Experience and Excellence, Close to Home
Welcome to the Westchester Medical Center (WMC) Transplant Center, the only multi-organ transplant center in eastern New York State between New York City and the Canadian border. WMC is one of the oldest, largest and most experienced multi-organ transplant centers in the state, having performed thousands of life-saving transplants for patients of all ages.
We offer:
- Adult heart transplant
- Adult and pediatric liver and kidney transplant
- Liver and kidney living donor transplant.
- In addition to solid organ transplantation, Westchester Medical Center hosts advanced programs in bone marrow transplant and corneal transplant.
Why Choose Us?
We’re here for you every step of the way: before, during and after your transplant.
At the WMC Transplant Center, we treat the patient, not just the disease, offering a full range of support services to help our patients and their families cope with the emotional, financial and physical burdens of transplantation. Our unwavering commitment is to provide the best possible care for our patients and provide superior outcomes.
- 30+ years of experience
- Thousands of successful transplants
- Support groups
- Local expertise
Not only do patients receive excellent care in solid organ transplants, they also receive accessible care. We are conveniently located in the heart of Westchester County, parking is easy, and we can be reached by public transportation and all major highways. Many transplant-related services can be accessed remotely via telehealth visits and at-home lab testing.
Patients’ loved ones can access additional resources through The Caregiver Center, which functions as a conduit to an array of free services and support.
As a member of a large network of nine hospitals throughout the Hudson Valley, the WMC Transplant Center makes it convenient for patients to receive their care close to home.
Learn More About Our Services:
My Son Needed a Liver Transplant. Now, I'm an RN and Transplant Coordinator.
Two Siblings Face Advanced Renal
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WMCHealth Commemorates Donate Life Month
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Heart Transplant Recipient Meets Donor Family
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Kidney Transplant Recipient Reunites with
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See FAQ
The Westchester Medical Center Transplant Center: Trusted, exceptional care for each patient, always
Renowned care matching or exceeding the nation’s best medical facilities is just one of many reasons to choose the Westchester Medical Center Transplant Center when Heart, Kidney, Liver and Pancreas transplant is required.
Recognizing organ disease in a timely manner and selecting a trusted, cutting-edge care center with an experienced, specialized medical team are essential to renewing quality of life.
Westchester Medical Center, flagship of the 10-hospital Westchester Medical Center Health Network (WMCHealth), has long been a trusted choice for every type of transplant. In addition, it is conveniently close to home here in the Hudson River Valley. Indeed, the Westchester Medical Center Transplant Center is the only multi-organ transplant center in eastern New York State from New York City north to the Canadian border. In addition to solid-organ transplantation, Westchester Medical Center also offers a state-of-the-art Bone Marrow Transplant Program.
Another benefit for transplant patients: Westchester Medical Center is the region’s only academic medical center due to its affiliation with New York Medical College. This advances already expert care through the most contemporary medical research and breakthroughs.
The Transplant Center’s exceptional team is recognized as a leader in transplant services. The Transplant Center has performed more than 3,300 transplants – more than any hospital in the Hudson Valley. Its outstanding survival rates for single-organ transplant compares favorably across the nation.
In addition, its team specializes in multi-organ transplant. It performed the most combined heart-kidney transplants, 12, in the New York State in 2016 and 2017. Those transplants’ survival rate is an excellent 92 percent.
Transplant surgeons, physicians and coordinators employ the latest therapies, technology, equipment and academic research. Just as importantly, this compassionate team delivers care with dignity. It embraces the need for nuanced attention from initial consultation through treatment and every step of aftercare. This personal touch is essential: Westchester Medical Center Transplant Center members care for every patient the way they would care for their own families.
The Westchester Medical Center Transplant Center’s comprehensive services include:
- Evaluation, diagnosis and treatment options, customized for each patient
- Heart, kidney, liver and pancreas transplant
- Kidney and liver transplants from living donors
- Kidney, liver, heart and pancreas transplants from deceased donors
- Pediatric kidney and liver transplant
- Multi-organ transplantation
Westchester Medical Center has a robust transplantation history. In 1989, Khalid Butt, MD, established Westchester Medical Center’s Kidney Transplant Program. For many years, it was the state’s largest. The Liver Transplant program opened in 1996; the Heart Transplant Program debuted in 2001. Since 1989, Westchester Medical Center has performed more than 3,300 kidney, liver and heart transplants.
Patient consultations and transplant follow-up appointments are available at Good Samaritan Hospital, a member of WMCHealth in Suffern, Rockland County.
Thank you for trusting the Westchester Medical Center Transplant Program and allowing us to be part of your care – and future.
Organ Donor FAQ
How does the transplant system work?
Under contract with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Health Services & Resources Administration (HRSA), the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) maintains a centralized computer network linking all organ procurement organizations and transplant centers. This computer network is accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with organ placement specialists in the UNOS Organ Center always available to answer questions.
After being referred by a doctor, a transplant center evaluates the patient. The transplant center runs a number of tests and considers the patient's mental and physical health, as well as his or her social support system. If the center determines that the patient is a transplant candidate, they will add the patient's medical profile to the national patient waiting list for organ transplant. The patient is not placed on a ranked list at that time. Rather, the patient's name is added to the "pool" of patients waiting.
When a deceased organ donor is identified, a transplant coordinator from an organ procurement organization accesses the UNOS computer. Each patient in the "pool" is matched by the computer against the donor characteristics. The computer then generates a ranked list of patients for each organ that is procured from that donor in ranked order according to organ allocation policies. Factors affecting ranking may include tissue match, blood type, length of time on the waiting list, immune status and the distance between the potential recipient and the donor. For heart, liver, and intestines, the potential recipient's degree of medical urgency is also considered. Therefore, the computer generates a differently ranked list of patients for each donor organ matched.
The organ is offered to the transplant team of the first person on the list. Often, the top patient will not get the organ for one of several reasons. When a patient is selected, he or she must be available, healthy enough to undergo major surgery, and willing to be transplanted immediately. Also, a laboratory test to measure compatibility between the donor and recipient may be necessary. For example, patients with high antibody levels often prove incompatible to the donor organ and cannot receive the organ because the patient's immune system would reject it.
Once a patient is selected and contacted and all testing is complete, surgery is scheduled and the transplant takes place.
You can also find more information about organ donation on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Web site for Organ Donation at www.organdonor.gov.
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May I contact my organ donor's family?
Many transplant recipients have asked about writing to their donor's family. Research by the National Donor Family Council has shown that most donor families want to hear from the recipients of their loved ones' organs. You may send a letter or card to the donor family. Bring this letter to your transplant coordinator. Your coordinator will forward the letter on to the appropriate Organ Procurement Organization.
Attach a separate note stating your name, type of transplant and date. Do not state your name or hometown in the message. You may call the Organ Donor Network at 1(800)GIFT-4-NY with questions regarding donation.
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Should I call my doctor if I catch a cold after surgery?
Should you experience cold symptoms such as cough, sore throat, or nasal discharge, see your doctor. It may be difficult to tell if you have a cold or a more serious infection requiring antibiotics. You may need a chest x-ray, throat cultures, or other tests to determine treatment. Remember to inform your coordinator of any new prescriptions.
- Keep track of your temperature, and remember to call your coordinator if it goes to 101° F (38.5° C) or is 100° F (37.80 C) for 24 hours.
- Check with your coordinator before taking any over-the-counter cold medications. Many over-the-counter cold medications contain pseudoephedrine which can interact with Prograf/Neoral/Gengraf.
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Is it true that if I am an organ donor, doctors won't work as hard to save me in an emergency?
If you are sick or injured and admitted to the hospital, the number one priority is to save your life. Organ donation can only be considered after brain death has been declared by a physician. Many states have adopted legislation allowing individuals to legally designate their wish to be a donor should brain death occur, although in many states Organ Procurement Organizations also require consent from the donor's family.
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Does your financial or celebrity status help move you up the transplant list faster?
When you are on the transplant waiting list for a donor organ, what really counts is the severity of your illness, time spent waiting, blood type, and other important medical information.
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All I need to do to become an organ donor is to carry a donor card and have it noted on my driver's license, right?
While a signed donor card and a driver's license with an "organ donor" designation are legal documents, organ and tissue donation is usually discussed with family members prior to the donation. To ensure that your family understands your wishes, it is important that you tell your family about your decision to donate LIFE.
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Can I only donate my heart, liver and kidneys?
No, there are other organ donations that are needed and which can be made. Needed organs include the heart, kidneys, pancreas, lungs, liver and intestines. Tissue that can be donated include the eyes, skin, bone, heart valves and tendons.
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Does a medical history of illness preclude me from donating my organs?
At the time of death, the appropriate medical professionals will review your medical and social histories to determine whether or not you can be a donor. With recent advances in transplantation, many more people than ever before can be donors. It's best to tell your family your wishes and sign up to be an organ and tissue donor on your driver's license or an official donor document.
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Am I too old to be an organ donor?
People of all ages and medical histories should consider themselves potential donors. Your medical condition at the time of death will determine what organs and tissue can be donated.
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Will my family have to pay for it if I donate my organs?
There is no cost to the donor's family or estate for organ and tissue donation. Funeral costs remain the responsibility of the family.
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Supporting Transplant Patients and Families Every Step of the Way
Undergoing a transplant can be an overwhelming experience for patients and their loved ones. Transplant surgery requires a lifelong commitment to working closely with the transplant team. At Westchester Medical Center, we believe in taking care of the whole patient, including their clinical, psychosocial, and sometimes logistical needs.
Transplant Outreach and Support Services at WMCHealth
In 2024, the Transplant Program established the Transplant Outreach and Support Center (TOSC) to address the needs of our patients and their families, as well the healthcare professionals involved in their care. Learn more below about various support services available through the TOSC.
Get Me to Westchester Medical Center Transplant
As the only comprehensive Transplant Program located between Westchester County and Rochester NY, patients come to our Center for transplant services from all over New York State, southwestern Connecticut and northern New Jersey. For some patients, transportation can sometimes pose a barrier to obtaining care. Our goal is to minimize the challenges associated with traveling to our Center. In collaboration with reputable livery companies, we offer transportation to and from our center as well as gasoline subsidies. For more information, please contact us at 914.493.1990 to find out if you qualify.
Rehab Without Walls
In collaboration with our Addiction Service, we developed the Rehab Without Walls Program, a multidisciplinary approach designed to address the growing epidemic of alcohol and substance use disorder (AUD & SUD) in the transplant population. Our highly qualified staff have considerable experience in treating AUD and SUD in patients undergoing transplant. Run by a Certified Alcohol and Substance Abuse Counselor (CASAC), our program does not rely on a one-size-fits-all approach to treatment. Each treatment plan is tailored to the needs of our patients, utilizing talk therapy, medication-assisted treatment, case management services, inpatient and outpatient treatment, as well as other evidence-based interventions. For more information, please contact us at 914.493.1990.
Transplant Telemedicine Program
We recognize that multiple visits with your Transplant Team can be challenging, especially for patients who live far away from our Center. If you are a clinically stable patient, you may qualify for our Telemedicine program. Visits with your providers can take place from the privacy of your home, using a HIPAA secure platform. To find out more, please contact us at 914.493.1990.
Transplant Buddy Program
Open to all WMC transplant candidates, recipients, living donors and care partners, this program is designed to match participants with mentors who provide support, education and help navigating the transplant process. Depending upon the needs of the transplant mentee, the transplant buddy relationship can be as brief as a single meeting or it can last a lifetime. Our program is flexible and is designed to focus on the individual needs of the mentee. If you are interested in becoming a mentee or a mentor, please contact us via email at transplantbuddy@wmchealth.org.
Kidney Transplant Educational Seminars
Learn about kidney transplantation. Various members of the team, including nurse coordinators, social workers, nutritionists, and financial counselors, as well as surgeons and transplant nephrologists, provide information about the process and what to expect. Hear from transplant recipients and living donors about their experiences. Educational seminars are conducted several times throughout the year via an online platform. All potential and listed patients are welcome to attend. Attendees are encouraged to interact with the team and ask questions. For more information, please contact us via email at kidneytransplant@wmchealth.org.
Transplant Speakers Bureau
Like many areas of medicine, best practices in transplant are continuously evolving. Our staff of transplant professionals are some of the brightest and most well-trained professionals in the field. We are committed to providing community clinicians with the most up-to-date information about end-stage organ disease and transplantation. If you are interested in inviting a speaker from any of our three transplant programs (heart, liver, or kidney) or participating in our continuing medical education (CME) offerings, please contact our Transplant Outreach Department via email: Maria.Deborba@wmchealth.org.
Support Groups
Each of our programs in heart, kidney and liver transplant sponsor regularly scheduled support groups which provide a forum for discussing issues of mutual concern as well as ongoing education regarding healthy lifestyle pre- and post-transplant. In addition to general support groups, we offer specialized groups for transplant patients suffering from alcohol and/or substance use disorder. For more information, please contact our Transplant Outreach Department via email: Maria.Deborba@wmchealth.org.
Give The Gift of Life: Become an Organ Donor
In 2022, a historic milestone was reached: over one million transplantations were performed in the United States, and almost 43,000 patients were transplanted in 2022 alone. Yet, there are still over 6,500 Americans who die each year awaiting an organ transplant. That’s 17 people per day. Currently, approximately 104,000 men, women and children are awaiting organ transplants in the U. S. Another person is added to the waitlist every 10 minutes. In New York State, nearly 10,000 people are awaiting a transplant. Organ donation saves lives!
Register to Become a Donor
One organ donor can save up to eight lives, restore sight for two people through corneal donation, and heal the lives of up to 75 people through tissue donation. If you are interested in becoming a donor or want to learn more about the donation process, please visit these websites: LiveOnNY.org, DonateLife.net, or UNOS.org.
Already registered? You can update your registration information / preferences here:
Living Kidney Donation
Living kidney donors come in all shapes and sizes. Some are family, friends, or coworkers of transplant candidates, while others give the gift of life anonymously, sometimes even to someone they’ve never met.
Living kidney donation provides several benefits for the waitlist recipient. Thanks to living kidney donors, recipients receive kidneys faster (typically less than a year) and also receive a higher quality kidney than from a deceased donor. Additionally, living kidney donation provides the opportunity for another candidate to receive a deceased donor kidney that may have otherwise gone to the recipient.
If a living kidney donor’s blood type is not a match for the recipient, they can enroll in the Kidney Paired Donation (KPD) program. The KPD program matches incompatible donor-recipient pairs to other eligible pairs for a kidney swap. The donor from one pair donates to the recipient of the other pair, and vice versa.
For additional information about living donation, please go to UNOS.org.
How to Become a Living Kidney Donor at WMC
Westchester Medical Center specializes in living kidney donation. If you are interested in becoming a living kidney donor, please contact us at 914.493.1990 and ask to speak with a Living Kidney Donor Coordinator, or complete the form below.
Get Information About Becoming a Living Kidney Donor
Call 914.493.1990 to make an appointment.
Kidney Transplant: 914.493.1990
Liver Transplant: 914.493.1990
Heart Transplant: 914.493.7632
Westchester Medical Center
100 Woods Road
Valhalla, NY 10595
Please call 914.493.1990 to schedule an appointment
Liver Transplant Satellite Clinic for Evaluations
MidHudson Regional Hospital
241 North Road
Atrium Building
Suite 502
Poughkeepsie, NY 12601
Please call 914.493.1990 to schedule an appointment
Kidney Transplant Satellite Clinic for Evaluations
HealthAlliance Hospital
117 Mary's Avenue
Suite 102
Kingston, NY 12401
Please call 914.493.1990 to schedule an appointment
Liver and Kidney Transplant Satellite Clinic for Evaluations
Good Samaritan Hospital
255 Lafayette Avenue
Suite 200
Suffern, NY 10901
Please call 914.493.1990 to schedule an appointment