Marc Coronel
TOPIC
The Courage to Ask: How a Simple Story Can Save a Life
Every 14 minutes, someone joins the kidney transplant waiting list, yet thousands of viable kidneys are discarded annually. Marc Coronel, a kidney transplant recipient and advocate, redefines courage by revealing how he defied medical skepticism to find his own living donor through social media. For over a decade, Marc has empowered countless patients to harness digital storytelling to save lives, proving that asking for help publicly isn’t desperation—it’s bravery. His talk challenges the stigma around asking for help and shows how individual voices can drive real-world impact in healthcare, urging us to rethink how we confront life-or-death challenges.
ABOUT
Marc Coronel is a kidney transplant recipient, patient advocate, and social media strategist focused on transforming how patients find living organ donors. Diagnosed with FSGS, Marc successfully found a living kidney donor by sharing their story on social media, an experience that ignited their passion for advocacy. For over a decade, Marc has guided patients in using digital storytelling to connect with potential donors and advocate for themselves. Their work extends to influencing healthcare policies and engaging with congressional leaders to improve organ donation and transplant accessibility. As a speaker, consultant, and storyteller, Marc shares a unique perspective on courage in medical adversity, aiming to challenge the stigma around asking for help and highlight the life-saving impact of sharing personal stories.