BREAKING NEWS: The Vanderbilt Transplant Center has achieved a groundbreaking milestone, completing a record 918 solid organ transplants in fiscal year 2025. This extraordinary feat, which encompasses both adult and pediatric programs, demonstrates a remarkable surge in lifesaving procedures and patient care.
From July 2024 to the end of June 2025, the adult program alone performed 859 transplants, while the pediatric program achieved an exceptional 59 transplants. This accomplishment marks the second consecutive year that Vanderbilt has shattered its previous transplant record, surpassing last year’s total by an impressive 109 lives saved.
Additionally, Vanderbilt Heart continues to hold its position as the world’s busiest heart transplant program. The center’s adult heart, lung, and kidney transplant programs also set new records this year, including 184 heart transplants, 126 lung transplants, and 375 kidney transplants, which includes pancreas and simultaneous kidney-pancreas transplants. The center also completed 174 adult liver transplants and one heart-lung transplant.
Dr. Heidi Schaefer, professor of medicine and medical director of adult solid organ transplant, expressed her pride in the center’s achievements, stating,
“What a remarkable year we have had as a transplant center. The opportunity to provide record numbers of transplants and the highest quality of care to patients in need is humbling.”
The pediatric transplant teams at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt reported remarkable successes as well, performing a record 22 kidney transplants, 21 liver transplants, and 15 heart transplants. Notably, Vanderbilt facilitated the state’s first pediatric liver-pancreas transplant, further enhancing its reputation as a leader in transplant medicine.
Since performing its first kidney transplant in 1962, VUMC has now exceeded a total of 13,000 transplants across all organs. This achievement underscores the institution’s long-standing commitment to organ transplantation and patient care.
The success of these transplant programs relies on a dedicated team of over 150 specialists, including physicians, surgeons, anesthesiologists, nurses, and various support staff. Heather O’Dell, executive director of the Vanderbilt Transplant Center, commended the collaborative efforts of the team, stating,
“These patients touch every corner of this institution… I am deeply grateful to everyone who contributes to the care of these patients.”
With the transplant center’s momentum, the community can expect continued advancements in organ transplantation. As the Vanderbilt Transplant Center forges ahead, it remains focused on enhancing patient outcomes and expanding access to life-saving procedures.
This record-breaking year not only signifies a triumph in medical science but also represents the profound impact on the lives of countless patients and their families. The Vanderbilt Transplant Center is poised to build on this success and continue its mission of saving lives through innovative transplantation methods.
Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story as Vanderbilt continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible in organ transplantation.
