CENTENNIAL, Colo., Jan. 24, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — AlloSource, one of the nation’s largest providers of cartilage, cellular, bone, skin and soft-tissue allografts for use in surgical procedures and wound care to advance patient healing, announced the creation of the Dr. Steven Gitelis Inspiration Award. The award honors a doctor or clinician that inspires AlloSource through his or her work in treating patients with donated human allografts. Dr. Brian Cole of Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush University Medical Center is the inaugural 2017 recipient.
The award’s namesake, Dr. Steven Gitelis, is one of the founding physicians of AlloSource, recognizing the need for donated human tissue to heal patients through his work at Rush University Medical Center. Through his decades as a highly regarded orthopaedic surgeon, Dr. Gitelis used donated human tissue in complex surgical procedures. He understands the selfless gift of human tissue donation and passes along that gratitude to his patients.
“I’m honored and humbled to have this award named after me,” said Dr. Gitelis. “Dr. Cole and I share the same commitment to advancing medicine for patients and AlloSource has been an important part of this journey.” 
Inaugural award recipient Dr. Cole uses allografts to help his patients heal from a variety of injuries and understands the importance of the gift of tissue donation. He is a Professor in the Department of Orthopaedics and a physician at Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush in Chicago, Illinois. He holds a dual appointment as Professor in the Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology and was appointed as Chairman of Surgery at Rush’s Oak Park Hospital in 2011.
“Dr. Cole has been a great partner to AlloSource and a staunch advocate for the use of allografts,” said AlloSource President & CEO, Thomas Cycyota. “We appreciate his dedication to his patients and advancing the science of medicine. Dr. Cole, like Dr. Gitelis, provides healing not only to his patients, but also to tissue donor families by giving them the knowledge that their loved one lives on through donation.”
Founded in 1994, AlloSource is inspired by tissue donors to improve patient healing and advance medicine, serving as a trusted partner for cellular and tissue therapies. By focusing on quality, safety, service and a commitment to its mission, AlloSource has grown into one of the nations’ largest tissue networks in the country.
About AlloSource
AlloSource is one of the largest nonprofit cellular and tissue networks in the country, offering more than 200 types of precise cartilage, cellular, bone, skin and soft-tissue allografts to advance patient healing. For more than 20 years, AlloSource’s products have bridged the proven science of allografts with the advanced technology of cells, offering life-saving and life-enhancing possibilities in spine, sports medicine, foot and ankle, orthopedic, reconstructive, trauma and wound care procedures. As the world’s largest processor of cellular bone allografts, fresh cartilage tissue for joint repair and skin allografts to help heal severe burns, AlloSource delivers unparalleled expertise and service to its growing network of surgeons, partners, and the country’s most reputable organ procurement organizations. The company is accredited by the American Association of Tissue Banks and is headquartered in Centennial, CO. For more information, please visit allosource.org or our educational website, allograftpossibilities.org.
Media Contact
Megan Duggan
AlloSource
720. 382. 2766
mduggan@allosource.org