Patrick Wells-O'Brien is Vice President of Communications and External Relations for Gift of Life Michigan, the state’s federally designated organ procurement organization. As one of the senior leaders of Gift of Life, Wells-O’Brien is responsible for internal and external communications, community engagement, public education, governmental affairs, donor family support services, and fundraising. Wells-O’Brien recently led the legislative effort for Michigan to be the first state in the nation to add the organ donor registry question to state income tax forms. In 2022, he initiated the state’s largest marketing campaign to grow the Michigan Organ Donor Registry.Prior to joining Gift of Life Michigan in January 2021, he was the founding president and CEO of FAITH Catholic, America’s largest publisher of Catholic periodicals and one of America’s largest Catholic marketing and communications services companies. FAITH Catholic serves numerous Catholic organizations with magazine publishing, communications consulting, web solutions, parish resources, and marketing services. From 2009 to 2019, O’Brien led the Diocese of Lansing communications, marketing, and technology efforts.
Prior to forming FAITH magazine, O’Brien worked in advertising serving clients such as Case, Caterpillar, Pfizer, Rhone Poulenc, and Lincoln-Mercury. O’Brien graduated from the College for Creative Studies in Detroit with a BFA in 1993 and completed two years of graduate work at the University of St. Mary of the Lake, Mundelein Seminary.
Wells-O’Brien and his husband, Demetrike, live in Ann Arbor. He serves on the board of SafeHouse, Ann Arbor. Prior board service has included: Trustee, Sacred Heart College; Trustee, Catholic Televsion Network, Board Member, Holy Cross Services