Celebrating Transplant Excellence
Established in 1981, UPMC Transplant Services has performed more than 20,000 organ transplants. That includes liver, kidney, pancreas, small bowel, heart, lung, double-lung, single-lung, and multiple-organ transplants. As a pioneer in solid-organ transplantation, our program has been challenged with some of the most difficult and complex cases.
Experience Matters
At UPMC, we provide patients with education and step-by-step support throughout their transplant journey. Our program is comprised of experienced transplant surgeons, hepatologists, nephrologists, pulmonologists, cardiologists. We also have a support team that includes transplant coordinators, social workers, financial/insurance coordinators, pharmacists, nurse practitioners, and dietitians.
Transplant Milestones
- 1964: Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh performed its first pediatric kidney transplant.
- 1981: Thomas E. Starzl, MD, joined UPMC and led the team that performed Pittsburgh's first liver transplant.
- 1984: World’s first heart-liver transplant at Children’s.
- 1989: World’s first heart-liver-kidney transplant performed at UPMC.
- 1996: Children’s created the nation’s first pediatric intestinal care center.
- 1997: Children’s performed the first living-donor liver transplant.
- 2008: UPMC performed its 500th intestinal transplant.
- 2010: Children’s performed the world’s first pediatric ventricular assist device transported by air for a child in heart failure.
- 2011: UPMC completed 3,000th cardiothoracic transplant.
- 2011: Children’s performed its first hepatocyte transplant.
- 2013: UPMC surgeons performed the nation’s first female double-hand transplant.
- 2019: UPMC was the only center in the country to perform more living-donor than deceased-donor liver transplants.
- 2021: UPMC performed 76 adult and pediatric living-donor liver transplants (72 adult, 4 pediatric).
Care Close to Home
Today, UPMC is one of the oldest and largest transplant programs in the country. We are committed to improving access to transplant. That is why we have expanded our program to offer lifesaving transplant care in Pittsburgh, Erie, and central Pennsylvania, as well as transplant evaluations in north central Pennsylvania.
UPMC and Donate Life America
In 2016, UPMC and Donate Life America partnered with goals to reduce the number of people on the pediatric and adult liver and kidney waiting lists, reduce waiting-list deaths, and improve access to transplants nationally. Follow the UPMC and Donate Life America Living Donor Transplant Facebook page to become part of our transplant community!
Meet Alan, Liliana, Joy, and Alecia
Learn about the life-saving impact organ donors can make.
Alan and Amanda
Alan was diagnosed with primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) in 2008 and was able to manage the disease on his own until 2020, when his disease progressed and his liver began to lose function. Alan's wife, Amanda, was a perfect match and was willing to be his living-liver donor. They traveled from North Carolina to the UPMC Liver Transplant Program in Pittsburgh for the transplant.
Read Alan and Amanda’s story.
Liliana and Briana
Liliana was born with a large mass in her abdomen which led to several health conditions — it affected many of her major organs including her kidneys. She needed a kidney transplant by age 2, and her mom, Briana, stepped up to be her living donor. “I was incredibly happy and felt so blessed that I was a match for Liliana since she had so many other things up against her,” Briana says.
Read Liliana and Briana’s story.
Joy Prestosh
Joy was diagnosed with peripartum cardiomyopathy after the birth of her daughter. As her condition worsened, Joy’s local doctor thought she might be a candidate for a heart transplant. The then-26-year-old was taken by helicopter to UPMC Presbyterian. Joy was only on the waiting list for a week before receiving her new heart. Now, 40 years later, Joy continues to be cared for by UPMC.
Read Joy's story.
Alecia
After Alecia was diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension, she was determined to improve her health and live life to the fullest. She received a lung transplant at UPMC and is looking forward to more special moments and adventures with her family. “I can’t say enough good things about everyone who treated me at UPMC. The doctors, the nurses – down to the team in the cafeteria. There are very few people who I can say anything but amazing things about,” Alecia says.
Read Alecia's story.
