2025 REIMAGINE Symposium

If You Could Change One Thing: Bold Ideas for Reimagining Organ Donation and Transplantation

October 12 - 14, 2025
The Estancia La Jolla
*Discounted room block rate offered to attendees for a limited time only.*

Join leaders, innovators, clinicians, researchers, patients, donor families, and policy thinkers from around the country for a dynamic three-day symposium exploring the future of organ donation and transplantation.

Through TED-style talks, interactive sessions, and immersive wellness activities, we’ll explore a bold central question: If you could change one thing about the system—what would it be, and what would it look like?

This year’s symposium will feature ideas that challenge assumptions, elevate compassion, and spark systemic transformation—across ethics, logistics, equity, technology, sustainability, and more.

What to expect:

• Visionary talks from leading voices in transplant and beyond
• Intimate moderated discussions and collaborative problem-solving
• Interactive sessions on mindfulness, communication, and wellbeing
• A community of people committed to reshaping what's possible

*Early Bird Registration open NOW!*

Register

2025 Symposium Agenda

Sunday, October 12, 2025

• Noon - 2:00 p.m.: Check in + Registration
• 3:00 - 3:10p.m.: Welcome: Dr. Gabriel Schnickel, Executive Director, The UC San Diego REIMAGINE Center
• 3:15p.m. - 3:45p.m.: Session 1: If I Could Change One Thing: Compassion In Donation
  • Topics: Fundamentals of Compassionate Communication & Enhancing Compassion in Donation
• 3:45 - 4:00 p.m.: Break
• 4:00 - 5:00p.m.: Breakout sessions:
  • Breakout A: Self-compassion Workshop
  • Breakout B: Compassionate Communication Workshop
• 5:00 p.m.: Keynote Session: The Power of Compassion
• 6:00 p.m.: Networking Reception

Monday, October 13, 2025

• 6:30 a.m.: Group Hike / 7:00 a.m.: Yoga or Mindfulness Meditation
• 7:30-8:30 a.m.: Breakfast + Sponsor Showcase
• 8:30-10 a.m.: Session 1: If I Could Change One Thing: Reimagining the System
• 10:00-10:15 a.m.: Break
• 10:15-11:45 a.m.: Session 2: If I Could Change One Thing: Societal Engagement in US Organ donation.
• Noon - 2:00 pm: Lunch + Exercise in Self-compassion
  • Mindfulness + Wellness Activities
• 2:00-3:30 p.m.: Session 3: If I Could Change One Thing: Bold strategies in Organ Donation & Allocation
• 3:30-4:00 p.m.: Break
• 4:00-5:00 pm: Session 4: Creating Change: How Do We Make Big Ideas Happen?
• 5:00 p.m.: Keynote
• 5:45 p.m.: Reception + Drinks

Tuesday, October 14, 2025

• 6:30 a.m.: Group Hike / 7:00 a.m.: Yoga or Mindfulness Meditation
• 7:30-8:30 a.m.: Breakfast Sponsor Showcase
• 8:30-10:00 a.m.: Session 1: If I Could Change One Thing: Technology in Organ Donation
• 10:00-11:00 a.m.: Session 2: Collective Commitments: Moving Big Ideas Forward
• 11:00 a.m. - Noon: Closing + Farewell

2024 REIMAGINE Symposium

On September 20, 2024, the Center hosted its first symposium called REIMAGINE Organ Donation and Transplantation: Paving the Path to 60k. Thought leaders from across the country attended the event, which featured presentations by UC San Diego Department of Surgery faculty members Gabriel Schnickel, M.D., M.P.H., executive director of REIMAGINE, and Aleah Brubaker, M.D., Ph.D., among others.

The featured talks focused on the four pillars of the Center, which include Education and Innovation; Equity, Policy, Ethics, and Economics; Compassion, Mindfulness, and Burnout; and Basic and Translational Sciences. The talks also included a moderated discussion to develop ideas about how to reimagine the organ donation and allocation system to bring about change.

“This is the first time an academic institution has a dedicated center where organ donation and allocation are the sole focus, and UC San Diego is perfectly positioned to make a huge impact,” says Schnickel.

 Over 120 people registered for the symposium, and the team aims to make it an annual event. In the future, Schnickel wants to invite physicians and researchers from other countries to help guide the implementation of more robust organ donation and allocation systems across the world.