Organ Transplantation Program
Northwestern Medicine is a leader in transplant innovation, performing numerous groundbreaking procedures.
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Northwestern Medicine Organ Transplantation
The Northwestern Medicine Kovler Organ Transplantation Center is the longest continual provider of organ transplantation in Chicago. Since its first transplant in 1964, Northwestern Medicine has provided new organs for more than 6,000 people and has become a pioneer in transplantation research.
Watch Alberto and Soledad talk about their transplant experience and learn about the Living Donor Kidney Program from our medical and surgical team.
Why choose Northwestern Medicine for organ transplantation?
The Northwestern Medicine Kovler Organ Transplantation Center is a leader in research, innovation and patient care in the Midwest. Our teams span the spectrum of basic science, translational and clinical research, and offer novel approaches to immunosuppression, including human clinical trials in immune tolerance, state-of-the-art genomic and proteomic immune monitoring, and health services and outcomes research.
In addition, Northwestern Medicine:
- Transplants more than 400 organs each year, making the program among the top nationally in patient outcomes and the number of transplants performed
- Has performed more than 4,000 kidney transplants since the program’s inception
- Is one of the largest living donor kidney transplant programs in the country
- Is one of the largest living donor programs in the United States
- Has become a premier center for islet cell transplantation for diabetic patients
Organ donor registration
Register* to be an organ, eye and tissue donor and provide hope today to those in need.
Northwestern Memorial Hospital Celebrates 25th Anniversary of First Liver Transplant
Although Northwestern Memorial Hospital conducted its first kidney transplant in 1964, it did not expand its services to include pancreas and liver transplantation until 1993. While much has changed since those early days of organ transplantation, The Northwestern Medicine Comprehensive Transplant Center continues to be a leader in research and innovation.
Watch the below video to hear reflections from Michael Abecassis, MD, MBA, founding director of the Northwestern Medicine Comprehensive Transplant Center, and Steven Flamm, MD, chief of the Liver Program and medical director of Northwestern Medicine Liver Transplant.
Anonymous Kidney Donations Create Huge, Rare Donation Chain That Connects Them All in Remarkable Way
Six donors had no idea where their kidneys were going, but the recipients created a 12-person chain that miraculously connected all of them through their personal relationships.
Chicago Father Saves Son's Life With Kidney Transplant
Ricky de la Cruz is a 19-year-old who was born with half a heart and has been sick all his life, his mom said. Cruz's father was able to save his life by donating his own kidney.
Initiative Aimed at Educating Latino Community About Organ Donation
A new intiative at Northwestern Memorial Hospital is aimed at educating the Latino community about organ donation. NBC 5's Anayeli Ruiz has more.
Father Donated Kidney to Ailing Daughter
One year ago, a father gave his daughter the greatest gift of all -- a second chance at life. CBS 2's Suzanne Le Mignot shares their story.
Gurnee Prayer Service Connects Man with Kidney Donor
Heidi Houdek and David Young were strangers a few months ago attending different services. But in May, Young shared with members he needed a kidney transplant.
Watch now
Transplantation Programs
- Downtown (AMC)
- Northern Suburbs
- Western Suburbs
- South Suburbs
- Northwest Indiana
Six niche centers within the Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute offer patient focused, specialized care, making the Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute a leading destination for both initial diagnoses and second opinions. These niche programs include physicians, nurses and a range of multidisciplinary specialists working with patients to navigate the complex health care system, ensuring continuity of care and a seamless shift from inpatient to outpatient services and ultimately home.
Contact Us
To schedule an appointment or inquire about services at the Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, please call 312.NM.HEART (664.3278).
Cardiovascular Clinical Trials
For information regarding cardiovascular clinical trials:
- Clinical trials conducted at Northwestern Memorial Hospital and Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital: visit Clinical Trials Unit of Northwestern, send an email or call 312.926.4000
- Clinical trials conducted at Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital and Northwestern Medicine Delnor Hospital: visit Northwestern Medicine Office of Research or call 630.933.6528
Referring Physicians
Open communication and cooperation with referring physicians is a critical component of achieving high-quality care and minimizing the challenges that come with treating cardiovascular conditions. For physician-to-physician consultation regarding the best patient care, please contact the Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute at 312.NM.HEART (664.3278).
To schedule an appointment or refer a patient, please call 312.695.LUNG (5864) or toll-free 844.NEW.LUNG (639.5864).
Interested in being a living kidney donor?
Start the process by completing a Health History Questionnaire.
My donor gave life to my greatest performance.
Dr. Abecassis Wins 2018 Tripartite Prize
Michael Abecassis, MD, MBA, has been named the winner of the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine 2018 Tripartite Legacy Faculty Prize in Translational Science and Education.
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