Westwood, Kan. (July 21, 2026) – Midwest Transplant Network and its Board of Directors is pleased to name Lori Markham, RN, MSN, CCRN, CPTC as the new President and Chief Executive Officer. She will lead the organization beginning Aug. 3. Markham succeeds Jan Finn, who announced her retirement earlier this year after a 35-year career with MTN. Finn started in 1990 and advanced through leadership roles, serving the last nine as President and CEO.
Markham brings more than 25 years of progressive leadership in organ and tissue donation to her new role. Since 2017, she has served as Vice President and Chief Clinical Officer and was responsible for directing strategy and operations across the organization’s complex, multi-state donation service area, as well as overseeing donor care, surgical recovery, aviation operations, regulatory compliance and stakeholder engagement.
Her career at Midwest Transplant Network started in 1996 as an Organ Procurement Transplant Coordinator. She’s held nearly every clinical leadership role at the organization since, including Director of Organ Procurement and Family Services and Corporate Clinical Officer. By training, she is a critical care registered nurse and earned a Master of Science in Nursing (Nurse Executive) from Research College of Nursing at Rockhurst University and is a Certified Procurement Transplant Coordinator.
She is widely recognized as a national authority in organ and tissue recovery, currently serving as the Chair of the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) Organ Procurement Organization Committee. She serves on the OPTN Allocation Out of Sequence and Normothermic Regional Perfusion national workgroups, as well as the Association of Organ Procurement Organizations (AOPO) Foundation Board of Directors and the AOPO Donation After Circulatory Death (DCD) National Task Force. She is a past member of the North American Transplant Coordinators Organization (NATCO) Board of Directors.
“I had the best job, and I thought I would do that forever. Never did I dream I’d be sitting in the CEO role. I’ve organically grown into the position, and I’ve been afforded so many great opportunities by Midwest Transplant Network. I’m very excited to see where I can take our organization,” said Markham.
“I will ensure that MTN’s culture remains intact, that our people are cared for, and that we continue to be a top-performing organ procurement organization. I really think it comes back to our mission and our people who are dedicated to doing the work of organ, eye and tissue donation.”
“It is with great pleasure that I share my enthusiasm for Lori’s selection as my successor. We have worked together for decades to build MTN’s strong culture and commitment to accountability and success. We care deeply about our community and the staff who extend donor hero legacies to inspire hope and enrich lives,” said Jan Finn, RN, BSN, MSN, and retiring President and Chief Executive Officer.
“I am confident Lori will provide exceptional leadership for MTN, and I am excited to see what the future holds.”
Finn and Markham have worked side-by-side throughout their career.
“Jan has been my boss for 30 years. Not many people can say that when you think about your professional path. I’ve watched her grow and do amazing things, obviously. I’ve been able to learn from her, and I am grateful,” said Markham.
MTN’s Board of Directors partnered with executive search firm WittKieffer on a national search before selecting Markham, whose promotion from within ensures continuity of leadership and a smooth transition for staff, hospital partners, donor families and community partners.
Midwest Transplant Network remains a national leader in organ, eye and tissue donation. Under Markham’s leadership, the organization will continue its decades-long commitment to giving the gift of hope and sharing life with patients and families across Kansas, western Missouri and the country.
About Midwest Transplant Network
Incorporated in 1973, Midwest Transplant Network facilitates organ, eye and tissue donation in partnership with hospitals and other professional partners. MTN serves the state of Kansas and western two-thirds of Missouri; its central office is in Westwood, Kansas, and satellite offices are in Wichita, Kansas, and Columbia and Joplin, Missouri. MTN commemorated 50 years of service in 2023.
Midwest Transplant Network had 13 organ donors in 1972. In 2025, Midwest Transplant Network recovered 1,080 organs from 371 donor heroes and recovered eyes and tissue from 1,682 donor heroes. The growth reflects the thoughtfulness of people in Kansas and western Missouri, the strong support from hospital and community partners, and a commitment to continual improvement to save more lives.