Transplant

June 13, 2024

Study shows transplant volumes decreased, costs rose following federal policy change

The new policy changed liver allocations from a regional service area to an “acuity circles” system that assigns donor livers as far as 500 nautical miles away based on the acuity of recipients.

By Matt Batcheldor
Melissia Boynton speaks with a visitor a few days after her heart transplant. (photo by Kylie Avery)
May 17, 2024

A Mother’s Day to remember

Melissia Boynton got the call about 3 a.m. on Mother’s Day that her new heart was available. Immediately, her plans changed from a barbecue around the family pool to a middle-of-the-night drive to Nashville to get her new heart.

By Matt Batcheldor
Recovery team members included, from left, Will Tucker, MD, Stephen DeVries, DMSc, PA-C, and Christopher Schwartz, RN.
May 17, 2024

VUMC team travels to Alaska to recover a donor heart

The 5,704 nautical-mile trip is the farthest VUMC has traveled for an organ. The remarkable journey illustrates how new technologies make it possible to preserve organs longer, allowing Vanderbilt to look farther for a match.

By Matt Batcheldor
May 7, 2024

A team approach to care 

LSU baseball fan sporting a new set of lungs after VUMC transplant

By Matt Batcheldor
Flags were set up on the plaza for Vanderbilt University Medical Center’s Donate Life event. (photo by Erin O. Smith)
April 23, 2024

Events honor those involved in organ donation

Sixty-nine individuals donated their organs at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in 2023, and they and their families were saluted on April 17 at the annual Donate Life Ceremony.

By Matt Batcheldor
Peter Reese, MD, PhD
April 16, 2024

Peter Reese named to lead newly created Vanderbilt Center for Transplant Science

Peter Reese, MD, PhD, has been named the inaugural director of the Vanderbilt Center for Transplant Science.

By Matt Batcheldor
April 8, 2024

Lung transplant patient, family glad they came to a place where ‘every single person cared’

Mike Boston was turned down by eight hospitals for a double lung transplant, which would be his second, because none believed he would survive the surgery. Finally, doctors at one medical center — VUMC — thought he might.
By Matt Batcheldor
April 1, 2024

Event introduces pediatric transplant patients to their new adult transplant team providers

VUMC's adult and pediatric heart transplant programs recently collaborated to create a pediatric transplant transition day, a new event where pediatric transplant patients meet with their new adult transplant team providers to begin the transition to those providers.
By Matt Batcheldor
March 14, 2024

Immune cell profiles may guide flu vaccine timing in pediatric stem cell transplant patients

A new study led by Vanderbilt University Medical Center researchers has identified key immune cell populations that predict how well pediatric hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HCT) recipients will respond to the influenza vaccine.
By Paul Govern
February 5, 2024

Reception for Seth Karp recognizes leadership and commitment to Transplant Center

February 5, 2024

Vanderbilt performs its first pediatric living donor liver transplant

Young Cameron Campbell recently became the first pediatric patient to receive a living donor liver transplant at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt.
By Jessica Pasley
February 2, 2024

Novel device helps extend window of time to preserve hearts donated after cardiac death

In the first such procedure, Vanderbilt University Medical Center has transplanted a DCD (donation after cardiac death) heart using XVIVO Heart Assist Transport (XHAT), a novel cold organ perfusion device.
By Matt Batcheldor
January 31, 2024

Record year for the Vanderbilt Transplant Center saves 739 lives

The Vanderbilt Transplant Center established a new record in calendar year 2023 for total solid organ transplants, performing 739 lifesaving procedures among its adult and pediatric organ transplant programs.
By Matt Batcheldor
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