“Performing 10,000 abdominal transplants is a tremendous milestone for Northwestern Medicine,” said Satish Nadig, MD, PhD, chief of the division of abdominal organ transplantation and director of the comprehensive transplant center at Northwestern Medicine. “Through organ transplantation, we have saved the lives of over 10,000 patients. As physicians, nurses, social workers and staff, we celebrate every life saved by an organ transplant. As we achieve this unique milestone, it was also time to reflect and thank the patients and family members who chose to donate their organs to save lives.” 

Starting in 1964, Northwestern Medicine’s organ transplant program is one of the largest and longest running in Illinois. It has performed: 

• More than 6,500 kidney transplants – the first program in Illinois to achieve that feat;
• More than 2,600 liver transplants - the first program in Illinois to achieve that feat;
• More than 850 pancreas transplants – the first program in Illinois to achieve that feat.

In 2023, Northwestern Medicine performed 518 abdominal transplants, which was eighth in the nation for transplant volume (includes heart and lung transplants). Northwestern Medicine is the largest transplant and living donor program in Illinois and one of the largest in the United States, performing 347 kidney transplants, 138 liver transplants and 33 pancreas transplants in 2023 and ranks seventh in the nation in kidney transplant volume, 29^th in liver transplant volume and third in pancreas volume. 

“As we look towards the future, Northwestern Medicine is on the cusp of the next era of transplant with advances in technology and innovation,” said Dr. Nadig. “It’s an exciting time in transplant and we are committed to continually improve the field with the goal of improving the lives of our patients.” 

A leader in equitable access in transplantation, Northwestern Medicine founded the Hispanic Transplant Program and the African American Transplant Program.

Northwestern Medicine Hispanic Transplant Program the first program in the country to address the needs of Hispanic and Spanish-speaking patients

Started in December 2006, the Northwestern Medicine Hispanic Transplant Program is the first program in the United States providing transplant care for English and Spanish-speaking Hispanic patients, offering a culturally sensitive program that serves Hispanic patients and families who need transplants.

“We established the Northwestern Medicine Hispanic Transplant Program because there was a significant need in the Hispanic community,” said Juan Carlos Caicedo, MD, founder and director of the Northwestern Medicine Hispanic Transplant Program. “We now have more than 60 team members supporting the program, focused on serving the Hispanic community. Our team is bilingual and bicultural, and we have increased organ donation while improving access to transplant care in the Hispanic community.”

Since 2007, the Northwestern Medicine Hispanic Transplant Program has performed over 1,600 transplants – all abdominal organs – in Hispanic and Latino patients.  

Northwestern Medicine African American Transplant Access Program addresses disparities in access to transplantation experienced by the Black community 

Founded in 2019, the Northwestern Medicine African American Transplant Access Program breaks down barriers to transplant care in the African American community through access to education, resources and transplant care. 

“As we approach our 50^th transplant procedure through the Northwestern Medicine African American Transplant Access Program, we are seeing the results of equitable access to transplant care,” said Dinee Simpson, MD, founder and director of the Northwestern Medicine African American Transplant Program and chief health equity executive at Northwestern Medicine. “We will continue to break down barriers to transplant for African American patients by helping them navigate the transplant process, rebuilding their trust in healthcare and continuing to be a trusted destination for transplantation among African American patients.” 

The Northwestern Medicine African American Transplant Access Program addresses patient distrust in health care, cultural competency, health literacy and psychosocial support.

Driven by research and clinical trial offerings 

The Northwestern Medicine Organ Transplant Center currently has over 90 active clinical trials and has received $8 million in federal funding for transplant research. Including heart and lung transplants, Northwestern Medicine performed 651 transplants in 2023, which is eighth nationally in transplant volume, 97 lung transplants – fourth in the nation – and 37 heart transplants, which is 44^th in the nation. 

People who are interested in becoming living donors can visit nmlivingdonor.org.

For more information on the Northwestern Medicine Organ Transplant Center, visit nm.org.

Dr. Simpson joined Northwestern Medicine in 2018. She developed the Northwestern Medicine African American Transplant Access Program (AATAP) to increase equitable access to transplantation and to help patients address cultural concerns and overcome modifiable structural and institutional barriers to receive care they need. With her new role, she will continue to provide clinical leadership over AATAP.

“Dr. Simpson is deeply committed to health equity, and she has long endeavored to address the issues that prevent patients from accessing high-quality care to achieve their highest quality of health,” said Howard Chrisman, MD, president and chief executive officer of Northwestern Memorial HealthCare. “Her background in transplant health equity, as well as her ability to listen and partner with communities and other leaders, will help us reduce barriers and better serve our patients and their families.”

After completing medical school at New York University, Dr. Simpson moved to Boston for a surgical residency through Harvard Medical School and completed her transplant surgery fellowship training at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. In addition to her clinical focus on liver and kidney transplants and her work as an associate professor of surgery in the Division of Organ Transplantation at Feinberg School of Medicine, Dr. Simpson is the vice chair of faculty development and diversity in the Department of Surgery.

She sits on the board of directors for the National Kidney Foundation of Illinois, and is the past diversity, equity and inclusion adviser for the American Society of Transplant Surgeons (ASTS). She chaired the ASTS Boldly Against Racism Task Force and was recently elected to sit on the society’s board of councilors.

“I am beyond proud to be a part of this institution that has called out health equity as a main pillar of its core values," Dr. Simpson said. "Health equity is a space where there is always room for discovery, growth and improvement. It is with humility that I embrace this opportunity to guide Northwestern Medicine’s system-wide approach as we leverage the strengths of our clinicians, administrators, educators and researchers to better serve our communities. We must continue to critically evaluate and address health disparities for all and seek new ways to enhance wellness in all the communities we serve.”