heart transplant Archive — Page 1 of 6

Ashish Shah, MD, center, holds a plaque of appreciation from the North Patchogue Fire Department in Long Island, New York. Bob Meyer, left, is a volunteer firefighter for the department who received a heart transplant at the Vanderbilt Transplant Center, performed by Shah. Jim Hawley, BSN, RN, right, is a former Vanderbilt nurse who made his old friend, Meyer, aware of the Vanderbilt Transplant Center.
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
October 13, 2026

Best practices for referring patients for heart transplant subject of JAMA invited review

A main takeaway is it’s never too early for a provider to refer a patient to a transplant specialist for evaluation if they are concerned.

By Matt Batcheldor
Heart transplant patient Aleah (Sissy) Keasling.
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
August 10, 2026

Molecular mapping reveals hidden cellular programs in heart transplant rejection

Study provides a unique resource to guide future research on acute rejection diagnosis, therapeutic response prediction, and risk for chronic rejection.

By Leigh MacMillan
July 22, 2026

Vanderbilt Transplant Center finishes record fiscal year with 981 solid organ transplants

The record year was made possible by the selfless acts of organ donors.

By Matt Batcheldor