Faces of Compassion: Paytra Stein, a donor family member’s path to transplant care

5 days ago | Kristin Eggebraaten | @keggebraaten

For Paytra Stein, organ donation is deeply personal. She was just 13 years old when her family experienced the sudden loss of her 15-year-old brother Scott in an accident. In the midst of heartbreak, her family made the decision to donate Scott's organs and tissues - a decision that would go on to impact countless lives, including Paytra’s.

“Organ donation has shaped my life in ways that I never could have imagined,” Paytra shared. “It helped direct me to a rewarding career as a nurse, and I now serve as one of the nurse educators in transplant.”

Today, Paytra supports nurses caring for transplant patients, grounding their work in empathy and respect for every gift.

What is your role at Mayo Clinic, and where are you based?

I am a nursing education specialist supporting the Cancer and Transplant Division at Mayo Clinic in Florida. I’ve been with Mayo Clinic for more than 30 years and have spent much of my career caring for transplant patients and supporting transplant teams.

Can you share a bit about your personal connection to donation?

My brother Scott became an organ donor after a tragic accident. Walking through that experience reshaped how I understand loss, hope and the ripple effects of generosity.

How does that personal connection influence how you approach your work each day?

As an educator, I teach and support nurses caring for patients before and after transplant so they can confidently care for patients and teach them how to take care of this tremendous gift. I draw on both my clinical experience and my personal connection to help nurses provide patients with compassionate, informed care throughout the transplant journey.

Can you share more about how your experience shapes the way you connect with patients and families?

Having been on the donor side helps me remind patients that while their second chance at life comes from an immeasurable loss, the gift was given with profound hope and love.

What does compassion mean to you in transplant care?

Compassion means honoring the donor’s legacy, recognizing the recipient’s courage and respecting the emotions families carry. It’s communicating clearly and calmly, advocating during complex moments and teaching nurses not just what to do but how to truly be present.

What do you wish more people understood about organ donation and transplantation?

Organ donation is a remarkable act of love and transplantation is a shared community effort. Behind every successful transplant is a network of donor families, recipients, clinicians, nurses, educators and coordinators all connected by generosity and trust.

How has this work and your experience changed the way you see gratitude?

Transplant has turned gratitude from a feeling into a practice. Because of my brother Scott, I see every interaction as an opportunity to honor a gift - through clear communication, advocacy and presence. Gratitude shows up in teaching nurses to anticipate needs, taking the extra minute to soften a hard moment and stewarding the trust patients and families place in us.

Beyond her role at Mayo Clinic, Paytra continues to honor life and legacy through her service as president of the North Florida Association Friends of the Nightingale Nursing Honor Guard, a volunteer organization that pays tribute to nurses at the time of their death. As a donor family member, this work reflects her enduring commitment to honoring generosity, service, and the meaning behind every gift.

Paytra is also a proud wife and mother in an eagle Scout family – where servant leadership is a core part of their values.

About Faces of Compassion

Faces of Compassion is a monthly series highlighting members of the Mayo Clinic Transplant Center team who are personally connected to organ, eye and tissue donation or transplantation. Through their stories, we honor the compassion and lived experience that inform the care our transplant teams provide every day.

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