Keiser University Port St. Lucie Campus honors graduate Sarah Havel is making a difference while furthering the cause of eye, organ, and tissue donations.

As a Donor Development Coordinator at Legacy Donor Services Foundation, Havel plays a crucial role in screening potential donors for suitability of tissue and eye donations, obtaining consent from family members, and coordinating the surgical recovery of consented tissues and eyes.

“The beauty of the medical field is that you have the ability and freedom to take what you learn in any direction your soul pulls you,” said Havel who will graduate magna cum laude. “Being a part of the end of someone’s life as they leave hope and a legacy behind is an honor that makes me feel like I will always know my purpose in life,” she reflected.

Havel’s passion for organ donation began in the early 2000’s while working as a flight nurse where she gained firsthand experience of the critical need for donated organs. Her diverse background in trauma, critical care, pediatrics, and hyperbaric medicine further reinforced the importance of anatomical donations. Havel shared that she ‘never wanted to stop learning about the science of medicine’ as she enjoyed exploring a variety of ‘fast-paced and fascinating’ healthcare assignments. With the diverse experiences reinforcing the need for anatomical donations, she went on to represent a South Florida teaching hospital as a Donor Management Coordinator. There, she spearheaded efforts to match organs with recipients by orchestrating transplant surgeries through collaboration with United Network for Organ Sharing colleagues. The position further reinforced the crucial role that forensic pathology plays in the organ, eye, and tissue donation process and inspired her to further study the field.

Havel shared that she is thankful for her recent externship at the Palm Beach County Medical Examiner’s Office. In addition to the invaluable experience, she was fortunate to meet a leader at the tissue bank known as Legacy Donor Services Foundation and soon joined their team where she works closely with both agencies to ensure that medical examinations remain uncompromised while securing organs, eye, and tissues for transplant and research.

To learn more about Legacy Organ Donor Foundation, and how you can ensure your organs will save lives, please visit here.

Keiser University’s Bachelor of Science degree in Forensic Investigations (Science Concentration) prepares students for entry-level positions with forensic science analytical laboratories and further scientific training/education. The program provides students with fundamental knowledge with respect to scientific analysis of physical material. Graduates of the program will have completed the prerequisites necessary to be successful in graduate programs in the forensic sciences.

Keiser University is a private, independent, non-profit university serving nearly 20,000 students at 21 Florida campuses, online, and two international sites. Founded in 1977 by Chancellor Arthur Keiser, Ph.D., and Evelyn Keiser, Keiser University currently offers more than 100 degrees from associate to doctoral level. Keiser University is a designated Hispanic-Serving Institution, a member of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities, and was ranked No. 21 in the U.S. in Social Mobility by U.S. News and World Report in 2023-24.

Sarah Havel served as a flight nurse early in her career.

Sarah Havel looks forward to furthering the cause of eye, organ and tissue donations.