Richmond-based UNOS CEO announces retirement

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- Maureen McBride, CEO of the United Network for Organ Sharing, a Richmond-based organization that is federally contracted to oversee organ transplants in the U.S., announced her retirement on Thursday.

On Thursday, Dec. 11, UNOS announced that McBride will retire on Dec. 28 after 30 years with the organization.

Mark Johnson, who currently serves as a member of the UNOS Board of Directors, will serve as interim CEO, according to UNOS.

McBride's retirement reportedly comes one day before UNOS' federal contract expires.

As of mid-November, the organization said in a post on social media that it had begun conversations about a new agreement, but no formal contract negotiations had yet begun.

UNOS said in the post that the government owes UNOS about $20 million in reimbursement, with more than $13 million past due.

During the federal government shutdown, financial constraints reportedly caused UNOS to furlough and lay off hundreds of employees. The organization also had to pause "much of its critical work," including some committee work that affected organ allocation and patient care.

Prior to the shutdown, in July, McBride attended a House subcommittee hearing alongside federal officials, who slammed the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network after multiple glaring issues came to light regarding organ transplantation.