HEiTC Executive Chairman Al B. Sure! to be Honored as Outstanding Texan Award by Texas Legislative Black Caucus this Wednesday in Recognition of Unparalleled Advocacy for Transplant Patients

(Austin, Texas, March 19, 2025) – Al B. Sure!, the Executive Chairman of HEiTC, the Health Equity in Transplantation Coalition, will be honored as an “Outstanding Texan Award” this Wednesday by the state’s Legislative Black Caucus for his work as a health and wellness ambassador both in the Lone Star State as well as across the nation. The significant honor will specifically recognize the global recording artist’s personal health journey, which in turn inspired him to use his platform to expand access to organ transplants and fair post-procedure care.

“Since making Texas my homebase, I have been humbled by how our leaders, especially Representative Garcia, for welcoming me here with open arms,” said Al B. Sure!, Executive Chairman of HEiTC. “I share this distinct honor as an Outstanding Texan with my transplant family, particularly with the nearly 100,000 people currently on the waitlist for that gift of life. I additionally owe this accolade to Dr. Constance Mobley and the team at Houston Methodist Hospital, who have enabled me to be here today to fight for transplant patients here in Texas and across our nation.”

Al B!’s nomination for Outstanding Texan was put forth by Texas State Rep. Josey Garcia, who has joined in HEiTC’s cause to expand access to transplantation at all levels of government. She and members of the Texas Legislative Black Caucus will bestow the distinct honor on Al B! this Wednesday evening during Royal Sonesta Hotel in Austin.

The award recognizes Al B!’s work both in Texas and across the nation to raise issues around and advocate for change in the transplantation space. In Texas, he has been an advocate for distinct medical team that saved his life and has partnered with several organizations. He was announced in October 2023 as an Ambassador for the American Foundation's Houston Liver Life Walk in association with Houston Methodist Hospital. A month later, he launched HEiTC with Rev. Al Sharpton and media executive Rachel Noerdlinger to push for live-saving blood tests to once again be covered by Medicare for regular surveillance. In a rare move, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in August 2024 restored coverage for these tests, which are able to catch early signs of a rejection, to be regularly used – instead of tying them to a need for a biopsy. Today, HEiTC continues to advocate for lifting more barriers to transplantations and post-surgery care.

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