Kidney Transplant Program

Kidney Transplant Program

We're one of the largest kidney transplant programs in the U.S., specializing in high-risk and complex cases.

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Why choose UCSF Health for kidney transplant?

At the UCSF Connie Frank Transplant Center, we care for patients before and after kidney and pancreas transplants. We are one of the largest kidney transplant programs in the U.S., performing over 400 kidney transplants yearly. We also have the largest living donor program on the West Coast. Our many satellite kidney transplant clinics care for patients throughout California and in Honolulu, Hawaii.

We welcome challenging cases. As a top referral center, we help patients with complex conditions who may have been turned away from other centers.

We've received national recognition and awards for our excellence in kidney transplant care, and our outcomes are among the best in the U.S. Through research and clinical trials, we are investigating ways to make transplants available to more patients, improve transplant safety and reduce rejection rates.

We understand the challenges of kidney transplant because we've helped thousands of patients through this process. A dedicated waitlist navigator prepares you while you're waiting for a kidney. Our specialized teams guide you and offer support every step of the way. They continue to stay involved in your care for years after your transplant.

  • Outstanding outcomes

    Our three-year survival rates for living and deceased donors are higher than the national averages for kidney transplants.

  • Multi-organ transplant expertise

    We have decades of experience performing complex, multi-organ procedures, such as pancreas-kidney, liver-kidney, heart-kidney and lung-kidney transplants.

  • Specialized care team

    Surgeons, transplant nephrologists, infectious disease experts, nurse coordinators, social workers, patient navigators and others help provide complete care.

  • Innovation and researchOpens in a new window

    We are working to offer transplants to people with complex conditions or a high degree of sensitization, aiming to improve outcomes, reduce rejection risk and personalize treatment.

Advanced kidney transplant care

At UCSF Health, you have access to all of our specialists and services, enabling seamless care before, during and after kidney transplant. We provide:

  • Dialysis. The UCSF Dialysis Center provides services for people living with chronic kidney failure while they await transplant.

  • Expanded pool of donor organs. We've developed techniques that make more donor organs available.

  • More options for loved ones. Through programs such as advanced donation and paired exchange, we enable more options for living donors to provide a lifesaving kidney.

  • Weight-loss procedures. We offer surgery to achieve weight loss to help people qualify for a kidney transplant. We use minimally invasive techniques, including laparoscopy, to perform procedures such as gastric bypass.

  • Support groups. Our kidney transplant groups offer community and support, welcoming transplant patients, their families and caregivers.

Many transplant centers turn care over to a patient's nephrologist six months after transplant. At UCSF Health, we continue to do checkups with our kidney transplant recipients many years after the procedure. We value these long-term relationships as much as our patients do.

COVID-19 and transplant patients

UCSF strongly encourages patients awaiting kidney and pancreas transplants to get vaccinated. We also recommend that patients awaiting organ transplants follow the guidelines for immunocompromised patients from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

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    Awards for kidney transplant excellence

    We're recognized as one of the top kidney transplant programs in the U.S.

    • 380+

      Kidney transplants performed each year

    • living donor program on the West Coast

    • Among the top hospitals in the nation

    • Rated high-performing hospital for kidney failure care

    • "Elite" rating (highest) among designated programs of excellence

    • Best in Northern California for gastroenterology & GI surgery

    Related services

    Related conditions & treatments

    UCSF Kidney Transplant Service

    At UCSF, our Kidney Transplant Service follows patients from transplant to post-transplant care to years down the road, addressing any issues with immunosuppression as they come up. Learn more about what makes this innovative department work, from provider specialties to ongoing patient relationships.

    Give the lifesaving gift of a kidney

    Our living kidney donor program is one of the most active in the nation and the largest on the West Coast. We continue to grow this program, offering multiple ways for a loved one to get the kidney they need.
    Become a living kidney donor
    Read our living kidney donor FAQs

    Research initiatives

    Patient education

    • FAQ: Living Kidney Donor

      Considering donating a kidney? Get answers to common questions, including the evaluation process, how to prepare for surgery and what to expect during recovery.

    • Surgical Weight Loss Procedures for Kidney Transplant Patients

      Find out how UCSF Health’s skilled surgeons can help you lose weight with gastric bypass, improving your chances of being a kidney transplant candidate.

    • Transplant Screening Tests

      If you need a kidney transplant, your doctor will do several blood tests to help match a donor kidney to your body. See a list of transplant blood tests we use.

    Becoming a living donor

    Becoming a living donor

    The gift of an organ offers someone another chance at life. Find out more about the surgery, who is eligible and how to take the first step.

    A daughter gives her dad a life-saving gift

    When Candase donated a kidney to her father, Ken, who was in kidney failure, a UCSF transplant team ensured the procedure was a success.

    Clinical trials

    See all clinical trialsOpens in a new window

    • International Services

      If you live outside the United States and are coming to UCSF for medical treatment, our patient liaisons can help coordinate all aspects of your visit.

    • Interpreting Services

      UCSF offers interpreters in various languages, including American Sign Language (ASL), as well as services for deaf, hard-of-hearing and visually impaired patients.

    • Your Hospital Stay

      Make your hospital stay as smooth and comfortable as possible by finding out how to prepare and what to expect.

    • 10 Ways to Get the Most Out of Your UCSF Doctor Appointment

      Whether it's a routine checkup or a visit for a complex issue, these 10 tips can help make your appointment as stress-free and helpful as possible.

    Sign up to be an organ donor

    Learn more

    Kidney transplant care for kids

    We're leaders in pediatric kidney transplantation, with outcomes well above the national average.
    Learn more