Recently, teams from the heart transplant program at UK HealthCare’s Transplant Center and Gill Heart & Vascular Institute performed their 600th heart transplant, marking a significant milestone in the program’s commitment to advanced cardiac care and long-term patient outcomes.
Founded in 1991, the heart transplant program has provided second chances for patients with advanced heart failure. As an advanced transplant center, the surgical teams at UK HealthCare have the expertise to perform complex combined procedures, including heart-lung and heart-kidney transplants.
“Surpassing 600 heart transplants is a meaningful milestone for our team,” said Andrew R. Kolodziej, M.D., medical director of the heart transplant program. “It reflects years of steady progress in how we care for patients and support families through a complex and emotional journey. We’re proud of what we have built, and we remain focused on improving access and outcomes for those who need us.”
Andy Biermann received his transplant in 2024, and is already back to an active lifestyle, going for long walks and motorcycle rides with his wife. Delara Porter and his wife couldn’t wait to start making plans after his transplant in 2022, traveling together and spending time with their grandchildren. After watching their dad struggle with heart disease, Delara’s kids were inspired to be more proactive with their heart health.
Advanced heart failure care includes comprehensive support for patients that may require short term or long term mechanical circulatory support devices, ranging from percutaneous ventricular assistive devices (VAD). When necessary, these technologies can help stabilize patients as they undergo transplant evaluation or await donor availability. Innovations such as the Organ Care System (OCS), a device designed to keep donor organs in an active state that mimics the human body, help reach more patients by expanding the donor pool of available organs for UK patients. In 2021, Ronald Kelly, who relied on his LVAD for eight years, was the first patient at UK HealthCare to have his new heart delivered via the OCS. By expanding the organ recovery capabilities to include donation after circulatory death, more patients will have an increased chance of receiving a life-saving transplant.
“The field of heart transplantation has seen rapid advances in recent years,” said Matthias Loebe, M.D., surgical director of the heart transplant program. “With expanding mechanical support options and new technologies to protect and preserve donor organs, we are now able to help more patients than ever. We’re proud to offer this high level of care close to home and we are committed to constantly advancing our offerings in heart care to create solid opportunities for a better life for our patients, their families and the whole community.”
Partnerships with hospitals across the state through the Gill Affiliate Network ensure that patients remain connected with UK HealthCare’s cardiac specialists and receive the best in pre- and post-transplant care close to home, all while staying in contact with their trusted hometown physicians.
“This milestone is not ours alone,” said Navin Rajagopalan, director of the Gill Affiliate Network. “It reflects the trust and collaboration of our referring providers, who are often the first to recognize when a patient needs advanced care. We’re grateful for their partnership and for the opportunity to work together to give more patients access to life-saving treatment and a second chance at life.”
As the premier transplant center in Kentucky, UK HealthCare has provided solid organ transplantation services to more than 6,000 patients throughout the region since 1964. As an advanced center, the skilled transplant teams also perform complex combined transplants for double-lung, liver-lung and kidney-pancreas. These teams, which include physicians, surgeons, nurse practitioners and nurse coordinators, pharmacists, nutritionists, social workers and support staff, specialize in caring for transplant patients and guiding them through the transplant process, from the initial consultation through surgery and beyond.
Learn more about organ transplantation and how to register to become an organ donor.