Speaker’s series hosts respected transplant surgeon

Dr. Joseph Scalea, a transplant surgeon, the vice chair of surgery, and director of innovation at the Medical University of South Carolina, will share his insights about this ever-changing field during the next Daniel Island Community Speaker’s Series event.

Set for April 15, 7-8 p.m., Dr. Scalea will share with the audience the importance and urgency of organ transplants.

He is also an inventor and an entrepreneur. In the world of transplant surgery the required logistics are measured in minutes. With that in mind he founded two companies which integrate drones into the supply chain. Imagine evaluating the organ, accepting it, arranging the drone transport, monitoring the organ’s temperature, its location, and its ETA all from an app on your phone. That is revolutionary. The medical industry’s ability  to diagnose, treat, and cure some of our most serious diseases is advancing at lightning speed.

Over the years, Dr. Scalea has performed thousands of transplant operations and at some point he started asking his patients why they wanted to live. The answers he got were all over the place – frequently unexpected, often touching. He did a TED talk in Charleston last spring about the responses he received which can, hopefully, help us reflect on our own reasons to live.

In his spare time he is also a painter and musician. His works of art are currently on display in Baltimore and Washington D.C.There will be a cash bar and passed hors d’oeuvres between 6:30-7 p.m. The program will begin promptly at 7 p.m.

The event is free, but attendees must register online to reserve a space.