Weill Cornell Medicine is one of the nation’s leading liver transplantation centers. We deliver the highest level of expertise, compassion and personalized care. Our team is renowned for multidisciplinary and clinical expertise and experience, as well as dedication to advancing liver transplantation care.
Patients throughout the nation entrust Weill Cornell Medicine’s highly experienced surgeons and specialists for lifesaving liver transplantation care, including living donor liver transplantation.
We provide liver transplantation for acute liver failure, chronic liver failure, liver cancer and other liver conditions — including complex and rare cases.
We understand that liver disease, surgery and transplantation are overwhelming and scary processes for patients, their caregivers and loved ones. As our patient, you will benefit from our dedicated team’s support, education and resources, which enhance your comfort and emotional well-being. Our experts provide personalized care for each patient — from the first visit to surgery and after your liver transplantation.
Why Choose Weill Cornell Medicine?
Exceptional Transplant Rates
Weill Cornell Medicine saves more lives in less time: Weill Cornell Medicine has one of the shortest wait times for liver transplants in the country. Our philosophy is to treat your symptoms, not your MELD (model for end-stage liver disease) score.
Our transplant rate is significantly higher than the national average. At Weill Cornell Medicine, over 90 people receive liver transplants per 100 years of waiting. This rate is greater than at other institutions in the New York metro area or region. For the most up-to-date rates, please see the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients report for Weill Cornell Medicine.
Patients with disadvantaged MELD scores (6–14) are more likely to get transplanted at our center. Our center transplants more patients with disadvantaged MELD scores than any other center in the region (see chart below).
At Weill Cornell Medicine, we do this through an individualized approach for assessing each organ and matching to patients. If you are a patient with a lower MELD score, Weill Cornell Medicine offers you a higher chance of transplant. Even if you have a low score, you are four times more likely to receive a transplant at Weill Cornell Medicine than other centers in New York City.
Read about one of our liver transplantation patient’s experiences.
Our center accepts a higher number of organs. At Weill Cornell Medical Center, we fully evaluate the health of each organ and its potential to save our patients’ lives.
Our organ acceptance rate enables us to perform more liver transplantation surgeries in less time — and save more lives.
Highly Skilled, Multidisciplinary Liver Transplantation Team
The Weill Cornell Medicine liver transplantation team includes exceptional surgeons who are dedicated to our patients’ and their loved ones’ comfort and well-being. We routinely care for patients with rare, complex or technically challenging conditions who are comforted knowing that all of our surgeons have years of training and experience.
Learn more about the liver transplantation surgery process.
Our surgeons collaborate with other liver experts to improve outcomes, long-term health and quality of life. Your care team may include:
- Transplant hepatologists
- Gastroenterologists
- Hepatobiliary surgeons
- Radiologists
- Pathologists
- Advanced-care nurses, social workers and support staff
- Nutritionist
- Psychiatrists
- Waitlist nurse coordinator
- Interventional radiology oncologists
- Living donor coordinator
- Living donor social worker
- Living donor champion
After collaborating with your care team, your liver surgeon will tell you about the best surgical options for you and your long-term health. You will then discuss what to expect during and after your liver transplantation surgery, as well as throughout the other recommended treatments.
As our patient, you will be comforted knowing that your care is in exceptionally skilled and dedicated hands. Meet your care team.
Leaders in Advanced Techniques and Technology
Our surgeons use the most advanced surgical techniques and technology available. We specialize in minimally invasive techniques — including laparoscopic and robotic-assisted surgical procedures — which offer effective care for our patients with less pain, less bleeding and a shorter recovery.
We also excel at living donor liver transplantation. An alternative to traditional, deceased liver transplantation, living donor liver transplantation helps patients receive a transplant sooner and improves overall outcomes.
Remote Second Opinion
If you would like a remote second opinion, we can connect you with expert physicians and specialists at Weill Cornell Medicine.