County Medical Examiner's Office Honored with Partner Impact Award

Posted May 13, 2025
Posted by Medical Examiner and Public Relations

The Pottawattamie County Medical Examiner’s Office has been recognized with the 2025 Partner Impact "Gratitude" Award from the Iowa Donor Network (IDN) in honor of its continued partnership and outstanding contributions to organ and tissue donation efforts in Iowa. 

Presented by IDN Partner Relations Coordinator, Madelyn Clark, during a Board of Supervisors meeting, the award celebrates the invaluable collaboration, guidance, and support that the Pottawattamie County Medical Examiners team has provided over the years. The Gratitude Award is one of several recognitions included in IDN’s Partner Impact Awards, previously known as the LEGACI Awards, which highlight excellence and commitment among Iowa’s donation partners. 

“We are so appreciative of this recognition by The Iowa Donor Network,” stated Dr. Christopher Elliott, Medical Examiner for Pottawattamie County. “Over the years we have developed an excellent collaborative partnership. The Pottawattamie County Medical Examiner’s Office takes pride in serving the residents of our county with expertise and compassion in very stressful and sensitive times for families. Our team approaches each individual death uniquely with professionalism to help grieving families through this difficult time. We take great satisfaction in helping to carry out the wishes of the deceased as they bless others with the legacy of a gift of donor tissue and life.” 

Staff members from the Medical Examiner’s Office present at the ceremony included: 

• Dr. Christopher Elliott, Medical Examiner 

• Cody Pane, Chief Medical Examiner Investigator/Director 

• Felica Luczek, Chief Deputy Medical Examiner Investigator/Coordinator 

• Kalen Knight, Medical Examiner Investigator 

• Brittany Chapman, Medical Examiner Investigator 

In 2024, the Pottawattamie County Medical Examiner’s Office made 123 total referrals to the Iowa Donor Network, contributing to life-changing donations that included: 

• 7 skin donors 

• 7 bone donors 

• 9 saphenous vein donors 

• 9 femoral vein donors 

• 1 heart valve donor 

• 9 tissue donors 

Each tissue donor can potentially impact 50 to 300 individuals, underscoring the critical role the Medical Examiner’s Office plays in helping Iowans give the gift of life.  

“This is 450 - 2,700 potential lives forever changed because those donors said yes, and they only had the opportunity to say yes because Pottawattamie County called those referrals in,” explained Madelyn Clark. “The 2025 year to date data shows five tissue donors so far, once again helping to honor these tissue donors and their legacies.” 

This is not the first time the Pottawattamie County Medical Examiner’s Office has received statewide recognition. In 2023, the office was honored with IDN’s Innovation Award for its forward-thinking approach and dedication to donation processes. Read about the 2023 award here. 

While it might seem like an obvious collaboration between the Medical Examiner’s Office and the Iowa Donor Network, it’s worth noting there is no legal requirement for medical examiner agencies to call organizations like IDN.  

“The Pottawattamie County Medical Examiner’s Office is truly going above and beyond in helping to honor the wishes of the donors in your community,” added Clark. “Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for extending donor’s legacies.”  

Pottawattamie County is proud to support the work of its Medical Examiner’s Office and deeply grateful for the impact its team continues to make on lives across Iowa. To learn more about the Medical Examiner’s Office, visit https://www.pottcounty-ia.gov/medical_examiner/