'It’s never boring here, really never'
'When I saw the job advertisement, I knew: this is it. I have been a registered donor since I was 24. And through three people, I have come into contact with donation and transplantation, including my mother-in-law. She passed away while she was on the waiting list for a donor heart. It’s not that personal for everyone here, but for me, that was important. And my experience in the business world and the diplomatic world also comes in handy here.'
'No other organization is comparable to the NTS'
'The NTS is a fascinating and dynamic organization. We deal with many parties, such as the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport, health insurers, tissue banks, and university medical centers that perform transplants. No other organization is comparable; the NTS is truly unique. At the Organ Center, for example, there are doctors who do not have patient contact, but who do make important decisions about donor acceptance and the release of tissues. Those are special roles.'
'You get opportunities if you are open to them'
'Many highly educated and passionate people work here. You get opportunities if you are open to them and if you show growth. There is no discrimination; we have people from all kinds of backgrounds, sexual orientations, and religions. That also fits the subject matter. The employees are very different. For example, there are creatives alongside people who are good with numbers.'
“There is no discrimination; we have people from all kinds of backgrounds, sexual orientations, and religions.”
'The NTS is growing'
'In recent years, the NTS has grown from 20 employees to about 120, including policymakers, advisors, process support staff, communications professionals, and donation professionals. Many employees have been with us for 10 or 20 years. We are always looking for new colleagues for the Organ Center. This department consults the Donor Register and accepts tissue donors. It’s funny that we sometimes see our flexible staff return later as staff physicians or medical backup.'
'We are continuously working on improvement'
'The NTS is an improvement-oriented organization. That is linked to the ISO certification, a quality mark. We look at risks and take measures. We are continuously working on process improvement to be able to help more patients with a transplant, with respect for the donor and the surviving relatives. The NTS clearly has a serving character.'