Kelly Schlendorf

In 2024, more than 500 patients were referred to Vanderbilt for transplant consideration from more than 15 U.S. states, including many patients considered too high risk for transplant at other programs. (photo by John Russell)
January 13, 2025

Vanderbilt Transplant Center sets world record for heart transplants in 2024

Vanderbilt transplanted 36% more hearts in 2024 than 2023. In 2024, 10 of the lifesaving procedures were performed on pediatric patients.

By Matt Batcheldor
Vanderbilt’s 2,000th heart transplant patient, Wes Carter, with his family: wife, Ashley, daughter, Presley (4) and son, Gentry (7).
January 6, 2025

Heart transplant program reaches new landmark

The recipient of the 2,000th transplant was Wes Carter, 37, a real estate agent from Pensacola, Florida, who first noticed an irregular heart rhythm in his mid-20s.

By Matt Batcheldor
Ashton Bertel, left, and Lexi Browning were among the patients who came to the pediatric transplant transition day. (photo by Susan Urmy)
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
October 5, 2023

Study finds no difference in heart transplant outcomes using organs donated after circulatory death and after brain death

A Vanderbilt study found no difference in one-year survival and other outcomes among heart transplant patients who received their new organs from from donation after circulatory death and donation after brain death.

By Matt Batcheldor
February 23, 2023

2022 another strong year for Vanderbilt Transplant Center

By Matt Batcheldor
January 12, 2021

VUMC now leads world in heart transplantation

Vanderbilt University Medical Center performed more heart transplants in 2020 than any other center in the world — 124 adult hearts, 23 pediatric hearts and VUMC’s first heart-lung transplant since 2006.

By Matt Batcheldor
October 8, 2020

COVID patient’s heart-lung transplant is world’s first

Vanderbilt University Medical Center has performed the world’s first dual heart-lung transplant of a COVID-19 patient.
By Matt Batcheldor
May 6, 2020

Ventricular assist device program hits major milestone

VHVI’s cardiac surgery and heart failure teams recently celebrated a milestone — implanting the 500th adult patient with a ventricular assist device.
By Matt Batcheldor
January 16, 2020

VUMC tops in nation for number of heart transplants performed last year

Vanderbilt University Medical Center tied for first place as the busiest heart transplant program by volume in the United States in 2019.
By Matt Batcheldor
December 20, 2019

Hepatitis C–positive donors a viable option to expand heart donor pool

Hepatitis C-positive heart donors offer a strategy to safely expand the donor pool and allow more patients to undergo transplant.
By Matt Batcheldor
August 13, 2019

Tricia Burgess thought she had seasonal allergies. She actually needed a heart transplant.

“I didn’t even know I was sick. I’m thankful that Vanderbilt saved my life.”
By Matt Batcheldor
July 12, 2018

Transplant Center leads way in using hearts from hepatitis C donors

Medical teams at the Vanderbilt Transplant Center (VTC) are leading the way in utilization of hepatitis C-exposed donors for heart transplantation.
By Jessica Pasley
February 15, 2018

Schlendorf named adult heart transplant medical director

Kelly Schlendorf, MD, MHS, assistant professor of Medicine, has been named medical director of Vanderbilt University Medical Center’s (VUMC) Adult Heart Transplant Program.
By Jessica Pasley
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