Congratulations to the 2025 AATB Achievement Award Winners!

 2025 Recipient

Sally Alrabaa, MD, LifeLink Tissue Bank

Dr. Sally Alrabaa is the regional Medical Director of LifeLink Tissue Bank, overseeing operations across Florida, Georgia, and Puerto Rico. An infectious disease specialist and associate professor of medicine at the University of South Florida College of Medicine, she has dedicated over two decades to advancing internal medicine, infectious disease care, and public health.

Since joining LifeLink in 2018, Dr. Alrabaa has made a lasting impact through her leadership, research, and service. She played a critical role in developing guidance for the tissue banking community during the COVID-19 pandemic and contributed to recommendations addressing emerging infectious threats, including monkeypox. As a member of the Tuberculosis Working Group, she has helped establish donor screening protocols that improve safety across the field. 

As Chair of the Physicians Council, Dr. Alrabaa leads colleagues in addressing complex clinical and operational challenges and fosters collaboration across the tissue banking community. Her work exemplifies excellence in research, teaching, and service, significantly advancing public health and tissue transplantation safety. 

2025 Recipient

Diane Wilson, Solvita

Diane has dedicated her career to advancing the field of tissue banking. Since 1988, she has served as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Solvita (formerly Community Tissue Services), leading one of the nation’s largest tissue banks. Under her leadership, donation processes have been strengthened, allograft safety enhanced, and access to tissue transplants expanded nationwide.

Her service to AATB spans decades, including roles as Accreditation Inspector, Committee Chair, and Chair of the Board of Governors, where she became the first non-physician and woman to hold that position. Diane has also mentored countless professionals, sharing her expertise through the Certified Tissue Banks Specialist review course and fostering collaboration across the industry to improve donation and expand access to allografts. Her leadership, knowledge, and dedication have left a lasting mark on the field.

2025 Recipient

Walter Recker, MBA, CST, CTBS, LifeCell Corporation, An AbbVie Affiliate

Walter Recker, a Certified Tissue Banking Specialist for over 22 years, has devoted his career to strengthening the profession through education, training, and leadership. Since joining LifeCell in 2003, he has coordinated tissue recovery, provided on-site training, and overseen the national on-call coordinators to maintain the highest standards in tissue donation and recovery.

Walter has served on the Education Committee and, for the past nine years, as Chair and Vice Chair of the Certification Committee, leading a comprehensive overhaul of the CTBS exam and recertification processes. He also contributed as Vice Chair and Chair of the Recovery and Donor Eligibility (RADE) Council and as a member of the Board of Governors. He has co-edited numerous AATB guidance publications and educational programs, helping to codify best practices that continue to guide the industry today.