Living organ donation
Extraordinary care for an extraordinary gift
At Penn Medicine, we are recognized leaders in the living organ transplant field, and our program consistently meets and exceeds the national average in all organ transplants. Our reputation as a leader in living liver, kidney, and uterine transplantation is built on a foundation of clinical innovation, high-volume expertise, and a commitment to patient-centered care.
This level of excellence means that while you are giving the gift of life, you are receiving the highest standard of safety and personalized clinical care. Our expertise is focused entirely on supporting your health and well-being through every stage of the donation process and beyond.
Living organ transplants at Penn Medicine
Our transplant team performs dozens of living organ transplants each year, including:
Become a living organ donor
Living organ donation is a profound gift and a very personal decision. Our program has successfully taken hundreds of hero donors on this journey.
The life-changing impact of living organ donation
Many thousands of people are waiting for an organ transplant, and deceased donors don’t provide enough organs to meet the need. Living donors give organ recipients a better chance of a healthy life. Transplant outcomes are better with a living organ donation because:
- Organs from living donors last up to twice as long as organs from deceased donors.
- Recipients of living organ donation live longer than recipients of deceased organ donation.
- Transplants from living donors result in fewer complications for recipients.
Excellence in living organ donation expertise, care, and support
Our aim is to support you with the best care in every aspect of your organ donation journey—emotional, financial, and medical. We’re also here for you long after your organ donation.
At the Center for Living Donation, you can expect:
Our donors receive reimbursement for lost wages, travel, and lodging associated with organ donation. You have a 24/7 dedicated medical team, mentors, and a Living Donor Advocate to ensure you’re comfortable with your decision and get all your questions answered. Our transplant support groups are here for you before and after surgery.
We take all the necessary steps to ensure organ donation is safe for you, starting with a full evaluation and range of medical tests over several months. After surgery, your dedicated team cares for you during recovery, and your care continues with follow-up appointments during the two years after donation. At every step, we’re equally attentive to your physical and emotional health because we understand the significance of your decision to be a living organ donor.
Most organ transplant programs don’t offer living donor transplants. At the Penn Transplant Institute, we’re experts in the field. We lead the region in the number of living organ transplants, and we’re nationally recognized for our excellent outcomes.
Our living donor liver transplant program received the highest possible ranking from the Scientific Registry for Transplant Recipients (SRTR). This national organization collects transplant statistics and provides quality rankings based on a transplant center’s survival outcomes and time to transplant.
Penn Medicine’s living donor liver transplant program is the only one of its kind in the region to receive a 5-bar designation from SRTR, indicating that our transplant program exceeds expectations.
Organ donation surgery process
A dedicated, expert medical team is here for you through every step of the organ donation surgery process.
Living donor FAQs
Our staff and past donors are here to answer all of your questions about being a living organ donor.
Our doctors
Our providers work with you to plan and deliver exceptional treatment and personalized care.
Locations
Our hospitals, multispecialty medical centers, pharmacies, labs and more offer outstanding, personalized care for patients all across the region.
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Patient stories
Living kidney donor shares her experience
Living kidney donor Joanie Shappell details her experience at the Penn Transplant Institute to help others considering living donation.
Kidney donation bonds two veterans forever
Air Force veteran Morgan Slaughter saw a post about another veteran in need. What followed was a selfless act that saved the life of a stranger.
A kidney for her mom, a marathon for herself
Jen Brady donated a kidney to her mother, before training for the Boston Marathon—embodying the well-being and caregiving support she champions.