donated organs and placement of corneas. With headquarters in Pittsburgh and an office in Charleston, West Virginia, CORE oversees a region that encompasses 155 hospitals and almost six million people throughout western Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Chemung County, NY. For more information, visit www.core.org or call 1-800-DONORS-7.