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significant financial commitment, so this is not an option for everyone. This is why we have a team in place that understands all of the implications of transplantation and can help guide patients through them." The UH Transplant Ins t itute includes a diverse team of professionals with extensive experience in managing transplant patients, before, during and after surgery. In addition to transplant nurse coordinators, physicians, and surgeons, patients have access to social workers, pharmacists and financial counselors who work together to help them make educated and informed decisions about transplantation. Pat ients who choose to pursue transplant surgery work with a medical specialist before and after surgery, as well as with a transplant surgeon. Likewise, each type of organ trans- plant program within the Transplant Institute is overseen by both a surgical and a medical director. Fourteen physicians are part of the transplant team at UH. Nephrologist Donald Hricik, MD, works with Dr. Schulak to manage the kidney transplant program. Surgeon Edmund Sanchez, MD, and hepatologist Anthony Post, MD, manage UH's liver transplant and pancreas transplant programs. For heart transplants, Arie Blitz, MD, serves as surgical director and cardiologist James Fang, MD, is medical director. Lung transplantation services are managed by surgeon Adnan Cobanoglu, MD, and pul- monologist Robert Schilz, DO, PhD. Kidney transplantation services for the youngest of patients are provided through the Transplant Inst itute by pediatric nephrologists. Guiding patients through the transplant process are 15 transplant nurse coordinators. "Not only does this structure make it more convenient for patients to see everyone they need to see, but it has also engendered a culture here where we can't even imagine not working together," says Dr. Schulak. "It makes it much easier for physicians and surgeons to collaborate and to ask questions of each other, which is bound to improve clinical outcomes." Advancing Care — Now and in the Future The experience and expertise of the UH transplant team ensures the highest rate of surgical success, giving transplant patients the chance to live more normal lives. When possible, transplant surgery is performed using advanced minimally invasive techniques, which speed recovery times for donors and recipients and reduce post-operative pain and complications. The program is on the cutting edge of transplantation in other ways, as well. UH was the site of Ohio's first triple organ transplant (liver, pancreas, kidney) and Northern Ohio's first live donor, reduced lobe and split-liver transplants. At UH, research is also recognized as a valuable means of advancing the safety and suc- cess of organ transplantation, "We have been fortunate for many years to be on the leading edge of all of the major drug studies for transplant patients," says Dr. Schulak. "Going forward, one of our goals is to help advance transplant research by develop- ing a strong research arm for both clinical and basic scientific studies." One such project involves kidney transplantation in patients who are blood type incompatible with their donors. Another goal for the UH program is to make transplant services more accessible for the people of Northeast Ohio. After Akron's kidney transplant program closed in 2008, the UH Transplant Institute team worked very closely to support the community's transplant needs and, last year, opened a satellite office there. In cooperation with local specialists, the new clinic at I-77 and White Pond Road in Akron offers potential transplant patients in mid Northeast Ohio the chance to be evaluated closer to home. "What we have found is that patients who do not have convenient access may not even pursue transplantation as a treatment option," says Morrison. "Our The UH Transplant Institute has a satellite office in Akron at I-77 and White Pond Road. This offers potential transplant patients in mid Northeast Ohio the chance to be evaluated closer to home. Akron office allows us to bring UH's level of expertise into the community so more patients can have this option. "Our primary emphasis is always on the patients, and I think patients can feel that," adds Dr. Schulak. "The transplant multi-specialists round together, so it is clear to patients that there really is this entire team taking care of them. And patients have 24/7 access to us." As a result, patient satisfaction is very high. Referring physicians are also pleased with the tools and resources, including detailed information on when to refer a patent and educational webi- nars, provided by the UH Transplant Institute. Referring physicians are con- sidered to be a vital part of the transplant team, and communication is ongoing during all aspects of the patient's diagno- sis and care. "There really is a different atmosphere here," says Dr. Schulak. As with every transplant program, the greatest limitation for the Transplant Institute at University Hospitals is organ availability. While Ohio has been a national leader in organ donor designa- tion on drivers' licenses, approximately 45 percent of drivers still fail to say "yes" to donation. Currently, the UH Transplant Institute maintains a list of about 680 area patients who are awaiting transplants. For more informat ion about the Transplant Institute at University Hospitals, visit UHhospitals.org or call 216-844-3689 or 1-866-UH4-CARE. ■ MARCH-APRIL 2012 n MDNEWS.COM n MD NEWS Cleveland-Akron-Canton | 15

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