Vanderbilt Transplant Center Archives
Family’s gift celebrates those who make transplants possible
Aug. 26, 2021—All Coleen Leszczynski ever wanted was to be normal. Born with a congenital heart disease (CHD), she labored to breathe, having only three-quarters the oxygen capacity of a healthy person. Still, she fought to live, serving as a cardiac nurse in her native Philadelphia area for more than 16 years. She wanted to help people like her.
Concepcion named medical director of the Vanderbilt Kidney and Pancreas Transplant Program
Aug. 19, 2021—Beatrice Concepcion, MD, associate professor of Medicine, has been appointed medical director of the Vanderbilt Kidney and Pancreas Transplant Program.
Vanderbilt Transplant Center to be focus of national TV series
Aug. 17, 2021—A new documentary television series premiering this fall follows the life-saving stories of organ transplant patients at the Vanderbilt Transplant Center.
Transplant Center honored for organ donation efforts
Jul. 29, 2021—Vanderbilt University Medical Center and the Vanderbilt Transplant Center have won Platinum Recognition, the highest possible level of achievement, from the National Hospital Organ Donation Campaign of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).
Vanderbilt Transplant Center reaches new record number of transplants performed
Jul. 12, 2021—The Vanderbilt Transplant Center performed a record number of solid organ transplants in fiscal year 2021 (FY 21) — 637 life-saving procedures among its adult and pediatric programs — despite occurring entirely during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dire need to reform organ procurement rules: Karp
May. 5, 2021—A rule requiring greater accountability from organ procurement organizations (OPOs) will increase the nation’s supply of organs donated for transplantation, but it must be implemented quickly and effectively, Seth Karp, MD, director of the Vanderbilt Transplant Center, testified before Congress on Tuesday, May 4.
Organ donor’s impact continues to live on in others
Apr. 22, 2021—Ninety-one people gave the gift of life as deceased organ donors at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in 2020, and behind every one of them is a story. This is the story of Evan Snider, 19, of Franklin, Tennessee.
Pediatric liver transplant program named among nation’s best
Feb. 25, 2021—The pediatric liver transplant program at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt continues to reach milestones — the most recent being named one of the best programs in the country.
Transplant patient celebrates milestone 30th anniversary
Feb. 3, 2021—Pam Everett-Smith celebrated a milestone this past November — 30 years since she received a lung transplant at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. She is the longest-surviving single-lung transplant patient known in the United States.
Post-transplant coordinators serve as patients’ long-term advocate, supporter
Jan. 28, 2021—When a patient receives a new heart at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, that person also gains a new family, so to speak — the heart transplant team. Among the patient’s biggest advocates and supporters on that team is his or her post-transplant coordinator.
Pre-transplant coordinators ‘literally on call for something every single day’
Jan. 28, 2021—Emily Sandhaus’ phone rings in the middle of the night. The voice on the other end tells her a donor heart is available, and it’s in El Paso, Texas. She should pack a bag and report to the Emergency Department at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. A car will take her team to Nashville International Airport, where they will board a charter plane to recover, preserve and transport the heart back to VUMC for transplant.
Vanderbilt Transplant Center achieves new record for total transplants performed in 2020
Jan. 28, 2021—The Vanderbilt Transplant Center (VTC) established a new record in 2020 for total solid organ transplants, performing 611 life-saving procedures among its adult and pediatric organ transplant programs.
