ÐßÐßÊÓÆµ

A rendering of a human torso with two red kidneys on a blue background

Kidney Transplant Care

Kidney Transplant Care

Compassionate, Expert Care for Kidney Transplants

If you are living with advanced kidney disease or kidney failure, dialysis and transplant are your two main treatment options. Our USC Kidney Transplant Program team is committed to providing compassionate, expert care to kidney transplant recipients and donors.

Our kidney transplant specialists manage all aspects of your care, from evaluation through surgery and recovery. We are highly experienced in kidney transplantation surgery and care, including managing the most complex conditions. Our renowned doctors are a trusted team for referring physicians, locally and nationally, providing care to patients who cannot be treated elsewhere. Our kidney transplant doctors are well-versed in living- and deceased-donor transplantation care.

We are leaders in groundbreaking kidney transplant research and offer innovative surgical techniques, such as robotic nephrectomies and single-port laparoscopy. In addition, our team can perform both transfusion-free surgeries and living kidney donation surgeries using minimally invasive transplant techniques.

As part of our commitment to helping our kidney transplant patients get the care they need, we give you access to our Donate Well program that helps donors get healthy enough for a living kidney donation. Our program is also part of the United Network for Organ Sharing, the central agency that coordinates the nation’s organ transplant system.

Our mission is to help our kidney transplant patients — both recipients and donors — receive leading-edge, empathetic medical care, designed to meet their needs at every phase of their health journey.

Part of a New National Program to Improve Access to Care
The USC Kidney Transplant Program has been selected to join a Medicare initiative called the IOTA Model — a national effort to make kidney transplants more accessible for people like you. Your benefits won’t change, and no action is needed from you.

Want to know how this helps patients?

 

How Can I Become a Kidney Transplant Donor?

Conditions We Treat

  • Advanced kidney disease
  • End-stage kidney disease
  • Kidney disease (renal disease)
  • Kidney failure and diabetes

Treatments and Services We Offer

  • Deceased-donor kidney transplants
  • Donor nephrectomy (surgery to remove a healthy kidney from a living donor)
  • Living-donor kidney transplants
  • Minimally invasive surgery
  • Pancreas transplant
  • Post-transplant care, including surgical post-operative care and treatment for rejection and infection
  • Robotic transplant surgery
  • Single-port laparoscopy
  • Transfusion-free care

Patient Selection Criteria for Kidney Transplant Candidates

Our Commitment

Our goal is to provide every patient with a fair, individualized evaluation. Eligibility decisions are based on medical evidence, patient safety, and the likelihood of a successful transplant outcome.

How the Evaluation Process Works

Before being placed on the transplant waiting list,patients undergo a comprehensive evaluation that may include:

  • Review of medical history and current health status
  • Blood testing and other diagnostic studies
  • Assessment of emotional, social, and support needs
  • Review of insurance coverage and access to transplant-related care

The transplant team reviews all information to determine eligibility and readiness.

Who May Be Considered for a Kidney Transplant?

  • Advanced kidney disease significantly affecting kidney function
  • Kidney failure requiring dialysis
  • Conditions requiring transplant as part of multi-organ transplant
  • A previous kidney transplant no longer functioning
  • A previous kidney transplant that is no longer functioning properly.

Every patient is evaluated individually to determine whether a kidney transplant is the safest and most appropriate treatment option.

Factors That May Affect Transplant Eligibility

A kidney transplant may not be recommended, or may need to be delayed, if a patient has certain health conditions or other factors that could make surgery unsafe or reduce the likelihood of a successful transplant. Examples include:

  • Serious heart, lung, or other conditions that increase surgical risks
  • Severe obesity or reduced physical function
  • Active infections or untreated conditions
  • Certain cancers or other illnesses that require treatment before transplantation
  • Active substance uses or other factors that could affect long-term transplant success
  • Difficulty adhering to medications
  • Limited ability to participate in the evaluation process or care plans

Some of these issues can be addressed with treatment, lifestyle changes, or additional support.

How Decisions Are Made

Being referred for a transplant evaluation does not guarantee placement on the transplant waiting list. Each candidate undergoes a thorough and individualized assessment to determine eligibility.

Decisions are based on a comprehensive review of several factors, including:

  • The patient’s medical condition
  • Overall health status
  • Availability of a reliable support system
  • Ability to safely undergo transplantation
  • Capacity to adhere to the required long-term care and follow-up plan

The transplant team carefully reviews each candidate and works closely with patients to determine the safest and most appropriate path forward.

Next Steps: How to Get Started

Speak with your nephrologist or referring provider or contact our transplant program directly to begin the evaluation process.

Contact Us

USC Transplant Program
Phone: (323) 442-5908
Fax: (323) 442-5874

Program Outcomes

Information about program outcomes is publicly available through the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients (SRTR).

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get care for a kidney transplant at ÐßÐßÊÓÆµ?

Your primary care provider or specialist can refer you to our kidney transplant team, or you can schedule an appointment by calling (323) 442-5908.

What type of support services does Keck Medicine offer?

Every patient will be assigned a transplant coordinator, who is the main person helping them navigate the transplant process. Our transplant coordinators help you with communications, gathering your medical records and more. They also connect you to a network of support services, including financial assistance resources.

We also offer access to Donate Well, a wellness program designed to help living donors get healthy enough for organ donation.

2700+

Number of kidney transplants our team has performed since 1991

200+

Number of kidney transplant surgeries we perform each year

2000+

Approximate number of referral patients sent to our trusted doctors

30+

Years we have delivered expert kidney transplant surgery care in CA

Why Choose Us for Kidney Failure Treatment

Our one-year survival rates are among the highest in the Los Angeles area.

Our transplant coordinator connects you to an extended care team of dietitians, pharmacists, social workers and other support services.

We give you access to a full portfolio of clinical trials and the latest advances in treatment therapies and medications.

Your care team includes kidney transplant surgeons and transplant nephrologists, with extensive training and experience in all aspects of kidney transplantation.

We were named a Center of Medical Excellence for kidney transplant by Aetna, Anthem, Cigna Life Source, Interlink and Optum.

Two family members hugging

World-class Leadership

Our internationally renowned physicians and clinicians are dedicated to delivering high-quality patient care. We are leaders in cutting-edge treatments, breakthrough research and exceptional outcomes.

Dr. Jim Kim

Dr. Jim Kim

Surgical Director of Kidney Transplant
Thin Thin Maw, MD

Dr. Thin Thin Maw

Medical Director of Kidney Transplant
Teams banner artwork showing two hands gently touching
Find the Right Doctor for You

Connect with a ÐßÐßÊÓÆµ doctor and other providers for your personalized care.