Nationally, living donors make 4.5 percent of all liver transplants and 29.3 percent of all kidney transplants possible.

At UW Health, however, living donors are responsible for 7.2 percent of all liver transplants and 34.5 percent of all kidney transplants - a testament to both altruism and dedication of donors, and teamwork within transplant providers and coordinators to help educate and build relationships with donors, recipients, and families.

A feature article about living liver donation in the Wisconsin State Journal profiled the story of one recipient and donor duo, and included a photo of Parul Agarwal, MD, assistant professor (CHS), Gastroenterology and Hepatology.

Numerous members of the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology provide patient care through the UW Health liver transplant program and the small bowel transplant program. In the Division of Nephrology, many faculty and clinical personnel are also involved in the UW Health Kidney and Pancreas Transplant Program, including Didier Mandelbrot, MD, professor (CHS) and medical director for the program. A scholarly focus of Dr. Mandelbrot is developing strategies to increase the number of live donors for renal transplants.

Resources:

• "Living donors help UW Hospital set liver transplant record," Wisconsin State Journal, January 23, 2018
• UW Health Liver Transplant Program