Organ transplantation began at the University of Chicago. In 1904, a University of Chicago doctor, Alexis Carrel, MD, performed the first animal organ transplant, which later earned him the Nobel Prize. We continue to strive to be a world leader in organ transplantation. Here are just a few of the transplant firsts that occurred here:

• The first successful living-donor liver transplant in the world
• The first successful heart-liver-kidney transplant in the world
• The first segmental liver ("reduced size") and split-liver transplants in the United States

Leaders in Solid Organ Transplants
The University of Chicago Hospitals has the broadest array of transplant programs in Illinois. Each of our transplant programs offers superior care:

• Heart Transplants: We have the largest heart transplant program in Illinois and have been performing adult heart transplants since 1984.
• Kidney Transplants: Since 1970, University of Chicago doctors have performed more than 2,500 kidney transplants.
• Liver Transplants: Since 1984, our doctors have performed more than 1,400 liver transplants--making our program one of the leaders in the nation.
• Lung Transplants: Our transplant physicians have performed hundreds of lung transplants as well as many heart-lung transplants, making them among the most experienced in the nation.
• Pancreas Transplants: We were the first hospital in Illinois to perform a pancreas transplant and continue to be one of the most active pancreas transplant centers in the country.
• Islet Transplants: We are one of a select number of hospitals conducting a clinical trial on this promising treatment for type 1 diabetes.
• Multiple Organ Transplants: We have the busiest multi-organ transplant program in Illinois.