Kidney Transplant Program

We are highly committed to living kidney donation whenever possible. A kidney from a living donor is healthier and will last longer than one from a deceased donor. The option expands the number of organs available to help more people in need and eliminates wait time for many.

The University of Kansas Health System has been consistently performing kidney transplants for more than 50 consecutive years. We performed our first kidney transplant in 1969 and our first simultaneous kidney-pancreas transplant in 1999. Collectively, our kidney transplant program performed about 2,500 kidney transplants to date.

Volumes lead to better outcomes. The University of Kansas Health System is the fourth-largest kidney transplant program in the region. We perform more than twice as many kidney transplants as the next-busiest transplant program. People needing a kidney transplant often travel to our hospital from across the United States because we have above-average survival rates.

We are one of the few transplant programs in the U.S. to practice steroid minimization after patient discharge. Tapering off corticosteroids within 4 weeks after surgery reduces side effects such as diabetes, weight gain, osteoporosis, bone fractures and patient morbidity.

Our interdisciplinary kidney team diagnoses, treats and manages care for people with kidney disease and pancreas disorders. As nationally recognized nephrologists, our kidney doctors provide comprehensive, compassionate care from your first referral through your kidney transplant and for the rest of your life.

Our transplant surgeons and nephrologists provide expert treatment for all types of kidney disease, pancreas disease and diseases that may damage those organs, including:

• Congenital disorders and birth defects
• Cystic fibrosis
• Diabetes
• Hypertension
• Kidney cancer
• Kidney tumors
• Pancreatic cancer
• Pancreatitis
• Urinary tract diseases

Courtney Walker was living with immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN), also known as Berger disease, when she learned she needed a kidney transplant. IgAN is a disease that can damage the interior of the kidneys and lead to kidney failure. Courtney knew she had to advocate for herself, so she shared her story and her need for a kidney donation on social media. She found a donor and lifelong friend, who became her partner in advocating for living kidney donation.

As part of an academic medical center committed to innovation and discovery, The University of Kansas Health System – in partnership with the University of Kansas Medical Center – is actively involved in research. Our physicians strive to provide patients with the latest advances in medicine. We research conditions like polycystic kidney disease and progressive renal diseases. We conduct clinical trials that include treatments for hepatitis C to prevent recurrence following a transplant. These efforts help ensure our patients have access to the latest treatment options to pursue good health and quality of life.

You, your doctor or your dialysis center can request a kidney transplant evaluation. One of our nurse coordinators will contact you to schedule your initial visit. You'll meet with a multidisciplinary kidney transplant team that will thoroughly assess your overall physical and psychological condition to determine your best treatment option.

If a kidney transplant is the right course of treatment for you, our kidney specialists will provide comprehensive care and education, from your first evaluation through your kidney transplant and for the rest of your life.

As a transplant candidate, you’ll collaborate with a comprehensive, dedicated care team that includes:

• Advanced practitioners
• Anesthesiologists
• Dietitians
• Financial coordinators
• ICU nurses
• Pharmacists
• Psychologists
• Transplant coordinators
• Transplant nephrologists
• Transplant nurses
• Transplant surgeons
• Social workers

Working together, these experienced providers support patients before, during and after transplant surgery. They offer the services and education patients need to uphold the lifelong commitment to care for their new organs.