Transplant Archive — Page 1 of 23

Healthcare staff and leaders gather in a hospital corridor as two men cut a red ribbon during the opening of a new bronchoscopy suite.
October 26, 2026

State-of-the-art Bronchoscopy Laboratory will transform pulmonary care for Vanderbilt Health patients

Bronchoscopy is a procedure that allows medical teams to view, treat and biopsy tissue inside the lungs using a thin, flexible tube called a bronchoscope. The new space will double capacity to allow 5,000 bronchoscopies a year.

By Jill Clendening
Smartphone screenshot of a “VIRTUAL KIDNEY DOCTOR” interface showing a “Benefits of kidney transplant” section, a video thumbnail with a play button, a response button, a checkbox to receive details by email, and “Go Back” and “Next” buttons.
October 21, 2026

The virtual doctor will see you now: AI-powered avatars, chatbots show potential in transplant research

Two Vanderbilt Center for Transplant Science studies show the efficacy of having a virtual conversation with an avatar or chatbot. In the latest version of one of the interfaces, patients can even choose the race and sex of the avatar.

By Matt Batcheldor
Three men pose indoors; the center man in a white medical coat holds a North Patchogue Fire Department appreciation plaque, with a man in a black shirt on the left and a man in a navy shirt on the right.
October 14, 2026

Chance encounter brings New York firefighter to Vanderbilt Health for heart transplant

Bob Meyer got on the heart transplant list locally in New York. He had no way of knowing at the time that a chance encounter would point him to the Vanderbilt Transplant Center, and he would receive a new heart nearly 1,000 miles away.

By Matt Batcheldor
A young girl with long light-brown hair wears a bright pink patterned cap and pink shirt while being held outdoors; she appears to be calling out or laughing.
October 7, 2026

First-of-its-kind heart transplant gives Sissy a second chance

The novel technique could help increase the number of donor hearts available to children awaiting transplant and reduce the time they spend waiting.

By Christina Echegaray
Vanderbilt Health performed a record number of solid organ transplants in fiscal year 2026 — 981 lifesaving procedures among its adult and pediatric programs. (photo by Erin O. Smith)
October 7, 2026

Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt leads breakthrough heart recovery method for pediatric transplants

Surgeons reported using the novel technique known as REUP (rapid recovery with extended ultraoxygenated preservation) to transplant five donor hearts in children. Since then, five more children were saved successfully.

By Christina Echegaray
Group of physicians and medical staff posing together indoors at the Vanderbilt Transplant Center; one person wears a white coat and several wear identification badges.
October 6, 2026

Ukrainian health care teams visit to learn best practices and take their knowledge home

Ten Ukrainian health care professionals visited the Vanderbilt Transplant Center, Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center and the Department of Biomedical Informatics.

By Matt Batcheldor