The following article is from the Advanced Heart Failure referring provider newsletter.
The most recent release from the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients (SRTR), January 2026, confirms UW Health as the top-ranked heart transplant program in Wisconsin for several key adult outcomes, reinforcing its leadership as a trusted referral destination for patients with advanced heart failure.
UW Health achieved the best adult heart transplant outcomes statewide for:
Adult (18+): 3-month survival with a functioning deceased donor graft
Adult (18+): 1-year survival with a functioning deceased donor graft
Notably, UW Health outcomes exceed national benchmarks:
90-day survival rate: 100% at UW Health vs. 95.2% nationwide average
1-year survival rate: 97.5% at UW Health vs. 92.2% nationwide average
These SRTR measures are among the most meaningful indicators of transplant program performance, reflecting not only surgical success, but also patient selection, perioperative care, post-transplant management and long-term follow-up.
What this means for referring providers
For patients approaching advanced heart failure therapies, timely referral to a high performing transplant center can be critical. Leading survival outcomes at both three months and one year demonstrate that UW Health has the ability to deliver consistent, durable transplant success, even through the most vulnerable phases of recovery.
These results also highlight the strength of Advanced Heart Failure and Transplant model at UW Health, designed to support referring providers with:
Early consultation and pre-referral guidance
Collaborative decision-making for advanced therapies
Seamless transitions from referral to evaluation, transplant and post-transplant care
A partner in advanced heart failure care
UW Health transplant outcomes are driven by a highly coordinated, multidisciplinary team that includes advanced heart failure cardiologists, transplant surgeons, advanced practice providers and nursing, pharmacy and rehabilitation specialists.
“These outcomes reflect the strength of our multidisciplinary approach and our commitment to delivering the right therapy at the right time for each patient,” said Dr. Veli Topkara, Flesch Family Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine and medical director of heart transplantation at UW Health. “Equally important, they underscore the close partnerships we build with referring providers to ensure seamless, coordinated care across every stage of advanced heart failure management.”
Moving forward
While SRTR rankings provide an important benchmark, our primary goal remains delivering exceptional outcomes for patients and dependable partnership for referring teams. These results reaffirm the commitment at UW Health to advancing heart failure care across Wisconsin and serving as a regional leader in advanced therapies.