One important question potential donors should ask themselves is "What transplant center should I choose to have my donor surgery?"
Specifically, it is important for potential donors to ask about the experience of the donor surgeon(s), the history of living donation at the center, and donor complications experienced by the center.
Our Surgical Expertise and History of Excellence
At Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork-Presbyterian, we are proud to have Dr. Joseph Del Pizzo, a physician who is one of the most experienced donor surgeons in the country.
Dr. Del Pizzo performs cutting-edge surgical procedures, and was the first to introduce single site surgery for removal of the donor kidney in the New York area. He is also the principal investigator on the first known research study to compare different laparoscopic techniques to determine which is associated with the best outcomes for the donor.
Our team also includes Dr. Sandip Kapur, the Chief of Transplantation, who performs the majority of living donor kidney transplants. He has performed almost 2,000 transplants over the course of his career.
Potential donors may also have questions about transplant recipient outcomes. At Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork-Presbyterian, kidney transplant recipients are in good hands; the center is known for its superior outcomes.
Both patient and graft survival rates at Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork-Presbyterian are excellent, rejection rates are low, and the transplant program integrates both basic science and clinical research to bring the latest innovations to the patient's bedside.
Learn more about living donation at the center: