Kidney and Pancreas Transplant Center

Kidney transplants are performed from two types of donors: living and deceased. The Transplant Institute has maintained a strong commitment to the living donors who have participated in our program since its inception. And because we treat our living donors like the heroes they truly are, they also have access to the same dedicated team of experts. 

Deceased donor kidney transplants are from someone who has passed away, and their family has seen beyond their own grief to provide the gift of life when they are losing a loved one. The Transplant Institute has an excellent working relationship with Donor Network of Arizona and partners with them on public awareness and education regarding donation.

Here are a few important facts when considering living kidney donation:

• Kidney transplantation involves surgically implanting a kidney from a donor into a person whose own kidneys have permanently failed due to chronic end-stage kidney disease or injury
• Living kidney donations are more successful because there is less likelihood of rejection and the kidney often lasts longer than those from deceased donors.
• Kidney donors must be at least 18 years of age, physically and emotionally healthy.
• Donors are guided through the process by a specialized nurse who only works with living donors to ensure that they understand all aspects of living donation, including its risks.

It is stressful to hear that you may need an organ transplant and to fully grasp what this means. Our dedicated transplant team is here to help. We provide comprehensive and individualized approaches to patient and family education. These teams are always available to support our patients and their families through the entire process and are only a phone call away to answer other questions.

One of the first steps for patients is to attend an education class about organ transplantation. This class is offered in English and Spanish. During class, you will receive a binder containing detailed information about the transplant process, including:

• Initial evaluation and testing
• Details of being on the waiting list
• The transplant surgery
• Care after the transplant

We encourage patients to be open and honest and to ask any and all questions in order to get the information they need to make an informed decision. Patients can also talk with other patients who have been through a transplant procedure to gain firsthand insights into the transplantation process in general.

We also offer onsite support groups at the Transplant Institute – a schedule of those meetings can be obtained by calling the Transplant Institute at (602) 521-5900.

All of our patient education materials are available in English and Spanish. The following is a list of other resources:

• National Kidney Foundation
• United Network for Organ Sharing
• Donor Network of Arizona
• Transplant Living
• Banner Health Transplant Services
• Donate Life
• Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients
• Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network

Fundraising Assistance:

• HelpHOPELive
• National Foundation for Transplant

The University of Arizona, in coordination with Banner – University Medicine, conducts a variety of research studies and clinical trials to support a commitment to improving patient care. As a patient at Banner – University Medical Center, you may be eligible to participate, meaning you’ll have access to new treatments which may not yet be available to the public.

Banner – University Medical Center Phoenix is proud to be participating in a research study with the United Network of Organ Sharing (UNOS). This three-year demonstration project is aimed at increasing kidney transplantation across the country. Our team works with similar programs to advance patient care, organ procurement and most importantly, patient outcomes.

Our goal is to help you reach a healthier quality of life. For this reason, we have a strong focus on patient education and support. We provide all our patients and their families with information and education materials needed to attain the healthy outcomes the Transplant Institute is known for achieving.