LEXINGTON, Ky. (June 5, 2025) – UK HealthCare’s Transplant Center and the Gill Heart & Vascular Institute have reached a major milestone by completing their 600th heart transplant. This achievement reflects decades of dedication to advanced heart care and improving patient survival.
Since its start in 1991, the heart transplant program has given many patients with severe heart failure a second chance at life. The center’s skilled teams are also experienced in complex combined procedures, including heart-lung and heart-kidney transplants.
“Reaching over 600 heart transplants is a proud moment for our team,” said Dr. Andrew R. Kolodziej, medical director of the heart transplant program. “This milestone shows the steady progress we have made in caring for patients and supporting their families through difficult times. We remain focused on expanding access and improving outcomes for those in need.”
Patients like Andy Biermann, who received a transplant in 2024, have returned to active lifestyles, enjoying long walks and motorcycle rides with his wife. Similarly, Delara Porter, transplanted in 2022, is now able to travel and spend quality time with his grandchildren. His children, inspired by their father’s experience with heart disease, have become more mindful of their own heart health.
UK HealthCare’s advanced heart failure care includes support for patients using mechanical circulatory devices, such as percutaneous ventricular assist devices (VADs). These devices help stabilize patients during transplant evaluations or while waiting for a donor heart.
Innovations like the Organ Care System (OCS) have further improved transplant success. The OCS keeps donor organs active outside the body, mimicking natural conditions to increase their viability. In 2021, Ronald Kelly became the first UK patient to receive a heart delivered via the OCS after eight years on an LVAD. Expanding organ recovery to include donations after circulatory death has also increased the number of organs available to patients.
“The field of heart transplantation has advanced rapidly,” said Dr. Matthias Loebe, surgical director of the heart transplant program. “With better mechanical support and new technologies to preserve donor organs, we can help more patients than ever before. We are proud to offer this level of care close to home and are committed to continual innovation to improve lives.”
Through the Gill Affiliate Network, UK HealthCare partners with hospitals across Kentucky to provide patients with expert pre- and post-transplant care near their homes. This network ensures ongoing communication between UK specialists and local physicians.
“This milestone reflects the trust and teamwork of our referring providers,” said Navin Rajagopalan, director of the Gill Affiliate Network. “We appreciate their role in recognizing when patients need advanced care and working with us to give more people access to life-saving treatment.”
As Kentucky’s leading transplant center, UK HealthCare has served more than 6,000 solid organ transplant patients since 1964. Its teams include surgeons, physicians, nurse practitioners, pharmacists, nutritionists, social workers, and support staff who guide patients from consultation through surgery and recovery. Along with heart transplants, the center performs complex combined transplants like double-lung, liver-lung, and kidney-pancreas, offering comprehensive care to the region.
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