VP of Quality & Regulatory Affairs
Nevada Donor Network
While she joined Nevada Donor Network as its Vice President of Quality & Regulatory Affairs in 2017, Jackie Warn possesses over two decades of experience within the transplant and donation community.
Her career in medicine began when she worked as a medical laboratory technician for thirteen years.Like many women, family and children required her to make a pivot in her career, towards something with more typical 9-5 hours. Jackie certainly didn’t take an easy route to advancing her career – she tackled working full time while mothering two elementary aged children AND going to school to earn her bachelor’s degree. When asked how she managed to do it all, she laughs. “Looking back, I don’t know where I found the time for everything. I was lucky to have a supportive husband and was always motivated to keep moving forward.”
Growing up in Buffalo, NY, Jackie was born into a family who mostly worked in construction. She can’t pinpoint what triggered her interest in science, she just remembers it always being there. Her family encouraged her scientific interests, with both parents urging her to follow her dreams.
Jackie’s career pursuits and passion for working with donors and donor families landed her in various locations out west, but it was in Denver that she met her influential mentor, Tom Cycyota, President & CEO of AlloSource. Without many women leaders in the industry at the time, it was Tom that saw her potential and encouraged her to further her education to open doors of opportunity.
Jackie shared her gratitude for her mentor Tom’s encouragement that lead to her growth in the industry. As a woman executive, Jackie remembers the days when there simply weren’t many women being championed to take leadership roles in scientific fields. She is proud to be one of the many women now blazing a trail of female leadership in STEM industries.
Bringing a woman’s perspective to the senior leadership team at Nevada Donor Network “has changed the dynamic of the organization,” she says, and she’s grateful for her role and the professional atmosphere at her organization.
Jackie encourages all girls and young women to pursue their interests in STEM, and is confident that, “girls can be the trailblazers for tomorrow, and change the science world.”
Jackie thinks a better job can be done of how STEM fields market themselves to young women. “Marketing needs to be aware, and more inclusive of women. Highlight women’s accomplishments. Put it in the forefront for young girls.” She recalls how rewarding doing things like presenting at Career Day events at local schools can be; “more face to face interaction to encourage young women would be really powerful.”
Her father taught her at a young age to “Never shy away, take chances. Know that you always have a voice, but make it a productive voice.” This is advice she still puts to use today.