Kathleen Abhalter
Vice President, Hospital & Partner Relations

Kathleen Abhalter leads and directs Gift of Hope Organ & Tissue Donor Network’s Hospital and Partner Relations departments to ensure hospitals and external partners are compliant with donation-related policies, procedures and regulations including those of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Association of Organ Procurement Organizations (AOPO) and the American Association of Tissue Banks (AATB). Abhalter develops and oversees departmental strategic vision and leads Gift of Hope’s work to provide quality service for external stakeholders. She also manages programs and initiatives to increase donation and represents Gift of Hope among external stakeholders including hospitals, government officials, donor families and the public.

Since joining Gift of Hope in 2003, Abhalter held increasingly responsible positions in Hospital & Partner Relations prior to her current leadership position. She previously was a care consultant for Verispan and The Martec Group.

Abhalter is active with the Chicago Healthcare System Coalition for Preparedness and Response (CHSCPR) and NATCO: The Organization for Donation and Transplant Professionals.

Abhalter holds a bachelor’s degree in communication management and business administration from the University of Dayton and is certified by the Illinois Hospital Association Leadership Academy in Healthcare Transformation.