The UW Health Transplant Center closed 2025 with a year of continued strength, reinforcing our position as Wisconsin’s transplant leader and one of the nation’s most experienced and innovative programs.
We performed 527 transplants in 2025, continuing to build on six decades of lifesaving expertise since our first transplant in 1966.
Year defined by growth, innovation and lifesaving impact
In 2025, UW Health surgeons performed:
273 kidney transplants
122 liver transplants
8 pancreas transplants
25 heart transplants
67 lung transplants
21 simultaneous kidney-pancreas (SPK) transplants
12 combined liver-kidney transplants
1 combined heart-lung transplant
44 Renal Autotransplants
20 Ventricular Assist Device (VAD) procedures
Our program also continued its strong leadership in living donation with:
89 living kidney donor surgeries
6 living liver donor surgeries
Dual-organ transplants further expanded the program’s clinical complexity and expertise, demonstrating UW Health’s ability to care for patients requiring coordinated, multi-organ surgical management.
Innovation that translates into better outcomes
UW Health expanded its use of advanced preservation and perfusion technologies in 2025 — tools that help extend organ viability and improve patient outcomes. The liver program increased liver transplants by 23% due to device usage allowing the center accelerated its ability to transplant more organs safely and effectively.
This commitment to innovation reflected a system-wide effort to reduce wait times, expand organ availability and improve transplant outcomes the most complex cases.
National recognition in performance and outcomes
Beyond volume, UW Health’s transplant programs maintained strong national performance, including one-year survival outcomes across kidney, lung, and heart transplants that consistently met, and in many cases exceeded, national benchmarks.
These performance indicators underscore a central truth: Higher volumes translate into greater proficiency, and proficiency saves lives.
Major milestones achieved in 2025
UW Health marked several historic achievements in 2025, including:
Pancreas transplant program ranked No. 1 in the nation
Completion of the center’s 1,000th heart transplant
Completion of the center’s 2,000th pancreas transplant
Performed eight combined CABG/lung transplants
These milestones place UW Health among a select group of U.S. transplant centers with such deep history, clinical excellence and lasting patient impact.
Powered by the experts behind every transplant
Behind every transplant is a dedicated team committed to exceptional care:
Strong transplant programs whose expertise attracts patients from across the Midwest and beyond
Transplant coordinators and program staff who guide patients and families through complex care journeys
Support staff who ensure seamless, compassionate care at every step
Their collaboration and dedication remain the foundation of UW Health’s nationally respected transplant program.
Looking ahead: Celebrating 60 years of transplant leadership
The year 2025 marked a remarkable milestone for UW Health: 60 years since the organization’s first transplant in 1966. Over six decades, the program has grown from pioneering beginnings into one of the nation’s most respected transplant centers — a legacy reflected in the achievements realized throughout 2025.
From the earliest groundbreaking procedures to today’s technology-driven care, UW Health’s Transplant Center continues to advance the field while providing hope and healing to patients across Wisconsin and the nation.