Let’s explore transplant together
Welcome! Congratulations on deciding to learn more about kidney transplant and living donation. Whether you are a patient, family member, friend, potential donor, or healthcare provider, we are here to help.
Explore Transplant is a national consortium of leading experts in transplant, health literacy, and research. Our commitment is to provide you with the best education and decision-making tools available.
Latest news
💚 Meet Charles “Butch” – A Husband, A Hero, A Living Kidney Donor 💚
When Butch learned he was healthy enough to donate a kidney to his wife—despite a family history of kidney cancer—it felt like a gift in itself. At 58, he didn’t hesitate. “I only need one to live, and my wife needed the other one.” 💑
His message to others? The transplant journey may be bumpy, but the reward is beyond words. Seeing your loved one live because of your gift is life-changing.
🎥 Watch and listen to Charles’ powerful story of love, courage, and selflessness. And please—share it to help others understand the beauty of living donation.
👉 Learn more: livingdonationstories.org
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#LivingDonor #KidneyDonation #DonateLife #GiftOfLife #TransplantJourney #OrganDonationAwareness #FamilyFirst #DonorHero #OneKidneyLife #CharlesStory
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"I Donated a Kidney So My Uncle Could Live Freely Again." 💚
Rebecca saw her uncle confined by kidney failure and dialysis, missing family vacations and everyday moments. So, she stepped up and gave him the gift of life. Her recovery? Quick. Her life after donation? Almost unchanged—except for a healthier diet she already wanted.
Rebecca’s story is a powerful reminder of how living donors transform lives. 💫
🎥 Watch and listen to her inspiring story of love, courage, and family.
livingdonationstories.org/videos/rebecca-kidney-donor/
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#LivingDonor #DonateLife #KidneyDonation #OrganDonationAwareness #GiftOfLife #FamilyFirst #DonorStory #TransplantStrong #LifeAfterDonation #OneKidneyLife
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🧠✨ Meet Dr. Paula Shireman: Surgeon, Scientist, and Advocate for Health Equity ✨🧠
Dr. Paula Shireman is a vascular surgeon, wound care specialist, and trailblazing researcher at Texas A&M College of Medicine. From developing AI to monitor seniors' well-being to improving wound care and surgical outcomes, her work blends innovation and compassion. 💡💙
Through her collaboration with the Patient Engagement Research Lab, Dr. Shireman helps lead efforts like the AIM-AHEAD Tx-CKD project, addressing disparities in kidney disease and transplant access. She’s also investigating how social risk factors impact surgical outcomes—especially for underserved communities.
Her passion? Turning data into actionable solutions and ensuring no patient is left behind. 📊🤝
🎯 Want to learn how Dr. Shireman is shaping the future of healthcare?
📖 Read her full story at: Dr. Paula Shireman: Advancing Healthcare Through Research and Innovation
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Or visit our website at Explore Transplant under Transplant News
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#HealthEquity #TransplantResearch #AIMAhead #DataDrivenCare #MachineLearning #RuralHealth #WomenInSTEM #SurgicalInnovation #PatientEngagement #PELab #TexasAM #HealthcareDisparities
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10 Years Ago, Subbu Saved a Life 💚
“I donated a kidney to a loved one because I could. I learned that one kidney is enough to live a full life—running marathons, working, traveling—nothing changed. The key was education: talking to other donors helped me overcome fear. If I could do it again, I would in a heartbeat.”
His message to others? Get informed, ask questions, and know that living donation can be a beautiful way to pay it forward.
💚 Watch and listen to Subbu inspiring journey: livingdonationstories.org/videos/subbu-living-kidney-donor/
@subbuvenkat
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#LivingDonor #KidneyDonation #OrganDonationAwareness #DonateLife #MarathonRunner #GiveTheGiftOfLife #DonorStories #TransplantStrong #OneKidneyLife #subbuvenkat
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🌟 “I wanted my uncle to live.” 🌟
25 years ago, Angela made a life-changing decision—she donated a kidney to her uncle. She was just 36, full of questions and concerns. But after learning more, she felt at peace knowing her health came first.
Today, she’s living proof that living donation saves lives—and you can still live yours to the fullest after. From working through recovery to inspiring strangers across the country, Angela’s story is one of love, strength, and education.
💚 Watch and listen to Angela’s inspiring journey of healing, advocacy, and impact. Let her story show you what’s possible. livingdonationstories.org/videos/angela-living-kidney-donor/
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#LivingDonor #OrganDonation #DonateLife #KidneyDonation #TransplantStrong #BlackHealthMatters #StorytellingForChange #25YearsStrong #InspiringStories #HealingJourney
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💚 Meet Puja: A Daughter’s Gift of Life 💚
“My name is Puja, and donating a kidney to help save my mom’s life through a paired donation was the easiest decision I’ve ever made.” 🙌
After years of watching her mom battle kidney failure and dialysis, Puja stepped forward when no direct match was available. Her selfless act gave two people a second chance at life—and she says recovery was “quick, easy, and so worth it.”
💬 “Some days I even forget I donated a kidney—life is just that normal and wonderful after donation.”
🎥 Watch Puja’s inspiring story of love, strength, and the life-changing power of living donation: Puja | Kidney Donor
💫 Like, share, and help spread the word about this beautiful journey!
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#KidneyDonation #LivingDonor #PairedDonation #GiftOfLife #DonateLife #TransplantStrong #WomenInMedicine #FamilyFirst #KidneyHealth #PujasStory #BeTheGift #OrganDonationAwareness #CKD #Kidneyfailure #Organdonation #transplantation #savinglives
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🌟 The Patient Engagement Research Lab at Houston Methodist was proud to present at the 2025 NKF Spring Clinical Meetings! 🌟
As NKF’s premier event for kidney care professionals, the Spring Clinical Meetings offered an incredible platform for our team to share innovations in education, research, and patient-centered care in nephrology.
🧠 Our Presenters & Topics:
🎥 Catherine Pulicken – Evaluating the impact of an animated Kidney Paired Donation video series
🗣️ Thomas Potter – Exploring risk perception gaps in Black patients with CKD
🤝 Haley Jensen (NKF) – Identifying barriers & support needs for potential living donors
My Kidney Transplant and Paired Donation Coach is a ten-episode animated video series that was developed to present the risks and benefits of KPD as characters consider transplant/donation.
To learn more about My Kidney Transplant & Paired Donation Coach, visit: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9oDe_k1UQQ&list=PL5Q6ZzhhASkd34JhA1-w1-7Nm04NnBHY6
Together, we’re working to empower patients, support living donation, and promote health equity in kidney care. 💚
📣 Stay tuned as we continue driving change in kidney health through collaboration, compassion, and innovation.
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#NKFSCM2025 #KidneyHealth #TransplantEducation #LivingDonation #HealthEquity #CKDAwareness #PatientEngagement #HoustonMethodist #NephrologyInnovation #KPD #ChronicKidneyDisease #HRSAgov
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🌟 Meet Carlos: A Story of Strength, Hope & the Gift of Life 🌟
Two years ago, Carlos received a life-changing kidney transplant—a gift from an unexpected hero, an ex-coworker of his wife. Before his transplant, living with kidney disease and failure was a daily struggle. He faced the mental and physical toll of his condition, the challenges of dialysis, and the heartbreak of not being able to fully support his wife and newborn.
💙 Today, thanks to his living donor, Carlos has a second chance at life. His journey is a testament to the power of organ donation and the hope it brings.
📢 Listen to Carlos' inspiring story, share his journey, and help spread awareness about the importance of living kidney donation! Together, we can give more people the gift of life. livingdonationstories.org/videos/carlos-kidney-recipient/
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#CarlosTransplantStory #DonateLife #LivingDonorHero #SecondChanceAtLife #TransplantHope #KidneyWarrior #BeTheGift #ShareHisStory
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👩⚕️ Meet Dr. Stephanie Yi: Surgeon, Researcher, Advocate for Equity in Transplantation 👩⚕️
Dr. Stephanie Yi is a kidney and pancreas transplant surgeon at Houston Methodist and a dedicated member of the Patient Engagement Research Lab (PE Lab). Her passion? Bridging clinical care and research to advance health equity in transplantation. 💚
From mentoring future surgeons to leading projects on improving access for Asian American patients, Dr. Yi’s partnership with the PE Lab is transforming how we deliver care. She values the lab’s storytelling approach and collaborative spirit—ensuring patients’ voices are central to the research we do.
🎯 Want to hear how she’s shaping the future of transplant care?
📖 Read Dr. Yi’s full story here: Dr. Stephanie Yi: Advancing Transplant Surgery and Health Equity Through Research
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🌟 Join Us for "The Gift of Life" Panel Discussion! 🌟
Mark your calendars for Thursday, April 17, from 4–6 PM at The Health Museum for a powerful and FREE community event about the impact of organ donation! 💙💚
The Patient Engagement Research Lab is proud to collaborate with The Health Museum, The Living Bank, Nora's Home, and LifeGift to bring this important discussion to the public. Come hear from medical experts, donor families, and organ donors as they share their inspiring stories and insights on the lifesaving power The Patient Engagement Research Lab is proud to collaborate with The Health Museum, The Living Bank, Nora's Home, and LifeGift to bring this important discussion to the public. Come hear from medical experts, donor families, and organ donors as they share their inspiring stories and insights on the lifesaving power of transplantation.
To learn more about this event visit: thehealthmuseum.org/events/donatelife/
📍 Where: The Health Museum
📅 When: Thursday, April 17 | 4–6 PM
💰 Cost: FREE & Open to the Public!
Be part of the conversation. Learn, get inspired, and discover how YOU can make a difference! 🙌
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Transplant news
INSIGHTS FROM KIDNEY RECIPIENTS, LIVING DONORS AND TRANSPLANT PROFESSIONALS
Dr. Paula Shireman: Advancing Healthcare Through Research and Innovation
Written by: Souha Farhat, MD Meet Dr. Paula Shireman Dr. Paula Shireman, MD, MS, MBA, is a Professor in the Departments of Medical Physiology and Primary Care & Rural Medicine at the College of Medicine at Texas A&M University. As a vascular surgeon, wound care specialist, and clinical informatician, she balances clinical responsibilities, teaching, and groundbreaking research. In her clinical …Read more
Dr. Stephanie Yi: Advancing Transplant Surgery and Health Equity Through Research
Written by: Souha Farhat, MD Meet Dr. Stephanie Yi Dr. Stephanie Yi is a kidney and pancreas transplant surgeon and an Associate Professor of Surgery at Houston Methodist Hospital. With a deep commitment to improving transplant outcomes, Dr. Yi balances her clinical practice with research to address disparities in transplantation and enhance patient care. A Natural Fit with the PE …Read more
Xenotransplantation Moves Closer to Reality
Written by Martha Gershun, Guest Blogger When I donated a kidney to a woman I read about in the newspaper in 2018, the idea that xenotransplantation might someday make human organ donations obsolete was a far-fetched fantasy. Today, just seven years later, that fantasy is much closer to reality. The first successful animal-to-human kidney transplant took place one year ago …Read more