Transplant

February 3, 2026

1,000 lungs and countless more breaths: Vanderbilt Transplant Center commemorates landmark

Vanderbilt Health’s fourth lung transplant patient is thought to be the world’s record holder for longevity following a single lung transplant.

By Matt Batcheldor
A standard heart transplant requires surgical many types of instruments. (photo by Erin O. Smith)
January 21, 2026

New donor organ storage method helps reduce rates of severe primary graft dysfunction

Methods such as the cold storage system make it possible to preserve organs for longer after donation, expanding the pool of available organs.

By Matt Batcheldor
Kascey Malone, CST; Brandon Petree, MD; Aaron Williams, MD; Yatrik Patel, MD; and Sean Bunch, RN; work around a patient during a heart transplant surgery. (photo by Erin O. Smith)
January 14, 2026

Vanderbilt Transplant Center nation’s largest after performing record number of solid organ transplants in 2025

Through dramatic growth, the VTC is now the largest transplant center in the country by volume, according to data from the United Network for Organ Sharing.

By Matt Batcheldor
Members of the transplant team pose for a photo after surpassing 200 adult and pediatric heart transplants. (photo courtesy of Ashish Shah)
December 23, 2025

Vanderbilt Health performs record number of adult and pediatric heart transplants during 2025

As in prior years, the success of Vanderbilt Health’s transplant program is a testament to the greatness of individuals and innovations alike and to the tremendous power of teamwork.

By Matt Batcheldor
Vanderbilt’s Seth Karp, MD, testifies before a U.S. Senate committee Dec. 11.
December 15, 2025

Vanderbilt’s Seth Karp testifies about continuing need to increase organs available for transplant

More than 100,000 people in the United States are waiting for an organ transplant, and about 13 people die each day waiting.

By Matt Batcheldor
The team from Ukraine included (front row, from left) Yevhen Haidarzhi, MD, PhD, Andrii Zhylenko, MD, (back row, from left) Oleksandr Dubnevych, MD, Illia Yeremieiev, MD, and Vlad Kropelnytskyi, MD. (photo by Susan Urmy)
November 20, 2025

Ukrainian surgeons again come to VUMC to observe transplant protocols

With the help of the Vanderbilt Transplant Center and other centers, Ukraine has developed a growing transplant program in the country in the last five years.

By Matt Batcheldor
November 3, 2025

A walking miracle — patient receives three major surgeries sequentially

The patient, Theresa Stratman of Louisville, Kentucky, is now able to get to her continuing medical appointments and live without medical oxygen.
By Matt Batcheldor
October 9, 2025

Study to explore risk factors for heart disease in patients with cirrhosis and liver transplant recipients

The NIH-funded study will be the first U.S.-based prospective investigation of cirrhotic cardiomyopathy in patients with severe liver disease.
By Matt Batcheldor
October 2, 2025

New model to assess antibiotic allergies found to benefit transplant patients

By delabeling multiple antibiotics in the same visit, the Vanderbilt Health team can reduce the number of visits from patients.
By Matt Batcheldor
September 10, 2025

Family friend provides lifesaving living donor transplant for East Tennessean

With living donor liver transplants, surgery is scheduled in advance. The recipient can get a liver before becoming too sick, often within weeks if they have a compatible living donor.
By Matt Batcheldor
August 12, 2025

Vanderbilt Transplant Center finishes fiscal year with new record of 918 solid organ transplants

This marks a second record-shattering year for solid organ transplants for Vanderbilt Health, surpassing last year’s previous record with an additional 109 lives saved. 
By Matt Batcheldor
July 17, 2025

New organ recovery technique could make more heart transplants available

The method, rapid recovery with extended ultra-oxygenated preservation, involves flushing the donor heart with a cold oxygenated preservation solution after death.
By Matt Batcheldor
July 11, 2025

Buying a new license plate could save a life — if enough people buy them

A portion of the funds will go to raise awareness for organ, eye and tissue donation and fund statewide education and outreach for organ donation.
By Matt Batcheldor
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