Vanderbilt Transplant Center Archive — Page 1 of 16

Smartphone screenshot of a “VIRTUAL KIDNEY DOCTOR” interface showing a “Benefits of kidney transplant” section, a video thumbnail with a play button, a response button, a checkbox to receive details by email, and “Go Back” and “Next” buttons.
October 21, 2026

The virtual doctor will see you now: AI-powered avatars, chatbots show potential in transplant research

Two Vanderbilt Center for Transplant Science studies show the efficacy of having a virtual conversation with an avatar or chatbot. In the latest version of one of the interfaces, patients can even choose the race and sex of the avatar.

By Matt Batcheldor
Three men pose indoors; the center man in a white medical coat holds a North Patchogue Fire Department appreciation plaque, with a man in a black shirt on the left and a man in a navy shirt on the right.
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
Group of physicians and medical staff posing together indoors at the Vanderbilt Transplant Center; one person wears a white coat and several wear identification badges.
October 6, 2026

Ukrainian health care teams visit to learn best practices and take their knowledge home

Ten Ukrainian health care professionals visited the Vanderbilt Transplant Center, Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center and the Department of Biomedical Informatics.

By Matt Batcheldor
Harold Scott was the first patient at Vanderbilt Health to receive a transplant of an HIV-positive organ into a HIV-positive recipient. (photo by Erin O. Smith)
September 17, 2026

Vanderbilt Health transplants first HIV-positive organ into HIV-positive recipient

Harold Scott of Lebanon, Tennessee, received the kidney transplant from a deceased donor in July. He is doing well and wants to spread the word about this new frontier in organ transplantation.

By Matt Batcheldor
Two women pose together outdoors, smiling at the camera; one wears a floral dress and the other wears a pale yellow jacket.
September 9, 2026

25 years ago, Jill Grandas’ actions on 9/11 helped save a baby girl’s life. Last week, they met.

A donor liver needed to get from Vanderbilt to a hospital in Texas to save 6-month-old Kareena’s life. The problem: In the wake of the terrorist attacks, there were no planes flying.

By Wayne Wood
Three masked medical professionals perform open-heart surgery in an operating room, surrounded by monitoring equipment, surgical instruments, tubing, and a heart-lung machine labeled “PLS-EMC.”
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