Donate Life America Names Madison Walter-Garcia as New President and CEO
Donate Life America has named Madison Walter-Garcia, MPH, CHES, as its next President and CEO, effective September 21, 2026, according to a corporate announcement released by the organization. Walter-Garcia succeeds David Fleming, who is stepping down after leading the 501(c)(3) nonprofit for more than three decades through its national organ, eye, and tissue donation awareness initiatives.
Public Health Background and Federal Leadership Experience
Walter-Garcia transitions to the nonprofit sector following nearly a decade of progressively senior partnership and policy roles at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Most recently, she served as Associate Director for Partnerships in the Division of Foodborne, Waterborne, and Environmental Diseases. During her tenure at the federal agency, she built partnership programs from the ground up, cultivated relationships with over 1,000 stakeholders, and managed a gift portfolio through the CDC Foundation exceeding $30 million. Her operational background also includes directing partnership operations for the Vaccine Task Force during the COVID-19 response, coordinating stakeholder engagements that reached millions of nationwide participants.
Her academic training is anchored in behavioral science. Walter-Garcia earned a Master of Public Health from Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health, concentrating on behavioral science and health education. This training directly addresses the core mission of Donate Life America, which operates the National Donate Life Registry at RegisterMe.org and manages public mobilization campaigns for organ, eye, and tissue donation.
Board Perspective and Strategic Transition
Alexandra Glazier, JD, MPH, who serves as the DLA Board Chair, noted that Walter-Garcia possesses a rare combination of public health expertise and behavioral science training suited for the organization’s next operational chapter. Glazier emphasized that Walter-Garcia’s track record of building trust with diverse stakeholders and translating complex public health objectives into measurable outcomes aligns with the strategic needs of the national nonprofit sector.
Personal Stake and Future Outlook
The leadership transition occurs as the organization focuses on expanding public trust and registry participation. Walter-Garcia stated that public trust remains the foundation of the donation and transplant community’s work, emphasizing plans to collaborate closely with Donate Life State Teams, members, and partners.
The mission carries a personal dimension for the incoming executive. Walter-Garcia’s father is a living liver donor to her sister, providing her with firsthand insight into the impact of transplantation on recipient families. This background informs her approach to leading the nonprofit’s multi-media campaigns, living donor pathway education, and national brand promotion under the Donate Life insignia.