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Programs and research
Quality and experience you can trust
On a yearly basis, UW Health consistently performs more transplants than most hospital systems. Our wait times are among the shortest in the region, and our outcomes are excellent. Our transplant teams have the experience you need for the very best results.
We are one of just six centers in the nation — and the only center in Wisconsin — actively transplanting adult and pediatric patients requiring heart, kidney, liver, lung, pancreas, multi-organ or renal autotransplant. Our living donation program is among the nation’s largest and serves living kidney and liver donors. Our organ and tissue donation program is a Health Resources and Services Administration best-practice site and leads the nation in serving deceased organ and tissue donors.
Innovation and research
UW Health is part of an academic medical center. We create and test new ways to help transplant patients live longer and reduce risks for living donors.
Our history is rich in innovations that forever changed the world of transplantation, including the discovery of UW Solution, the first successful cold-storage fluid developed to maintain donated organs during transport to the recipient, used for decades in organ recoveries worldwide; and CellCept, one of the most widely adopted anti-rejection medicines.
Some of our current work includes studying new medicines that reduce the side effects of immunosuppression. We are also looking at ways to improve long-term survival rates for organ transplant patients.
Learn more about our transplant research and clinical trials
Renowned adult, pediatric and living donor transplant programs
Injury, cancer, diabetes, heart failure and other diseases can damage organs. Organ transplant offers new hope for a full and healthy life for people with end-stage organ failure.
At UW Health, we use advanced transplant techniques. Many of these techniques were created by our team and are now used throughout the world. Our living donation programs are among the largest and most successful in the nation. Our personalized services separate our program from other large transplant centers. We welcome you to our transplant and donation family.
Learn more about our adult organ transplant programs:
Heart transplant
We provide heart transplants to treat heart failure and heart disease. Our wait times are among the nation’s shortest. We are one of just five centers in the nation transplanting hearts from cardiac death donors using a device that preserves heart function between donation and transplant. We use minimally-invasive techniques to improve their health and for some, as support while they wait for a transplant. We proudly serve veterans as a Veteran’s Administration-approved transplant program.
Kidney transplant
We are among the nation’s largest kidney transplant programs and offer many options for kidney donation and transplant. We provide both living donor and deceased donor kidney transplants.
Liver transplant
We offer living and deceased donor liver transplants. A liver transplant helps people with liver failure and some liver diseases, such as hepatitis C and cirrhosis. We proudly serve veterans as a Veterans Administration-approved transplant program.
Lung transplant
A lung transplant helps people with advanced lung disease. We treat the most complex lung patients, including multi-organ transplants. Our wait times are very short, and our outcomes are excellent. We are proud to serve veterans as a Veterans Administration-approved transplant program.
Pancreas transplant
We perform more pancreas transplants than any other program in the United States. A transplant may be an option if you are living with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes or if your pancreas was removed.
Pancreas/kidney transplant — We are the largest combined kidney/pancreas transplant program in the United States. A pancreas/kidney transplant ends diabetes and replaces a kidney damaged by the disease. Learn more about our pancreas-kidney transplant quality
Autologous islet cell — An autologous islet cell transplant treats chronic pancreatitis. Your damaged pancreas is removed and your islet cells are placed in your liver where they make insulin. Learn more about our autologous islet cell transplant clinic
Renal autotransplant
A renal autotransplant helps people who suffer chronic loin pain, most commonly due to loin pain hematuria or nutcracker disease. We are the largest renal autotransplant program in the nation serving adults and adolescents.
Multiple organ transplant
Our surgeons are experienced in multi-organ transplants. They work with their fellow experts in other organ programs to manage the complex care of patients who need more than one organ transplanted.
Living donation program
Living donation occurs when a living person provides a kidney or a portion of their liver to someone who needs a transplant. An organ from a living donor gives patients the best chance of a healthy life. At UW Health, we provide education, information and support to those considering the gift of a living donation. We honor and celebrate our living donors heroes.
Learn more about our living kidney and living liver organ donation programs.
Pediatric transplant services
Renowned experts, personalized care
Learn more about our Kids heart, kidney, liver, lung, pancreas, renal auto and multiple-organ transplant programs and support services.
Support Programs
Our team focuses on you and your specific needs before, during and after your transplant and donation experience.
Housing and patient support
We provide options for patients requiring housing while waiting for, or recovering from, transplant or living donation. These options include:
Laboratory services
Our histocompatibility lab provides clinical services and research specific to transplant patients and donors to ensure the highest level of organ matching.
Mentor program
We link you by phone or in person to a mentor who received an organ transplant or donated an organ. Your mentor will share information about their experience and answer your questions.
Pharmacy services
Pharmacists with expertise in transplant will assist you with your medication education and management.
Promoting the gift of life
We provide ways you can help others better understand the importance of organ donation and transplantation:
Writing your donor family
Our team facilitates correspondence between recipients and deceased donor family members.
Stay connected
Learn how we’re improving transplantation, read inspiring stories and discover ways you can save more lives by promoting organ donation.
Referring a patient for transplant
It is a privilege to care for your patient who may need a single or multiple-organ transplant. A pioneer in this field, UW Health consistently performs more transplants than most hospital systems nationwide, with shorter wait times and excellent outcomes. We look forward to making the referral process as easy as possible while keeping communication with your office flowing.
Locations
Our locations
We offer pre-and post- transplant surgery services for adults at University Hospital in Madison. Our team serves pediatric patients at American Family Children’s Hospital in Madison. We also serve pre- and post- transplant patients in Belvidere and Rockford, Illinois; and in Green Bay, Madison, Marshfield, Sparta, Waukesha and Wausau, Wisconsin.
Featured location
Pleasant T. Rowland Transplant Clinic
The Pleasant T. Rowland Transplant Clinic represents a new era of transplant care. The full spectrum of adult transplant services are available in a modern clinic located just inside the University Hospital Clinics Entrance.
Meet our team
Our expert transplant teams
Our team of transplant experts are known worldwide for their research, innovation and continuous focus on improving patient care. Their work to reduce transplant wait times, lessen the need for immunosuppression and improve transplant outcomes has forever changed the world of transplant and organ donation.
Together with our patients and families, we provide personalized care and education through every step of your donation or transplant journey.
Your transplant care team has expertise in issues specific to transplantation. Our experts include:
Adult and pediatric physician specialists in organ failure and transplant, cardiology, gastroenterology, hepatology, nephrology, pulmonology
Chaplains
Dietitians
Financial counselors
Health psychologists
Nurse practitioners
Physician assistants
Respiratory therapists
Social workers
Transplant pharmacists
Transplant surgeons
Transplant nurse coordinators
Transplant Surgery
Transplant Medicine
Pediatric Transplant Surgery
Pediatric Transplant Medicine
Patient and support services
Resources for patients and families
We offer many helpful resources for before and after your transplant.
COVID-19 FAQ for people in need of transplant
COVID-19 continues to be a risk to transplant patients. Please stay current on vaccines. Please note that masking is required in the Pleasant T. Rowland Transplant Clinic and when visiting a transplant patient. Note: Visitor restrictions apply. View the guidelines
Information for transplant patients
Internet resources
Meet our patients
Grateful for the gift of life
We've cared for thousands of patients during our history. Each one has touched our lives as much as we have been a part of theirs. Meet a few of our remarkable patients.
Your charitable gift makes a difference
Perhaps you are grateful for the care you or a loved one received from UW Health. Or you cherish living so close to a world-class, research-driven healthcare system that’s always there if you need it. No matter your motivation, every gift of any size means even better care for our patients.