Feb. 23, 2024 — With patient outcomes that reflect a deep commitment to what matters, the UF Health Shands Abdominal Transplant Program and UF Health Shands Lung Transplant Program are once again a top 10 destination for patients who seek expertise from caring providers, according to data published by the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients, or SRTR, in January.

UF Health Shands Abdominal Transplant Program

Determining the quality of medical interventions, particularly in surgical procedures, necessitates a thorough evaluation process —and the abdominal transplant program has demonstrated excellence across various organs. Comparable to a comprehensive report card, SRTR assesses programs based on critical factors essential to patients seeking organ transplants, including one-year survival rates, transplant waiting times and patient survival rates while on the transplant list.

Under the leadership of transplant surgeon and professor Thiago Beduschi, M.D., the liver transplant program has achieved nationwide status. With an estimated patient survival probability exceeding 99%, surpassing the national average of 95%, the program has showcased exceptional outcomes. Additionally, the kidney transplant program has been recognized as the premier choice in Florida and the second-best nationally, according to SRTR’s evaluation.

“This team and I prioritize our patients and their hope for a long, rich life,” Beduschi said. “The better we do our jobs as surgeons, the more lives we can save — the more happiness we can help people find.”

Notably, 2024 marks the year UF Health Shands Transplant Center recorded its highest number of abdominal organ transplants to date, totaling 431 procedures. This achievement positions the program within the top 10% nationally in terms of surgical volume. Specifically, the center performed a record-breaking 191 liver transplants, 230 kidney transplants, and 10 pancreas transplants, indicative of its robust surgical capabilities and commitment to meeting patient needs.

UF Health Shands Lung Transplant Program

According to SRTR data, the lung transplant program is ranked sixth in patient survival at the one-year post transplant mark, fifth in survival while on the waitlist for lung transplantation, and No. 1 at the three-year survival mark among 74 lung transplant programs in the nation.

“This outcome is a testament to our lung transplant team’s dedication and expertise as well as UF Health’s commitment and support of our mission,” said Amir Emtiazjoo, M.D., MSc, medical director of the lung transplant program and associate professor of medicine in the UF College of Medicine.

Notably, the team performed 54 lung transplants in the past year, two of which were pediatric lung transplants and two that were multi-organ transplant surgeries.

The SRTR data highlights the team’s expertise and dedication, indicating how the team has positively influenced patient outcomes. Most noteworthy, the three-year survival patient metrics showed a 97.7% survival rate, which is almost 35% more than the national United States average of 72.4%.