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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
From “I want to donate” ➡️ “How do we make it possible?” 💡
At #ATC2026, Laxmi represented the Patient Engagement Research Lab to share what the team uncovered about potential living kidney donors who are ruled out due to higher BMI.
The insight? 👇
Many of these individuals are highly motivated to donate, they’re not lacking commitment, they’re lacking the right support. From tailored weight loss programs to better guidance, this research is helping shift the conversation from barriers → solutions.
First ATC and already elevating the patient voice like a pro 👏
#LivingDonation #PatientEngagement #HealthEquity #TransplantResearch ATC2026
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Big ideas + great company at #ATC2026 💡
Amy led a breakout session bringing together patient advocacy leaders from across the U.S. to tackle one big question: How can we better support transplant patients, together?
Even better, getting to collaborate with transplant patient and advocate Jullie Hogan from Kidney Solutions 💙 Because when patients and leaders co-create solutions, real impact happens.
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#patientadvocacy #TransplantCommunity #ATC2026 #PatientCenteredCare
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The Patient Engagement Research Lab is excited to be at #ATC2026 in Boston 💙
Grateful to be part of a global community advancing transplant innovation, because at the heart of everything we do are the patients and their stories. From meaningful conversations to groundbreaking research, this week is all about collaboration, impact, and being together in transplant.
Proud of this incredible team and the work we’re doing to elevate patient voices and shape the future of care.
#PatientEngagement #TransplantResearch #ATC2026 #TogetherInTransplant #HealthcareInnovation #PatientCenteredCare #ResearchImpact #TeamScience #TransplantCommunity #BostonEvents
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💚 A Mother's Love. A Life-Changing Gift. A Second Chance. 💚
When Nancy was pregnant with her first child, her kidneys suddenly began to fail. What followed was a journey filled with unimaginable challenges, dialysis, the heartbreaking loss of her premature baby, and the uncertainty of waiting for a life-saving transplant.
Yet through grief, resilience, and hope, Nancy received a perfectly matched kidney transplant in 2007 that transformed her life.
Today, 18 years later, Nancy is thriving. Her transplant gave her the opportunity to become a mother again, advocate for others through the National Kidney Foundation, and dedicate her life to helping transplant patients and donors find hope.
✨ "The best thing I ever did was get a kidney transplant, even though it was extraordinarily scary."
Nancy's story is a powerful reminder that even in life's darkest moments, hope can lead to healing, purpose, and new beginnings.
🎥 Watch Nancy's inspiring journey and discover more transplant and donation stories at HealthStories4U.org.
💬 Know someone affected by organ transplantation? Share this story and help spread hope.
#HealthStories4U #KidneyTransplant #TransplantJourney #SecondChanceAtLife #OrganDonation #DonateLife #KidneyDiseaseAwareness #TransplantSurvivor #HopeAndHealing #PatientStories #NationalKidneyFoundation #GiftOfLife #TransplantCommunity #InspiringStories
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✨ Intern Spotlight: Jessica Hao ✨
We’re excited to share a glimpse into Jessica Hao’s inspiring journey and the incredible work she contributed through her blog on Explore Transplant! From analyzing powerful patient stories to helping bring new voices into the Living Donor Storytelling Project, Jessica highlights how storytelling can truly transform healthcare and deepen empathy. Her reflections are both moving and insightful, showing how meaningful, patient-centered narratives can shape the future of care.
📖 Read her full blog here: ExploreTransplant.org
exploretransplant.org/intern-spotlight-jessica-hao-the-power-of-patient-stories/
At the Houston Methodist Patient Engagement Research Lab, it was truly an honor to have Jessica as an intern. She worked closely on the Digital Storytelling Project, and Mayra Bartyzel had the privilege of serving as her mentor. We are incredibly proud of her contributions and grateful for the passion, thoughtfulness, and dedication she brought to our team.
👏 Join us in celebrating Jessica and take a moment to read her full story!
#InternSpotlight #PatientEngagement #DigitalStorytelling #OrganDonation #HealthcareInnovation #ExploreTransplant #HoustonMethodist #MentorshipMatters #FutureHealthcareLeaders
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We are proud to share that Dr. Amy Waterman recently joined the *Pinch of Salt Podcast* to discuss the growing impact of Narrative Medicine in healthcare.
During the conversation, Dr. Waterman highlights how patient storytelling and lived experiences can strengthen patient-centered care, improve communication, and drive more compassionate healthcare transformation.
Narrative Medicine reminds us that behind every diagnosis is a human story worth hearing.
🎧 Listen to the full podcast here:
youtu.be/Jy2k84PJaO4
#narrativemedicine #PatientCenteredCare #HealthcareInnovation #patientengagement #medicalresearch #HealthcareLeadership #DigitalStorytelling #transplantresearch #CompassionateCare #HealthEquity #HealthcareTransformation
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This Memorial Day, we honor and remember the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country. ❤️🤍💙
Today, we reflect with gratitude on their courage, dedication, and legacy. Wishing everyone a safe and meaningful Memorial Day as we remember those who gave everything for our freedom. 🙏✨
#MemorialDay #HonorAndRemember #gratitude #rememberthefallen #memorialdayweekend
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✨ Reflecting on an inspiring experience at the 2026 Medicine and Religion Conference ✨
Drs. Waterman and Nielsen had the incredible opportunity to attend, where leaders from across healthcare came together to discuss the importance of providing whole-patient healing and compassionate care. 💙🩺
Over three impactful days, we learned from some of medicine’s brightest minds, including Dr. Peter Hotez, who shared his powerful perspective on “Science Tikkun”, a philosophy inspired by Judaism focused on repairing a fractured world through scientific knowledge, compassion, justice, and the common good. 🌎✨
The conference also reinforced how vital chaplains are within healthcare teams. Their work supporting patients and families during some of life’s darkest and most difficult moments is truly invaluable. 🙏💫
As healthcare continues to evolve, it is more important than ever that we support interdisciplinary care teams that nurture not only physical healing, but emotional and spiritual well-being too.
#MedicineAndReligion #WholePatientCare #HealthcareLeadership #CompassionateCare #PatientCenteredCare #HealthcareInnovation #Chaplaincy #Healing #MedicalCommunity
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✨ Celebrating compassion, collaboration, and hope in transplantation ✨
Drs. Adrogue, Amy Waterman, Yi, and Farhat came together to celebrate the incredible impact of Nora’s Home, a nonprofit organization that provides affordable housing, comfort, and support for transplant patients and families traveling to the Texas Medical Center for life-saving care. 💙🏡
Founded by Dr. Lillian Gaber and Dr. Osama Gaber, Nora’s Home has become a true haven for transplant patients, ensuring that no family faces their transplant journey alone. 🙌✨
At the 2026 Nora’s Home Gala: The Magic of Nora’s Home held at the beautiful The Post Oak Hotel, supporters and advocates came together to raise nearly $1.7 million to help transplant families in need through the Adopt-A-Family program. 🌟💫
Grateful to work alongside visionary leaders and organizations that continue to transform the transplant experience with compassion, dignity, and hope for patients and living donors everywhere. 🌎💙
#NorasHome #Transplantation #KidneyHealth #OrganDonation #LivingDonation #PatientSupport #HealthcareLeadership #HoustonMethodist #TransplantCommunity #HealthcareInnovation #Hope #PatientCenteredCare
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Transplant news
INSIGHTS FROM KIDNEY RECIPIENTS, LIVING DONORS AND TRANSPLANT PROFESSIONALS
My name is Jessica Hao, and I recently graduated from Rice University, where I majored in Business with minors in Biochemistry and Medical Humanities on the pre-dental track. This past year, I had the wonderful opportunity to intern with the Patient Engagement lab through my Rice Medical Humanities Practicum, working closely with Mayra Almendarez, Dr. Waterman, and Catherine Pulicken on …Read more
Meet Dr. Thomas B. Potter: Bridging Biomedical Data and the Human Experience of Health
Research Data Scientist | Center for Health Data Science and Analytics | PE Lab Collaborator Where Technology Meets Compassion Dr. Thomas B. Potter serves as a Research Data Scientist at the Center for Health Data Science and Analytics, where he applies advanced analytics to complex healthcare problems. His work sits at the crossroads of engineering, predictive modeling, and patient-centered inquiry, …Read more
Meet Dr. Devin Peipert: Advancing Patient Voices Across Continents in Transplant Research
125th Anniversary Chair & Professor | Deputy Director, Birmingham Health Partners Centre for Regulatory Science and Innovation | University of Birmingham, UK A Global Leader in Patient-Reported Outcomes Dr. Devin Peipert is an internationally recognized leader in health outcomes measurement and patient-reported outcomes (PROs). He currently serves as the 125th Anniversary Chair & Professor of Health Outcomes Measurement at the …Read more