Duke performs a large volume of transplants in many areas, and our experience translates to better outcomes for our patients. Survival rates for all Duke transplant patients consistently surpass national transplant survival averages.

Thanks to our multidisciplinary approach, Duke is able to perform successful transplants on patients that may not qualify for transplants at other hospitals. Treatment is provided for the following specialty areas:

• Heart
• Liver
• Lung
• Kidney and pancreas
• Small bowel

Transplant patients are treated by a team of experts including surgeons, nurse coordinators, social workers, infectious disease specialists, nutritionists, immunologists, and pathologists.

Duke’s work in transplant services began in February 1965 when Duke University Medical Center became one of the first institutions in the country to successfully establish a kidney transplant program. Since then, our transplant programs have achieved many more national and regional milestones.

Duke continues to be in the forefront of transplant developments by establishing programs in new specialties, including composite-tissue allotransplantation.

Referral Process

To be considered for organ transplant at Duke, your local physician must initiate a referral. Each of the solid organ programs has different guidelines for the referral process.

In many cases, a referral may be generated by providing the transplant team with pertinent patient demographics, diagnosis, and insurance information.

Usually, the necessary information can be faxed to the appropriate organ program, and the evaluation process can begin as quickly as the referring physician deems appropriate.

Specific information and requirements vary for each type of transplant. See our programs for more details.