To better reflect their growth and scope, the solid organ transplant programs at Barnes-Jewish Hospital are now collectively known as the Transplant Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine.

"The name change indicates the unified, comprehensive approach to transplant patient care in each of these programs," said Transplant Center director Gene Ridolfi. "It also reflects the shared vision and passion of the team members to be leaders in the world of transplant."

The Transplant Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine, under the medical and surgical direction of Washington University physicians, includes one of the busiest and long-lived heart transplant programs in the Midwest, a kidney transplant program nationally known for its success rates and innovations, a liver transplant program growing into one of the strongest in country and on one of the pre-eminent lung transplant programs in the world.

Each of these programs provides comprehensive pre- and post-surgical care by a multidisciplinary team of physicians, certified transplant nurse coordinators, dietitians, social workers, pharmacists, physical and respiratory therapist, financial coordinators and other staff.

"The name may be changing, but way the Barnes-Jewish Hospital transplant teams function won''t," Ridolfi said. "We will continue to offer the kind of care that has put us in the top rank of transplant centers."

Transplant Center facts
The Barnes-Jewish kidney transplant program began in 1963. In 2005, the program did more than 120 transplants. Almost half of those transplants were from living donors. The program''s rejection rates are one of the lowest in the country.

The Barnes-Jewish Hospital heart transplant program celebrated its 20^th anniversary in 2005. Several patients have celebrated the 20^th anniversary of their transplant. Some of those, such as Ed Blaylock, still work full time and are active in the community.

The Barnes-Jewish Hospital liver transplant program, which was only the 16^th liver transplant center in the world when it began in 1985, has become one of the busiest in the region and is known for treating patients with hepatacellular cancer.

The Barnes-Jewish Hospital lung transplant center has performed more than 800 transplants and continues to attract patients from around the country.