Adventist University Signs Organ Donation Agreement, Inspires Through Music

Montemorelos University (UM) formalized a new partnership with the State Ministry of Health of Nuevo León in Mexico to promote awareness about organ and tissue donation across the state. The agreement was signed on September 26, during the seventeenth World Values Encounter, held under the theme “Paths of Peace and Compassion.” The event also featured the first official performance of UM’s orchestra and choir, whose music reflected the same spirit of empathy and service that the campaign represents.

Promoting Compassion Through Action

The agreement, titled “Compassion That Gives Life: The Power of Organ Donation,” was signed by representatives of the State Ministry of Health, Montemorelos University, and La Carlota Hospital—recognized respectively as a Compassionate University (2017) and a Compassionate Institution (2023).

“This marks the beginning of a path of compassion,” said Ismael Castillo, president of Montemorelos University. “It’s not only about promoting awareness but motivating young people to take the responsibility of making a difference and registering as donors.”

Alma Rosa Marroquín, state secretary of health, joined the event virtually and commended the initiative: “In Nuevo León, we are leaders in organ transplants, but we still need greater sensitivity toward donation. More than 870 people in our state are waiting for a transplant,” she said. “I celebrate Montemorelos University’s commitment to helping us sow awareness with passion and compassion.”

Mirtala Cavazos, deputy secretary for disease prevention and control, emphasized that organ donation should become part of everyday conversations. “Often less than 10 percent of an audience is registered as a donor. This agreement will allow us to reach students early on, encouraging them to discuss donation with their families and make the decision to give life,” she said.

Expanding Awareness and Social Impact

The agreement includes specific commitments, such as awareness campaigns within the university and broader community, staff training, and the annual Fair for Life celebration. The initiative also integrates Mexico’s National Organ and Tissue Donation Day (September 26) into UM’s academic calendar. Activities will feature educational lectures, art exhibitions, and digital campaigns designed to strengthen a culture of donation.

“Our immediate plan is to launch a marketing campaign focused on organ and tissue donation awareness,” said Roel Cea, director of UM’s Health Promoting University. “We’ll later expand it through workshops and outreach initiatives, helping people view donation not just as compassion but as an opportunity to bring life and health to others.”

Montemorelos University is the first higher education institution in Mexico to sign such an agreement. Following its lead, the Autonomous University of Nuevo León, Tecnológico de Monterrey (TecSalud), and the University of Monterrey have joined the commitment, forming an academic network to raise awareness among thousands of students and families about the importance of organ donation.

Music as a Bridge for Peace and Understanding

The atmosphere of compassion extended to the event’s artistic program, where the Montemorelos University’s orchestra and choirs performed for the first time at the World Values Encounter. More than 100 musicians—students, staff, and community members—interpreted works such as “Guadalajara,” by Pepe Guízar; “Baba Yetu,” by Christopher Tin; and Handel’s “Hallelujah Chorus” from The Messiah.

“The music helped us communicate what words cannot—empathy and connection,” said Pavel Semanivsky, director of the Montemorelos orchestra. “Through every note we wanted to inspire compassion and human connection across cultures.”

For the performers the experience was both artistic and spiritual. “It’s a privilege to share God’s love through music while doing what I love,” said Adaliz De los Santos, a fifth-year music student. Grace Ngoya, a physical therapy and rehabilitation student, added, “Representing my culture through music and sharing our roots with others was deeply meaningful.”

A Shared Mission of Service

Through the leadership of its Health Promoting University Department, Montemorelos University continues to combine education, health, and art to foster social responsibility, Castillo said. “The partnership and performance together embodied UM’s vision of serving with compassion—encouraging others to give life, whether through organ donation or through the universal language of music.”

The original version of this story was posted on the Inter-American Division news site.