About the Institute
About the Penn Transplant Institute
The dream of curing illness and injury through transplant is probably as old as the history of healing, but the scientific knowledge that has made modern organ transplant possible developed primarily during the past 50 years. While the first successful kidney transplant—between identical twins—was performed in the 1950s, it wasn’t until the introduction of anti-rejection drugs in the late 1970s that organ transplant became an accepted and successful treatment.
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The depth and breadth of experience of the transplant teams is what distinguishes Penn from other transplant programs, according to Abraham Shaked, MD, PhD, chief of transplantation surgery at Penn and director of the Penn Transplant Institute.
“We are the best transplant center in that our experience and expertise extend beyond just heart transplants or liver transplants, to include all organs—heart, lung, liver, kidney, pancreas and multiple organs, such as heart/lung and kidney/pancreas,” said Dr. Shaked. “Our program is very busy, very experienced and very stable, but most importantly we have very, very good results.”
In fact, the success rates for all of Penn’s transplant programs are equal to, and in most cases exceed, the national averages as reported by the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS). Penn maintains its record of successful outcomes even though its physicians and surgeons are treating some of the sickest patients.
The Penn Transplant Institute works closely with Gift of Life, the regional organ procurement organization and the largest organ procurement organization in the country. The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania is an approved member of the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS). Teamed with UNOS and Gift of Life, Penn is dedicated to increasing awareness of the need for organ and tissue donation.
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Need an appointment? Request one online 24 hours/day, 7 days/week or call 800-789-PENN (7366) to speak to a referral counselor. |
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