It’s our Transplant Center’s 50th Anniversary!
This year has been one for the books in terms of momentous occasions – some good, some not-so-good. Luckily, University Health System’s Transplant Center falls into the first category, with its 50th birthday occurring this year. In honor of the big 5-0, here are some important milestones in the Transplant Center’s decorated history of innovation and surgical excellence:
1970 - First civilian kidney transplant in South Texas
1987 - First heart/double lung transplant in South Texas
1988 - First pediatric kidney transplant and first pediatric heart transplant
1989 - First lung transplant in the world to treat pulmonary hypertension
1992 - First adult liver transplant
1995 - First kidney/pancreas transplant at a civilian hospital
1997 - First civilian split-liver transplant in South Texas and program’s first pediatric liver transplant
1999 - First laparoscopic kidney donor surgery in San Antonio and first adult-to-adult living donor liver transplant in South Texas
2007 - First kidney donor exchange transplant
2019 - First in the nation to perform a live liver paired donation exchange
We would like to congratulate our partners at UT Health San Antonio MD Anderson Mays Cancer Center on receiving renewal of its National Cancer Institute (NCI) designation for the next five years. The Mays Cancer Center is also home to The Texas Liver Tumor Center and Pancreas Tumor Center, a state-of-the-art multidisciplinary outpatient center that provides a full range of services for patients with liver and pancreas tumors.
To read the full press release, please follow the link below:
https://bit.ly/3kDP2xR
Last week’s Kent’s Kidney Stories podcast episode features Jennifer Milton, our Transplant Center’s Chief Administrative Officer. She speaks about the exciting news regarding the upcoming National Living Donor Registry, Paired Kidney Exchange, UTC's success with Liver Transplant and Kidney Transplant from Hepatitis C Donors, her goal to double the number of Transplants by the year 2030, why her mantra in regards to her work is "steal this idea," and much more!
To listen to the podcast, follow the link below:
https://bit.ly/36erb3L
KENTSKIDNEYSTORIES.LIBSYN.COM
Kent's Kidney Stories: Episode 37: Jennifer Milton - Blazing a Trail in the Transplant World
In an effort to keep you informed of most-recent updates, we would like to remind you of the visitor guidelines currently in place.
University Health System
September 16 at 3:29 PM ·
Judge Nelson Wolff called a press conference today to officially announce the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between University Health System and UT Health San Antonio. The purpose of this agreement is to establish a nonprofit joint venture organization to strategically take our partnership to the next level, including the development of a plan to have this new organization lease and operate the proposed UT Health San Antonio hospital.
The type of joint venture envisioned through this MOU would enable us to work together as equal partners to create a top-tier integrated health network and enable us to strategically expand services, improve continuity of care, and enhance our clinical research and teaching missions to meet the growing needs of Bexar County and South Texas.
FRI, SEP 25
15th Anniversary Medical Miracles Virtual Gala
For this year’s Walk for PKD Virtual 10-day event, held October 9th through 18th, the “Super Kidney” team, led by Team Captain David Rodriguez, allowed participants to raise awareness from the comfort of their own neighborhoods.
We would like to thank Kidney Transplant recipient, Patti Ruffin and her husband Mark, for their continued dedication in raising polycystic kidney disease awareness throughout our community.
David Rodriguez, who received a kidney transplant in 2011, has surpassed the 36-month window of Medicare coverage. If David were to become unemployed, he would not have the finances to pay for his immunosuppressive medication. This would lead to rejection and would require him to go back on dialysis.
In Congress, legislation has been introduced in the House of Representatives that would ensure access to immunosuppressive drugs that kidney transplant patients need to prevent their new kidney from being rejected.
The Comprehensive Immunosuppressive Drug Coverage for Kidney Transplant Patients Act of 2019 (H.R. 5534) would extend Medicare coverage for immunosuppressive drugs by removing the current three-year limit for transplant recipients under the age of 65 and who are Medicare-eligible because of their end stage renal disease (ESRD).
If this bill is passed, David would be eligible to receive coverage for his immunosuppressive medication for the rest of his life. Take action today: https://bit.ly/3jfRnik
October 6-12 is designated at National Physician Assistant Week. To our PAs, we thank you for your dedicated commitment in providing our patients with expert and compassionate care.
Please join us in extending a warm welcome to our newest physician assistant, Evelyn Oliva.
With an extensive knowledge and background in pancreatic surgery research, Evelyn joins the Transplant Surgery Inpatient team, where she will manage both post-operative and ICU patients.
Evelyn is a Houston native and completed her physician assistant studies at UT Health San Antonio. She is excited to call San Antonio her new home!
Our highly recognized transplant center would like to share this video on our Living Liver Donor program.
University Health System
October 5 at 4:25 PM ·
How do you say “thank you” to a stranger who saved your life by giving you a portion of their liver?
We are honored to share the powerful story of two donors and two recipients who are now connected forever as part of the nation’s first paired exchange for living donor liver donation.
The small act of kindness can always go a long way. In celebrating Eye Donation Month, help us support our our partners at the San Antonio Eye Bank by Honoring Life with 30 Days of Kindness.
San Antonio Eye Bank
November 3 at 6:27 PM ·
One the ways you can elect to join us in celebrating Eye Donation Month...yes, the elect pun was totally intentional...is by completing Acts of Kindness throughout the month using our Eye Donation Month Calendar as a guide. Special thanks to the peeps at Gift of Life Michigan for inspiring this calendar from their actions during Donate Life Month.
Please join us in wishing Dr. Ikuyo Yamaguchi the best of luck as she transitions into her new position as the Division Chief of Pediatric Nephrology at the University of Oklahoma.
“I have always felt that the people here are friendly and work with passion and dedication. I am truly honored to have been part of the team”
Dr. Yamaguchi will be missed by all, especially her patients.
Drs. Debbie Levine and Edward Sako were recently interviewed by the San Antonio Express-News in which they discussed how our team is prepared for the new population of post-COVID patients should they need a transplant.
Please follow the link below to read the full article.
EXPRESSNEWS.COM
University Hospital in San Antonio poised to perform double lung transplants for COVID-19 patients
In honor of Black History Month, we would like to celebrate our heroes within the transplant community who have inspired and continue to inspire those around them.
In 1989, Dr. Velma Scantlebury-White became the United States first Black female transplant surgeon. Dr. Scantlebury-White was quoted in the New Pittsburgh Courier, “My passion is to educate the African-American community and to empower dialysis patients with the knowledge and understanding that they too can have a better life through the gift of transplantation.”
Today, we thank Dr. Scantlebury-White for being an advocate for organ donation within her community. To read the full article, please visit this link: https://bit.ly/3oIU0Lr
EXPRESSNEWS.COM
Commentary: University Transplant Center has reached 2 extremely important milestones
Currently, the vaccine is only available to those who fall under the CDC’s guidelines of Tier 1A or 1B. Being a living donor currently does not qualify under Tier 1A or 1B. However, living donors who meet other criteria under the CDC vaccine guidelines may qualify. To view qualifications, please click on this link: https://bit.ly/3comnMk
When the vaccine is widely available and appointments are available, we strongly encourage everyone to receive the vaccine. When we receive news of availability of the vaccine to the general public, we will let everyone know!
University Hospital attempted to reserve the COVID-19 vaccine for our patient population. However, due to the limited amount of vaccines received, they were only able to designate a certain portion. Patients will no longer be called to book an appointment for the COVID-19 vaccine including patients that were called about the vaccine. If you have a current appointment already set, please keep your appointment time. Patients will need to use the following resources to book an appointment and keep-up-to-date with the latest news:
-If you would like to receive an alert when we open more appointment times, download our University Health Go mobile app and turn on push notifications: https://1ia0q.app.link/ahbsoLsXabb
-Visit WeCanDoItSA.com to view available appointments when more vaccines become available.
-Subscribe to our Health Focus Newsletter at HealthFocusSA.net for email alerts.
-For local patients: the City of San Antonio is also administering the vaccine through Texas Health and Human Services. The link below can be used to access their information: https://covid19.sanantonio.gov/Services/Vaccination-for-COVID-19
-For out of town patients: please look up your local city government to find out about vaccine administration or use the following link to access vaccination sites throughout Texas: https://bit.ly/3oXOS72
-You can also contact your local HEB, CVS, or Walgreens to see if they have vaccines available.
-Watch your local news to keep updated on the latest COVID-19 vaccine community clinics.
We would like to take a moment to congratulate Drs. Greg Abrahamian, Mazen Arar, Daniel De Armond, and Edward Sako for being featured in San Antonio Magazine’s Top Doctors of 2021! Thank you for continuing to provide excellent care and service to our community. We wish you all the best for the New Year!
We are proud to recognize Drs. Francisco Cigarroa, Greg Abrahamian, Sandeep Patel, Daniel De Armond, and Glenn Halff for being selected as Texas Monthly Magazine’s Texas Super Doctors for 2020! Thank you for continuing to provide excellent care and service to our community.
