within our transplant community
education and research
of living donation
Let’s explore transplant together
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
Advancing precision in transplant care through collaboration and innovation 💡
Dr. Amy Waterman from Houston Methodist Patient Engagement Research Lab, represent the CSTEM team, the patient voice continues to play a critical role in shaping research that truly meets patient needs. This work highlights the development of immunosuppressant profiles designed to better personalize treatment for kidney transplant recipients, helping reduce side effects and improve outcomes.
Proud to celebrate the collaborative efforts behind this research and the progress being made toward more individualized, patient-centered care.
.
.
.
.
#TransplantInnovation #PatientCenteredCare #precisionmedicine #transplantresearch #ATC2026
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
Every person in this photo carries a story most people will never fully understand.
A story of giving a kidney.
Of receiving the gift of life.
Of loving someone through the waiting, the uncertainty, the fight.
This is a community no one ever plans to join… and yet, here they are, showing up, standing together, and choosing to give back 💙
Because when you’ve lived it, you don’t stay silent.
You become an advocate. A voice. A light for the next person walking this path.
This is what transplant community looks like, strength, resilience, and hope.
#OrganDonation #TransplantAwareness #GiftOfLife #PatientAdvocacy #DonateLife
1 CommentsComment on Facebook
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
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
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.
.
.
.
#patientadvocacy #TransplantCommunity #ATC2026 #PatientCenteredCare
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
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
1 CommentsComment on Facebook
💚 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
7 CommentsComment on Facebook
✨ 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
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
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
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
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
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
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