Heidi Schaefer Archive

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

On Jan. 15, Kascey Malone, CST, Aaron Williams, MD, Sean Bunch, RN, and Yatrik Patel, MD, perform one of Vanderbilt’s 184 heart transplants. (photo by Erin O. Smith)

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

Enock Adjei, MD, left, and Wali Johnson, MD, perform a liver transplant in February 2024. (photo by Erin O. Smith)

July 23, 2024

Vanderbilt Transplant Center finishes fiscal year with record 809 solid organ transplants

Vanderbilt’s adult heart, lung, liver and kidney transplant programs individually had record fiscal years, with 150 heart transplants, 90 lung transplants, 180 liver transplants and 333 kidney transplants. In addition, adult transplant teams performed three heart/lung transplants and four kidney/pancreas transplants.

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

December 19, 2023

Vanderbilt Transplant Center, Deaconess Health System partner to open new clinic in Newburgh, Indiana

The Vanderbilt Transplant Center has partnered with Deaconess Health System to open a new clinic in Newburgh, Indiana — Vanderbilt University Medical Center’s first in the Hoosier State.

By Matt Batcheldor

Nicole Hunter was the first patient to receive the novel transplant. (photo by Erin O. Smith)

September 27, 2023

VUMC performs novel reoperative lung and kidney transplant

Vanderbilt University Medical Center has performed its first combined reoperative lung and kidney transplant.

By Matt Batcheldor

April 6, 2022 Schaefer named Adult Solid Organ Transplant Center medical director
Heidi Schaefer, MD, has been named medical director of the Adult Solid Organ Transplant Center at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
By Matt Batcheldor
May 11, 2020 Grateful kidney transplant patient donates masks to VUMC
“I was really excited to have the opportunity to do something for those who had done so much for me."
By Jessica Pasley