UF Health Shands liver and lung transplant programs top in the nation

Press release from UF Health

Updated on July 11 at the request of UF Health.

BY GREG HARRISON

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – According to ratings by the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients, released Tuesday evening, choosing UF Health for a liver transplant over any other program in the country gives patients the best overall outcomes. This means a shorter wait time for a new organ, the lowest likelihood of dying while waiting, and the highest chances of surviving after transplant. 

“Our patients’ quality of life is our highest priority,” said  Thiago Beduschi, M.D., surgical director of the  Abdominal Transplant Program. “If we think we can help a patient, we will do everything in our power to ensure a successful transplant — and care for them before and after the procedure.” 

Every six months, SRTR evaluates transplant programs around the country regarding metrics important to transplant candidates, including how many reach the one-year post-transplant survival mark, how quickly they can get a transplant, and survival rates on the wait list. Patients and health professionals use this information to decide where to go — or refer someone — for a transplant.

“At our hospital, everything is driven by our commitment to the patient,” said Michael Holmes, senior vice president and regional president of UF Health’s Greater Gainesville market. “Our transplant programs are driven by a hope that we can change lives for the better. These outcomes are just one reflection of that.” 

The UF Health liver transplant program’s one-year survival rate is a best in the nation 99.6%. It has remained above 99% for more than four years. In addition, UF Health’s liver program is one of only two out of more than 150 transplant hospitals in the nation to score all 15 bars in the 5-tier SRTR assessment system. Led by Beduschi, UF Health’s program is laser-focused on achieving exceptional patient outcomes. UF Health’s team is determined to become the nation’s leading transplant center, setting new standards of patient care through pioneering technology and surgical excellence, with an uncompromising dedication to quality.

“Patients who choose UF’s liver program make one of the best choices for their own survival,” Beduschi said. “Our patients have an 83% lower graft failure risk than the national average.”

In addition, UF Health’s liver program is one of two of more than 150 transplant hospitals in the nation to score a top rating in all 15 SRTR assessment categories, which Beduschi said demonstrates their commitment to continuously advancing the mission to save lives and provide hope. Under Beduschi’s leadership, the program remains unwavering in its pursuit of a 100% survival rate, which has continuously improved over the past four years.

Half the patients cared for at UF Health, on average, wait less than a month (24 days) to receive a lifesaving transplant, more than three months faster than the average patient in Florida. “We have one of the highest transplant rates in the nation and some of the fastest times to transplant anywhere in the country. This means patients who choose UF Health are giving themselves the best chance to get transplanted — and to get back to living,” Beduschi said.

In addition to outstanding outcomes and speed, UF Health is also the nation’s third-highest-volume center for multiorgan transplants involving a liver — a mark of the unmatched expertise required to care for the region’s most complex patients.

UF Health Lung Transplant Program: top-ranked care with the most complex cases

For the past three consecutive reporting cycles, the SRTR has ranked UF Health’s Lung Transplant Program the best in Florida and among the top five in the nation.

“At UF Health, our patients do not just have the best chance of receiving a lung transplant quickly and safely — they also benefit from the highest short- and long-term survival rates in the state. We’re proud to report a one-year survival rate of 96.3% and a three-year survival rate of 82.8%, all while managing the most complex cases in Florida,” said Mindaugas Rackauskas, M.D., Ph.D., Surgical Director of the UF Health Lung Transplant Program.

UF Health is also the only high-volume-performing (more than 70 transplants a year) lung transplant program in U.S. with the highest possible marks for delivering exceptional outcomes both before and after surgery.

“Best patient care is our goal — we’re committed to taking on the most complex cases while ensuring patients are supported every step of the way, from their first evaluation through life after transplant,” said Amir Emtiazjoo, M.D., M.Sc., Medical Director of the UF Health Lung Transplant Program. “That balanced approach — aggressive when needed, thoughtful when needed — is what gives our patients the best possible chance.”

Since 1994, the UF Health team has performed 1,274 lung and multi-organ transplants, often taking on cases considered too complex by other centers due to patient age, size, comorbidities, or advanced illness.

“Approximately 70% of our patients were in the ICU at the time of transplant — most referred from other hospitals or transplant centers after being deemed too sick to transplant elsewhere,” Rackauskas said. “The superior outcomes we’ve achieved despite this level of illness speak to the unparalleled expertise and unwavering commitment of our team.”