Board Chairman: Dr. Carlos Zayas is a transplant nephrologist and the program director for the Prisma Health Kidney Transplant Program in Greenville, SC. He is also a co-founder of the South Carolina Transplant Foundation and a former Georgia Transplant Foundation board member. He is a Medical Review Board member of IPRO- Region 6, a Founding member of the Southeastern Kidney Transplant Coalition, a member of the National Kidney Foundation, a Fellow of the American Society of Transplantation (AST), a Fellow of the American Society of Nephrology (ASN), a member of multiple AST Committees, and Professor of Medicine at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine in Greenville, SC.

Dr. Prince Anand is a transplant nephrologist and the medical director of the Mid-Carolinas Transplant program for the Medical University of South Carolina in Lancaster, SC. He serves on the Southeastern Kidney Transplant Coalition board and is active in the American Society of Transplantation.

Kay is a licensed transplant social worker with the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) Charleston Transplant Program. She has years of experience helping hundreds of transplant patients in different organ groups with years of experience. Above, she is shown being awarded the 2022 MUSC Health Diversity in Leadership Award.

Dr. Kadian is a transplant-trained nephrologist with Columbia Nephrology in Columbia, SC, and has been practicing for over 20 years. He cares for chronic kidney disease and end-stage renal disease and operates a post-transplant clinic for his group. He is also a member of the American Society of Transplant, the American Society of Nephrology, and the American Medical Association. He is very active with the South Carolina Chapter of the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI).

Calandra is a mother, a philanthropist, a visionary, and most importantly, she's a survivor. Born in Gaffney, South Carolina, Calandra has always had a passion for encouraging, motivating, and inspiring others who experience different adversities in life. Over the last 19 years, Calandra battled with chronic kidney disease, which ultimately resulted in her receiving a successful kidney transplant in 2020. Now, her faith and visionary perspective have allowed her to be the voice of the voiceless for others struggling with the same disease. Calandra has now become the groundbreaking Founder of Conquering with Calandra. This non-profit organization provides supportive services and help from professional therapists, fitness trainers, dietitians, peer buddies, and support groups.

Dr. Dewees has a prosperous career spanning over 30 years, with significant achievements in business, organizational development, teaching, and higher education administration. She is currently the Assistant Vice President for Institutional Effectiveness at Claflin University. She also serves as the Chair of the SC Quality Forum and was recently appointed as an at-large member of the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) Operations and Safety Committee.

Dr. Dewees shares a personal connection to organ transplantation through her husband, James, a heart transplant recipient; a journey has profoundly impacted their lives and inspired Dr. Dewees to advocate for organ transplant awareness. Her platform educates, supports, and encourages individuals and families to navigate similar experiences.

Dr Lifland is the Chief Medical Officer at Carolina Kidney Partners and a longtime partner in Columbia Nephrology Associates. Dr Lifland completed his undergraduate training at Washington University in Saint Louis and obtained his MD at the University of Rome. He completed internal medicine training at the University of Virginia affiliate in Roanoke, VA and did his nephrology training at the Medical College of Virginia in Richmond.

Dr. Lifland was previously the Chairman of the Quality Committee at Columbia Nephrology Associates from 2010 to July 2024. He was subspecialty Teacher of the Year at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine. He also teaches Nephrology to the PA students at University of South Carolina School of Medicine. He has been recognized as a Top Doctor multiple times in Columbia magazine. He also has a long-standing interest in clinical research, and has been the principal investigator or sub-investigator in 40 trials to date. Dr. Lifland is the current chair of the SC DHEC Advisory Council on Dialysis.

Alex is a solid organ transplant pharmacist at Prisma Health Transplant Center in Greenville, South Carolina. She graduated with her Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, then completed a PGY-1 residency at the University of Toledo and a PGY-2 residency in solid organ transplant, specifically kidney, liver, and pancreas, at the University of Cincinnati. She guest lectures for the University of South Carolina Pharmacy School in the transplant elective for pharmacy students and precepts current pharmacy students and residents on her transplant rotation. She is also a member of the American Society of Transplantation. She is passionate about ensuring our transplant patients are well taken care of regarding their medication understanding and adherence, which is a lifelong journey for the patient and their family. Outside of work, Alex enjoys spending time with her family and getting outside in the sunshine as much as she can.

Beth is the Clinical Operations Manager for the Prisma Health Transplant Program in Greenville. She relocated to SC in October 2021 after more than 30 years at the Emory Transplant Center in Atlanta. Beth has maintained certification as a Clinical Transplant Coordinator since 2000 and was a founding member of the Georgia Chapter of the International Transplant Nurses Society. Transplantation and transplant nursing are her passions; helping patients on the journey toward a healthier life following the gift of organ donation has brought her outstanding personal and professional joy!

Cassie is a Kidney/Pancreas Transplant Social Worker at Prisma Transplant in Greenville. She graduated from the University of Southern California with a Master's in Social Work in 2018. With a background in mental health, she's passionate about advocating for mental health awareness and ensuring transplant access for all. Outside of work, Cassie enjoys spending time outdoors, reading, and traveling with her husband and two dogs.

Ayda Menjugas-MacDuff is a Family Nurse Practitioner with more than 20 years of healthcare experience spanning clinical practice, perioperative services, education, and transplant medicine.  She began her nurse practitioner career in Tucson, Arizona, where she received extensive training in the care of abdominal transplant candidates and recipients across the continuum of care.

Prior to her advanced practice role, Ayda spent seven years as a clinical educator for a large healthcare system, developing and delivering specialised education programs for perioperative, perianesthesia, and procedural stuff.  

Ayda has served in leadership roles within professional organizations, including the Southern Arizona Advanced Practice Association and American Society of Transplantation.  

Dave DeStefano is the President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of We Are Sharing Hope SC (SHSC), South Carolina's Organ Procurement Organization (OPO). His two decades of experience in the organ and tissue recovery field serve him and his team well; in each of his years as CEO, We Are Sharing Hope SC has facilitated donations for more organ donor heroes than ever before.

DeStefano, a leader in his field, led the Washington Regional Transplantation Community (WRTC) to receive the prestigious Gold Medal of Honor for Organ Procurement Organization performance from the US Department of Health and Human Services. At TransLife, DeStefano's efforts led the nation in OPO performance improvement, earning it the 2016 Innovation in Donation and Transplantation award from NATCO.

Dee spent most of her career in nephrology. She worked in dialysis for 10 years and has been in kidney/pancreas transplant for 23 years now. She worked in post-transplant for 18 years and has spent the last 5 years in outreach. She received her Bachelor's of nursing at the Medical College of Georgia. Dee also obtained her Certified Clinical Transplant Coordinator (CCTC) certification while working in transplant.

Dee saw the need for South Carolina patients when working in post-transplant. There were always resources for my Georgia patients through the Georgia Transplant Foundation (GTF), but nothing for South Carolina patients with legitimate financial issues. 

It was always her dream to be part of a foundation that could help these families. She resides in Greenville, SC, with her husband, Brian Derrick, and dog, Capers. They have two children: Lauren (30), a pharmacist in Beaufort, SC, and Hunter (23), a financial advisor in Greenville, SC.

Chuck W. Crews, Jr., known as Chuck, has dedicated his life to service, both professionally and personally. A graduate of Wake Forest University School of Law and Georgia Southern University, Chuck began his career as a Certified Public Accountant before earning his Juris Doctorate in 1991. He served as a Judge Advocate General (JAG) officer in the U.S. Air Force for eight years, achieving the rank of Major while providing estate planning services for high-ranking officers.

After his honorable discharge, Chuck moved with his family to Greenville, South Carolina, where he transitioned into financial advising and later opened Crews Law Offices, specializing in estate planning. Licensed to practice law in South Carolina and Georgia, Chuck has built a reputation as a trusted legal advisor.

Chuck and his wife, Virginia, married since 1989, are deeply involved in their community and have two children. Together, they have supported organizations like Rise Against Hunger, helping package over one million meals. Chuck has also served as treasurer for several organizations and volunteers as a swim meet official for local teams and schools.

Beyond his professional and philanthropic pursuits, Chuck enjoys traveling, playing golf, and spending quality time with his family. His commitment to others extends through his role as a living donor with the Prisma Transplant Program, embodying his lifelong dedication to giving back and making a tangible difference in the lives of others.

Mary is an experienced transplant nephrology nurse practitioner with over 18 years dedicated to kidney and pancreas transplantation. She began her career as a registered nurse in abdominal transplant in 2008 and advanced to a nurse practitioner role in 2017 after earning both Master of Science in Nursing and Doctor of Nursing Practice from the Medical University of South Carolina.

Throughout her career, she has worked at two leading transplant centers, including the Medical University of South Carolina and Prisma Health, where she has been actively involved in the care of kidney and pancreas transplant patients across the continuum—from evaluation to post-transplant management. Her clinical focus centers on improving outcomes, enhancing patient education, and supporting long-term transplant success.

She is deeply committed to the mission of the South Carolina Transplant Foundation and is passionate about promoting equitable access to transplantation, increasing public awareness, and advocating for transplant patients throughout South Carolina. She believes in empowering patients through education and collaboration to help them achieve the best possible quality of life.

Outside of her professional responsibilities, she enjoys spending time outdoors and prioritizes walking and staying active as part of maintaining personal well-being.

Dr. Santosh Nagaraju is Medical Director of Kidney Transplantation with the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston. His clinical and research interests include kidney, liver, and pancreas transplantation, organ donation, and innovative surgical approaches to abdominal organ transplantation.

His professional training and research experience include Indiana University School of Medicine and the Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute at the University of Pittsburgh. His published research addresses transplant outcomes, organ preservation, kidney autotransplantation, and expanding opportunities for organ transplantation.