Washoe County Regional Medical Examiner’s Office receives highest honor from Nevada Donor Network

Awards were presented individually due to COVID-19 restrictions

For the third consecutive year, the Washoe County Regional Medical Examiner’s Office (WCRMEO) received the prestigious “Hope Strength Life” Award, the highest honor bestowed by Nevada Donor Network.   

The award is traditionally presented at the annual Hope Dinner, an event to honor and thank organizations who make organ, eye and tissue donation possible in northern Nevada. This year, COVID restrictions meant the event was canceled, and awards were presented in person with safe COVID protocols in place.   

The WCRMEO serves 19 counties in Nevada and California, with Dr. Laura Knight as chief medical examiner and coroner. The county office’s partnership with Nevada Donor Network began in 2017 and “the impact on tissue and ocular donation has been profound,” according to NDN Partner Relations Supervisor Monica Myles.   

“With our Hope Dinner canceled this year, we still felt that it was important to honor our partners with awards since their amazing contributions have continued throughout this year,” Myles said. “We felt that the level of collaboration, trust and support that WCRMEO has provided to NDN – along with the life-saving and healing outcomes this partnership has produced – are very worthy of celebration.”  

The WCRMEO joins the ranks of esteemed peers, ranging from first-responders to hospice care facilities to law enforcement organizations, in working to fulfill the life-saving mission of Nevada Donor Network.  

“Now more than ever, it is truly a gift to see the positive impact of cornea and tissue donation on so many lives, including the heroic donor families who choose to create a legacy in this way and bring something positive out of what are often tragic circumstances,” Dr. Knight said.  “I am so proud of my team and their dedication to this vital mission.” 

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