Division of Hepatobiliary Surgery and Liver Transplantation

June 20, 2025

Vanderbilt Liver Transplant Service renamed in honor of C. Wright Pinson

Pinson, who is stepping away from his role as Deputy CEO and Chief Health System Office for VUMC on June 30, was a pioneer in the field of liver transplantation, founding the Vanderbilt Liver Transplant Program and establishing multiple transplant residency and nurse practitioner programs.

By Matt Batcheldor
Former Vanderbilt University Hospital patients who had long recoveries at the Nashville medical facility reconnect with the care teams who helped them regain their health. (photo by Susan Urmy)
March 12, 2025

Great Saves event reunites medical teams with grateful former patients and families

Former patients who recovered from serious illness and life-preserving surgeries in the SICU returned for a “Great Saves” event to share health updates and their gratitude with the people they credit with saving their lives.

By Jill Clendening
Reginald Porter, here with his wife, Tina, was the first at Vanderbilt to receive a combined liver transplant and Whipple procedure.
January 10, 2025

Novel procedure involves liver transplant, major abdominal surgery

Reginald Porter of Oak Ridge, Tennessee, received the procedure in September after being diagnosed at an area hospital in February with cholangiocarcinoma, a rare cancer that develops in the bile ducts.

By Matt Batcheldor
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
January 31, 2024

Girl’s surgery was 100th pediatric liver transplant at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt

17-year-old Lucy Scherba's liver transplant represented a new milestone for Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt.
By Jessica Pasley
December 14, 2023

VUMC performs its first combined lung and liver transplant

Connie Rankin of Memphis, Tennessee, received Vanderbilt's first combined lung and liver transplant, which involved dozens of specialists, including transplant teams for both organs.
By Matt Batcheldor
October 10, 2023

Multidisciplinary care crucial in guiding Vanderbilt employee’s bile duct cancer journey

Blane Hollingsworth became the first patient at Vanderbilt to undergo a liver transplant under the protocol for cholangiocarcinoma, or bile duct cancer.
By Matt Batcheldor
September 12, 2023

Michael Rizzari named surgical director of Living Donor Liver Transplantation

Michael Rizzari, MD, has been named surgical director of Living Donor Liver Transplantation at the Vanderbilt Transplant Center and staff surgeon in Pediatric Abdominal Transplant Surgery at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt.
By Matt Batcheldor
July 25, 2023

Vanderbilt Transplant Center reaches new record in number of procedures performed

The Vanderbilt Transplant Center performed a record number of solid organ transplants in fiscal year 2023 (FY 23) — 665 life-saving procedures among its adult and pediatric programs.
By Matt Batcheldor
June 27, 2023

Joseph Magliocca named director of the Vanderbilt Transplant Center

Joseph Magliocca, MD, has been named director of the Vanderbilt Transplant Center and surgical director of the Pediatric Liver Transplant Program.
By Matt Batcheldor
June 15, 2023

Montenovo named chief of Hepatobiliary Surgery and Liver Transplantation

Martin Montenovo, MD, has been named chief of Vanderbilt's Division of Hepatobiliary Surgery and Liver Transplantation in the Department of Surgery.
By Jill Clendening