UPMC Transplant Services Now Offers Heart Transplant Evaluations in Harrisburg

The expansion increases patient access to one of the top heart transplant programs in the nation.

September 11, 2024

HARRISBURG, Pa. – Amid the growing need for additional transplant services in the region, the UPMC Heart Transplant Program — one of the top heart transplant programs in the nation according to the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients — has opened a new evaluation clinic for heart transplants in Harrisburg.

Located at the UPMC Advanced Heart Failure Center at 111 S. Front St. Harrisburg, the opening of this pre-transplant evaluation program ensures that central Pennsylvania patients with advanced heart failure have access to pre-transplant testing close to home. Patients approved for transplant will work with the UPMC heart failure team in Harrisburg to seamlessly transition their care to UPMC Presbyterian in Pittsburgh for surgery.

“The UPMC Heart Transplant Program is committed to serving patients across the region by expanding access to pre-transplant evaluation and testing services,” says Mary Keebler, M.D., medical director of the UPMC Advanced Heart Failure Center and UPMC Heart Transplant Program. “This clinic enables us to improve access to care for patients limiting the burden of travel for pre-transplant appointments.”

Advanced heart failure patients in central Pennsylvania will be seen by Brian Corbally, D.O., cardiologist at UPMC Harrisburg, and reviewed by the transplant review board led by Dr. Keebler. Preliminary testing and evaluation can be completed in Harrisburg. If the patient is deemed a candidate for transplant, the completion of the evaluation process can happen during a single trip to Pittsburgh. This minimizes the patient’s travel and creates a seamless transition of care between the localized evaluation and prospective transplant at UPMC Presbyterian.

According to the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients, UPMC is one of the top programs in the country for patient outcomes and is the national leader in 90-day survival rate following heart transplantation and is among the top nationally for patient survival rates at 30 days and one-year post-transplant.

“Our outcomes exemplify the outstanding talent and skill of the entire transplant team,” says David Kaczorowski, M.D., surgical director, UPMC Heart Transplant Program. “Our extensive experience and legacy of excellence are unparalleled. We remain committed to innovation and achieving patient outcomes that are consistently among the best.”

In 2023, the UPMC Heart Transplant Program was the highest-volume center in Pennsylvania. The team achieves exemplary clinical outcomes and utilizes innovative solutions, including donation after circulatory death (DCD), to safely and effectively increase the number of donor organs available for those in need. In 2023, the program was one of the top utilizers of DCD hearts as a percentage of transplants performed.

With more than 1,700 adult heart transplants completed, including some patients beyond their 30th transplantation anniversary, UPMC’s rich legacy and excellent outcomes define the program as a pioneer in the field of heart transplant, now with an enhanced patient care pathway in Harrisburg.

For more information on organ transplant services in central Pennsylvania, visit UPMC.com/Transplant.