2024 was a record-breaking year for the nationally-recognized UC Davis Health Transplant Center, which gave new life to hundreds of patients in Northern California needing the gift of an organ — often from a stranger.
The kidney transplant program performed 310 kidney transplants in 2024, including 90 from living donors, a Health record. The pediatric kidney transplant program set high marks with 12 transplants, also a record.
In the first full calendar year of the liver transplant program, its team performed 44 adult liver transplants — far surpassing its initial year goal of 12 to 14 transplants. Most impressively, the team had a perfect 100% patient survival rate and a graft survival rate of 100%. Both rates are well above the national average of 83%, according to the United Network of Organ Sharing (UNOS).
"The unprecedented growth of the UC Davis Health transplant program reflects how our dedicated multidisciplinary team has lived up to our mission of delivering the highest quality of care to as many people as possible and enabling them to live the healthiest lives possible," said Joseph Galante, chief medical officer of UC Davis Medical Center. "This success is the result of increased communication and collaboration with community partners, like Sierra Donor Services, as well as our outstanding international leaders in transplant care who improved patient processes and education."
'The best return on investment you can ever make'
Cynthia McReynolds was among the 90 individuals who donated a kidney at UC Davis Health in 2024.
"I still remember sitting in my living room and opening my email," recalled McReynolds. "An email titled 'How do you ask for a kidney?' was sitting in my inbox."
The email was from a friend named Michael Fels, whose partner, Wee Simla, had been struggling with chronic kidney disease for 10 years. Recently, Simia's condition advanced to the point that he went on the national kidney waitlist and began dialysis.
"After reading the email, I turned to my husband and said maybe I should donate one of my kidneys to Wee," shared McReynolds. "He joked, 'But you're so old.'"
In fact, McReynolds was 75 years– but very determined not to let her age deter her. She responded to Fels' email and soon underwent tests to determine compatibility as a donor.
"I sent that email to hundreds of friends and family members," Fels said. "Cynthia was the only person to respond and share that she was willing to donate a kidney to Wee."
After undergoing several tests and scans, McReynolds learned she was a match and could donate her kidney directly to Simla.
Fels was thrilled.
"We never dreamed that we would find a direct donation," he said. "When I sent the email, we just hoped we could find a paired exchange option that would place Wee at the top of the waitlist."
On Nov. 12, McReynolds and Simla underwent successful surgical procedures. In the process, McReynolds became the UC Davis Health Transplant Center's oldest living donor.
"The entire experience at UC Davis was incredibly efficient," McReynolds said. "They communicated all the details for the procedure and really personalized the experience by giving us adjacent rooms for our recovery. That personal touch made such a difference in the care we received and made us feel really taken care of."
Now, a few months removed from the kidney transplant, McReynolds is back doing Pilates and walking daily. Simla is gardening and painting — activities he had not been able to do for years.
"I feel like I am able to be myself again," said Simla. "The whole thing is a little bit like magic."
McReynolds is so happy with her decision to extend life to Simla.
"Donating a kidney is such a small thing when you consider its impact — you are able to give someone a miraculous return to life," she reflected. "It's the best return on investment you can ever make."
Success of liver perfusion
The liver transplant program's success during its first year can be attributed in part to the use of a novel technology called liver perfusion.
Approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), liver perfusion is the process of circulating fluid and oxygen through a liver that's already been removed from a donor but not yet transplanted. The process preserves the liver's function potentially enhances the recovery process for patients.
"There are thousands of people in the United States on the liver transplant wait list. Liver perfusion helps us ease the transplant waiting list and successfully transplant more of our patients."-Lea K. Matsuoka
"The perfusion process allows the liver to spend much less time on ice without blood flow, which is better for the organ," said Lea K. Matsuoka, section chief for liver transplantation and hepatobiliary surgery at the Transplant Center. "Additionally, during the procedure, we are able to better assess the quality and function of the liver before it is transplanted — improving the likelihood of a successful transplant."
Perfusion involves the donated liver being placed inside a sterile steel container attached to a ventilator, pump and filters. Within the container, the liver is maintained at normal body temperature and perfused with oxygenated and nutrient-enriched blood through the organ.
While the liver is on the pump, the team assesses its function to ensure it is ideal for transplantation. This has allowed for an increase in the use of available donor livers.
"There are thousands of people in the United States on the liver transplant waiting list," explained Matsuoka. "This method helps us ease the transplant waiting list and successfully transplant more of our patients."
A national leader in transplantation
The UC Davis Transplant Center has been a leader in organ transplantation since its inception in 1985.
The transplant program serves patients in the 33 counties UC Davis Health covers, which includes a 65,000-square-mile area north to the Oregon border and east to Nevada. It is the only organ transplant program in California north of San Francisco.
"These accomplishments are a testament to our dedicated team members who have helped us develop innovative ways to help patients achieve a transplant. It is that dedication that has led us to be recognized as one of America's top transplant centers."-Sophoclis Pantelis Alexopoulos
"We celebrate these important milestones in 2024 and look forward to new achievements in the coming year," said Sophoclis Pantelis Alexopoulos, medical director for the Transplant Center. "These accomplishments are a testament to our dedicated team members who have helped us develop innovative ways to help patients achieve a transplant. It is that dedication that has led us to be recognized as one of America's top transplant centers."
To learn more about kidney transplants or how to become a donor, visit the Sierra Donor Services or UC Davis Transplant Center websites.
