Surgeons at Methodist University Hospital Transplant Institute in partnership with the University of Tennessee Health Science Center performed the 1,000 liver transplant on Monday, September 28. Methodist University Hospital Transplant Institute is one of 33 out of the 126 liver transplant programs in the United States that has reached the 1,000 milestone.

“What makes our achievement so remarkable is that while the first liver transplant was performed in 1982, within the last three-and-a-half years, the transplant program has significantly increased with our performing over 400 liver transplants,” explained James Eason, M.D., medical director for the Methodist University Hospital Institute, professor of transplant surgery at The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, and chief of transplant surgery for UT Medical Group. 

“Our ability to dramatically increase the number of liver transplants is directly due to the commitment Methodist University Hospital and the University of Tennessee Health Science Center have made to the transplant program.”

Dr. Eason describes the organ transplant team at Methodist University Hospital as a dream team and credits the dedication of MUH and the University of Tennessee Health Science Center for recruiting the top surgeons, physicians, nurses and other health professionals in the country.

“We have an extremely talented transplant team that is dedicated to saving as many lives as we can through organ transplantation,” said Dr. Eason. “The donation of an organ is truly an amazing gift of life and I feel very fortunate to be a part of this team.”

The liver transplant program at Methodist University Hospital Transplant Institute is nationally recognized for its accomplishments in liver transplantation and has the largest experience in the world in steroid-free liver transplantation. Dr. Eason anticipates the liver program to be a top five program next year.

Methodist University Hospital Transplant Institute focuses on liver, kidney/pancreas, pancreas and kidney transplants and is home to one of the 10 largest liver transplant programs in the country. The transplant institute consists of a state-of-the-art facility featuring two dedicated transplant operating rooms, a transplant clinic with telemedicine capabilities, and an off-site diagnostic center with a dedicated transplant area.