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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
✨ 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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🔥 Big ideas happen when passionate advocates come together! 🔥
Jen Benson, Dr. Amy Waterman, and Lorrinda Davis were on fire brainstorming at the Cutting Edge of Transplantation Conference in Scottsdale this February! 💡🩺✨
When patient advocates, researchers, and leaders unite, powerful conversations happen — conversations that can help shape the future of transplantation, amplify patient voices, and improve care for communities everywhere. 💙
The energy, collaboration, and passion shared at #CEOT continue to inspire meaningful change across the transplant community. 🙌🌎
#CEOT #transplantation #patientadvocacy #trio #journeytransplant #kidneyhealth #livingdonation #OrganDonation #HealthcareInnovation #TransplantCommunity #KidneyCare #HealthcareLeadership #PatientVoices #houstonmethodist
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✨ Connections, collaboration, and bold leadership in transplantation! ✨
Dr. Amy Waterman had an incredible time at the Cutting Edge of Transplantation Conference alongside Dr. Allyson Hart and friends advancing the future of transplant care. 💙🩺
As the Deputy Director of the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients, Dr. Hart continues to be a powerful champion for living donors everywhere, bringing passion, innovation, and heart to the transplant community every single day. 🙌
And let’s be honest… no one rocks an orange suit with pink hair quite like her! 🧡💖🔥
Proud to see inspiring leaders working together to improve transplantation, elevate patient voices, and create brighter futures for patients and living donors across the country. 🌎✨
#CEOT #Transplantation #LivingDonation #KidneyHealth #HealthcareLeadership #PatientAdvocacy #OrganDonation #TransplantCommunity #HealthcareInnovation #KidneyCare #HoustonMethodist
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💙 Celebrating leaders who continue to inspire and transform kidney care! 💙
The Patient Engegment Research Lab at Houston Methodist is proud to recognize Dr. Lentine for being honored with the prestigious National Kidney Foundation Celebration of Excellence #HeroesAward as part of the National Kidney Foundation’s 75th Anniversary celebration. 🏅✨
Dr. Lentine beautifully reminded us that true heroes in kidney care are the people working every day behind the scenes to support patients and families:
🩺 Dialysis teams starting before sunrise
💙 Transplant teams delivering compassionate care
🎁 Living donors changing lives through generosity
🙏 Families standing beside loved ones with strength and hope
Her message that HEROES represent:
✨ Humanity
✨ Equity
✨ Resilience
✨ Opportunity
✨ Education
✨ Shared Purpose
…reflects the heart of the kidney community and the future of patient-centered care.
Thank you, Dr. Lentine, for your leadership, compassion, and dedication to advancing kidney health and supporting kidney patients and living donors everywhere. 🌎💙
#NKF #KidneyHealth #HeroesAward #Transplantation #LivingDonation #KidneyCare #HealthcareLeadership #PatientCenteredCare #NationalKidneyFoundation #OrganDonation #HealthEquity #KidneyDiseaseAwareness
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💐 Happy Mother’s Day to all the incredible moms, grandmothers, caregivers, and mother figures who fill our lives with unconditional love, strength, and compassion. 💖
Today we celebrate you and all the sacrifices, support, and endless love you give every single day. 🌸✨
Wishing everyone a beautiful day filled with love, joy, and special moments with family and loved ones. 💕
#HappyMothersDay #MothersDay #CelebrateMoms #Family #Love Gratitude Motherhood
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Transplant news
INSIGHTS FROM KIDNEY RECIPIENTS, LIVING DONORS AND TRANSPLANT PROFESSIONALS
Intern Spotlight: Jessica Hao & the Power of Patient Stories
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