The Division of Transplantation is one of the world’s leading organ transplant programs. Our surgeons are recognized experts in their field, providing care to patients in the heart, lung, kidney, liver, pancreas, intestine, islet cell, and pediatric transplant programs.

Since its creation in 1966, the UW Transplant Program has been on the forefront of transplant advancement. Surgeons in the Division of Transplantation have discovered innovative developments that are used throughout the world, including “UW Solution,” a cold storage organ solution for preservation, and the “Wisconsin Technique” for pancreas transplantation. Directing the future of transplantation, the transplant team conducts research in organ preservation, immunosuppressive therapy and immunobiology. Recent work is paving the way for new drugs to enhance long-term survival for organ transplant without the side effects of conventional immunosuppression.

More than 12,000 organs have been transplanted at UW since 1966. In 2008 the UW Transplant team performed 326 kidney, 93 liver, 56 pancreas, 35 lung, 11 heart, and 1 heart-lung transplant. Of the 326 kidney transplants performed in 2008, 38 of these were combined kidney-pancreas transplants, more than any other program in the nation.

The University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics Organ Procurement Organization (OPO) is recognized as one of the most successful organ procurement programs in the nation.