Board of Governors

George Herrera

Chairperson

MTF Biologics

George Herrera is the Executive Vice President for MTF Biologics. His primary responsibility is to oversee the Donor Services Division, which focuses on ensuring that MTF Biologics has sufficient musculoskeletal, dermal, and birth tissues from donors to meet patient needs. Donor Services provides a broad variety of services to Recovery Partners (organ procurement organizations and tissue banks, both domestically and internationally) that work with MTF Biologics to provide allograft tissue services to their communities.

He is also responsible for the International Institute for the Advancement of Medicine (IIAM) and Statline, which are divisions of MTF Biologics. IIAM provides donated human organs and tissues for research into cures, treatments, and technologies for a wide variety of diseases and conditions. Statline screens potential organ, eye, and tissue donors for organ procurement organizations (OPOs), eye banks, and tissue banks and coordinates organ transplants for transplant centers around the country. 

In 2025, George begins his twenty-eighth year at MTF Biologics. He has over thirty-two years of experience in the field of organ and tissue donation, transplantation and non-profit management. He has held leadership positions in various organizations in the field, including the Association for Multicultural Affairs in Transplantation (AMAT), American Association of Tissue Banks (AATB), Association of Organ Procurement Organizations (AOPO), Donate Life America (DLA), and has served on the medical advisory board of many OPOs. George's education includes a BS in Marketing and Management from Tulane University and a Master of Business Administration from the University of New Orleans. George lives in New Jersey with his wife, Barbara. They have two adult children.

Jeff Cox, CTBS

Immediate Past Chairperson

United Tissue Resources

Jeff Cox brings over 38 years of experience in tissue banking and is a Certified Tissue Bank Specialist. He currently serves as Chair of the AATB Board of Governors and is a member of the AATB Executive Committee. Throughout his career, he has held various roles within AATB, including serving on the Certification, Ethics, Accreditation, Standards, Finance, and Program Committees. He also contributed as a coach to the AATB Emerging Leaders Program and served as the past Secretary-Treasurer of AATB, as well as the former Secretary of the Accredited Tissue Banks Council and the Donor Suitability Council.

In addition to his work with AATB, Jeff is an active member of several professional organizations, including the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, the Association of Healthcare Value Analysis Professionals, the Association for Death Education and Counseling, and the Association of Perioperative Registered Nurses. He holds a master's degree in biochemistry and a bachelor's degree in chemistry and biology.

Currently, Jeff Cox serves as the President and CEO of United Tissue Resources.

Mark DeFilippis

Chairperson-Elect

New England Donor Services, Inc.

Mark is the Vice President of Tissue Operations at New England Donor Services and has been an active member of the AATB community for the past 21 years. Mark's career progression at New England Donor Services has resulted in a broad and deep knowledge base, including quality systems, donor eligibility, authorization, continuous improvement, and operational and executive leadership. 

Mark's contributions to the AATB community have been many, and he is a tissue recipient. Mark is an active member of the RADE Council, serving as the Secretary from 2018-2022 and Vice-Chair from 2022-2023. Mark is currently an At-Large Member of the AATB Board of Governors and is Chair of the Ad-Hoc DEI Committee. Mark served as Co-Chair of the Membership Committee from 2018-2023 and has driven significant changes for the betterment of all members and the Association. Mark was an inaugural member of the Uniform DARI Task Force, beginning in 2008 and continuing through completion in 2014.  

Mark is committed to sharing his experiences and transferring knowledge throughout the tissue community. He is often a featured speaker at AATB, AOPO, and member organizations. Mark is a resource for leaders in other organizations and encourages new members to get involved at all levels of the Association. 

Mark earned a Bachelor's Degree from Salem State University, an MBA from Endicott College, and is a Certified Tissue Banking Specialist. 

Jeff Cartmell

Secretary-Treasurer

MTF Biologics

Jeff has proudly been part of the tissue transplant community for over two decades, dedicating his career to advancing the field and improving patient outcomes. Since joining MTF Biologics in 2003, he has held various technical, scientific, and leadership positions, each contributing to his comprehensive understanding of tissue banking and tissue transplantation.

During the first half of his career at MTF Biologics, Jeff managed research programs to enhance the basic scientific understanding of allografts. Concurrently, he led Product Development teams in creating innovative allograft-derived medical devices, driving advancements that have had a significant impact on the field. His work in research and development was instrumental in translating scientific discoveries into practical applications that benefit patients and healthcare providers.

Currently, Jeff is the Senior Director of Intellectual Property and Grants at MTF Biologics. In this role, he oversees the MTF Biologics Intellectual Property portfolio and leads the MTF Biologics peer-reviewed Allograft Innovation Research Grant Program. Both roles support groundbreaking research which push the boundaries of what is possible in tissue transplantation.

Jeff earned a BS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Rochester and an MS in Bioengineering from The Pennsylvania State University. He completed his professional education by earning a PhD in Biomedical Engineering from Rutgers University, where his research focused on novel methods for using patellar tendon allografts in ACL reconstruction. Following his PhD, Jeff served as an NIH Post-Doctoral Research Fellow at the University of Pennsylvania, studying the structure-function relationship of tendon mechanics and healing. 

Jeff has been active in AATB for about 15 years, holding various scientific, leadership and governance roles, including STAC Chair (2013-2019) and PADC Chair (2017-2019). He is also active in other professional societies such as ASTM and the Orthopedic Research Society.

Jeff is a native of New Jersey and an avid sports fan. When not focusing on the needs of the allograft community, he enjoys spending time on the boardwalk with his wife and son, reading, or cheering on one of the many local sports teams.

Jonathan Boyd

Lonza, Inc.

Jonathan’s career in tissue donation began in 2009 at Carolina Donor Services, now HonorBridge, where he held the roles of Tissue Recovery Specialist, Tissue Donation Coordinator, Tissue Recovery Supervisor, and Medical Examiner Liaison. In 2017, Jonathan joined the American Association of Tissue Banks (AATB) as the Director of Certification and Online Learning and was later promoted to Director of Education. 

At AATB, he spearheaded significant educational initiatives and oversaw the development of educational programming, including webinars, conferences, and the Certified Tissue Bank Specialist program. Jonathan also promoted interdisciplinary collaborations with organizations such as AOPO, EBAA, AORN, NATCO, IACME, DLA, ABMDI, and NAME. Jonathan’s long-term involvement with AATB includes actively participating in the Education Committee, serving as a member and later as the staff liaison to the Recovery and Donor Eligibility Council, and co-authoring multiple industry documents, including the Guide to Medical Examiner and Coroner Cases. Jonathan has frequently presented in the AATB Webinar Series, AATB conferences, and the CTBS prep course.

Currently, Jonathan is the Director of Tissue Acquisition at Lonza, leading a multidisciplinary team that supports clinical and research initiatives reliant upon donated organs, tissues, and cells. Jonathan holds key positions within the International Association of Coroners and Medical Examiners (IACME), serving on its Board of Directors, Advocacy Committee, and Nominating Committee. He is also a member of the National Association of Medical Examiners, where he serves on the Ad-Hoc Organ and Tissue Procurement Committee.

Jonathan earned his undergraduate degree in communications and his Master of Science degree in management. He is a Certified Tissue Bank Specialist and a certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt.

Kelly Scott

DCI Donor Services Tissue Bank

Kelly Scott has nearly 20 years of experience in the tissue banking industry, currently serving as the CEO of DCI Donor Services - Tissue Bank. She joined the DCI Donor Services team in 2009 initially as the Sr. Director of Quality Systems. Previously, she also served as the Vice President of Quality Systems for IZI Medical Products, a radiological medical device manufacturer, and the Manager of Regulatory Affairs for Osiris Therapeutics. Ms. Scott holds an MBA from Vanderbilt University, a Master of Science from The Johns Hopkins University, and a Bachelor's in Chemistry from Loyola University in MD. 

Kelly is passionate about saving and improving lives through donation and transplantation. She has served on the AATB Tissue Policy Group since 2010 and the Accreditation Committee from 2011-2017, including acting as chair. She has also served as a Tennessee Donor Services Advisory Board member since 2016. 

Dean Elliott, Esq.

AlloSource 

For more than 30 years, Dean Elliott has worked in the healthcare industry managing products, sales and distribution channels, regulatory matters, personnel and general business practices to maximize the P&L of corporations. He most recently served at AlloSource as Chief Operating and Legal Officer, leading initiatives such as regulatory policy, corporate compliance, litigation, contract management and a variety of business transactions requiring review or assessment of risk.

Dean has also served AlloSource as its Associate General Counsel and Vice President of Operations. Before joining the AlloSource team, Dean’s positions included Director of Client Services for Reglera, LLC and Acting General Manager of Staodyn, Inc.

Dean holds his law degree from the Sturm College of Law and his bachelor’s degree in health from the University of Colorado at Boulder.

AlloSource recognizes the importance of Corporate Compliance and considers it a key position with Dean ensuring the company is operating in line with regulatory and legal processes to honor the gift of donation.

Dean is inspired by the gift of donation because it enables the lives of patients and their families to be forever changed.

Ryan Cormier

Accredited Tissue Banks Council

Gift of Life Michigan

Ryan Cormier began his journey in tissue banking in 2011, performing tissue recovery at Kentucky Organ Donor Affiliates (KODA). In 2012, he transitioned to a comparable role at New England Donor Services (NEDS), before assuming the position of Tissue Recovery Manager at Gift of Life Michigan in 2015. In mid-2020, he was promoted to Director of Tissue Services, overseeing both tissue recovery and the Donor Operations Center. At Gift of Life, Ryan orchestrated the implementation of novel staffing models for both departments, resulting in the doubling of tissue volume over six years and sustained annual growth. Renowned for his success in leadership development and fostering employee engagement, Ryan has consistently propelled departmental outcomes to new heights as a director. He continues to expand on previous work at Gift of Life to create standard recovery packs that were adopted by all processors Gift of Life works with to include all tissue types (Dermis, MS, CV, and BT). He has also led efforts to introduce and validate standard Gift of Life Musculoskeletal shippers, resulting in streamlined processes and supply chain efficiencies across the board. Noteworthy affiliations include CTBS since 2014, active membership in the American Association of Tissue Banks (AATB), serving as a member of both RADE and ATBC since 2015. Ryan received his bachelor’s degree in healthcare administration and a Master of Science in Organizational Leadership from Southern New Hampshire University.

Bill Cassarly

Birth Tissue Council

Regenerative Biologics, Inc.

Bill Cassarly is the Director of Operations with Regenerative Biologics (RBI). With over 25 years of experience in the tissue bank landscape, Bill has managed all facets of tissue bank productions with strong project management and decision-making skills. Before joining RBI, he spent many years in Recovery Operations at RTI Donor Services and Southeast Tissue Alliance, supervising large teams and increasing donation rates. Bill has also collaborated with medical examiners on the development of new and improved best practices for donation.

Bill holds his CTBS designation and is an active member of the AATB Birth Tissue Council.

Debbie Hutt

Donor Family Services Council

LifeNet Health

Debbie Hutt is the Senior Manager of LifeNet Health’s National Donor Family Services, bringing 14 years of dedicated experience in supporting donor families. In her role, she is committed to providing support to donor families and those who work with them. Debbie has played a pivotal role in expanding LifeNet Health’s bereavement support program, continually creating healing opportunities and activities for donor families.

Debbie has facilitated educational classes on Grief & Loss and Compassion Fatigue, tailored for medical caregivers and LifeNet Health staff. She has also been a presenter at conferences and webinars, sharing best practices and strategies for navigating difficult conversations with donor families. Debbie contributed to the creation and authorship of the Grief certificate program for the American Association of Tissue Banks (AATB) and currently serves as the Chair for the AATB Donor Family Services Council.

Debbie earned her Master of Science in Education and holds a Certification in Thanatology. Prior to her tenure at LifeNet Health, she served as a Director of Children’s Ministries and Family Ministries and led a team of consultants in direct sales as an Advanced Director. Earlier in her career, Debbie was an elementary guidance counselor with Norfolk Public Schools, where she implemented guidance programs, developed curriculum, and secured grants to enhance student services.

Sally Alrabaa, MD

Physicians Council

LifeLink Tissue Bank

Dr. Sally Alrabaa is the regional Medical Director of LifeLink Tissue Bank of Florida, Georgia, and Puerto Rico. She's an infectious disease specialist and an associate professor of medicine at the University of South Florida College of Medicine. Dr. Alrabaa has been a clinician for the past 20 years with expertise in internal medicine and infectious diseases ranging from sepsis, Tuberculosis, and other bacterial, viral, atypical, and emerging infections, as well as, infections in the organ and tissue transplant populations. 

Dr. Alrabaa's career in tissue banking started in 2018 as an associate medical director. She became involved with various AATB committees and functions soon after. In 2020, as an active member of the Physicians Council, she aided in drafting guidance for the tissue banking community during the COVID-19 epidemic based on the best available scientific knowledge at the time and her real-life experience with COVID-19 patients. She assisted with drafting recommendations regarding monkeypox screening upon the emergence of yet another virus. Dr. Alrabaa has been involved with the Tuberculosis working group since its beginning in 2021 and has assisted in drafting multiple bulletins on the subject and recommendations regarding donor screening. 

Dr. Alrabaa was the Physicians Council track session organizer for the AATB Annual Meeting in 2022, presented on Tuberculosis and risk factors, and moderated multiple sessions during the 2022 and 2023 AATB Annual Meetings. Dr. Alrabaa's leadership expertise includes her positions as Medical Director of the Complex Medicine Unit in a large tertiary center hospital, as well as, Director of the Transplant Infectious Services. Dr. Alrabaa is very familiar with what it takes to be an effective leader and how to empower and motivate others to share their opinions, expertise, and wisdom. Dr. Alrabaa served as the Physicians Council secretary between 2022 and 2024 and was recently elected to lead the Physicians Council as Chair for the 2024 to 2026 term.

Sarah Lopez

Processing and Distribution Council

United Tissue Resources

With over twenty years of tissue banking experience, Sarah began her career as a musculoskeletal tissue processing technician and advanced through managing quality and distribution systems. She is now the Senior Vice President of Tissue Operations for United Tissue Resources, working with both Donor and Distribution Services divisions serving the Central Texas donation communities. 

In 2020, Sarah was elected and served as the Vice-Chair of the Processing and Distribution Council, supporting and assisting the Chair in efforts that best serve the Council and advocate for membership participation. Recently re-elected as Chair of the PADC for a second term, she also supports the Supply Chain Subgroup and the related initiatives of the Council. She has also participated in the AATB Standards Committee and was part of the inaugural Emerging Leaders Program. She continues to engage with the program, including the most recent cohort.

Christy Martinelli

Quality Council

Precision Allograft Solutions

Christy Martinelli has over twenty years of leadership experience in the tissue banking industry in a variety of roles, most recently as the Vice President of Tissue Bank Operations at Precision Allograft Solutions. Her long career extends across multiple divisions including quality, regulatory affairs, change control, supplier management, processing, validations, product development, distribution, and inventory management in small to larger corporate and international settings. 

As the current Vice-Chair of the Quality Council (2022-2024) and a long-time Certified Tissue Bank Specialist, she has been an active member of the American Association of Tissue Banks since 2003. Most recently serving as a member of the Accreditation Committee (2019-2024), and in the Quality Council subgroups for the Annual Meeting Quality Track Planning (2022-2024), Supplier Quality Agreement Tool (2022-2023), and Change Control Best Practices Tool (2024).

Ryan Nelson

Recovery and Donor Eligibility Council

Donor Network of Arizona

Ryan Nelson is a seasoned professional with over 16 years of experience in the tissue donation industry. As the Tissue Services Manager and Medical Examiner Liaison at the Donor Network of Arizona, he has played a pivotal role in the organization's growth through his dedication to process improvement and operational efficiency.

With more than 13 years as a Medical Examiner Liaison, Ryan has built solid and respectful partnerships with county medical examiners, ensuring the integrity of death investigations while promoting higher tissue donation rates. He has also led initiatives that have significantly increased donation rates, particularly in Musculoskeletal and Pediatric Heart Valves, demonstrating his commitment to advancing best practices in the field.

Ryan holds a Bachelor of Science in Human Biology and is a Certified Tissue Bank Specialist. He has actively contributed to AATB in various roles, including on the Program Committee. Notably, he participated in the revision of Appendix III of the Tissue Donor Physical Assessment Form Requirements and has shared his expertise at numerous AATB conferences and webinars, highlighting his efforts to enhance the tissue donation landscape in Arizona.