What is a kidney donor?
Who do I contact to become a kidney donor?
Can I have a pancreas transplant at UT Medical Center?

Q. What is a kidney donor?
A. A donor’s blood and tissues must closely match yours to help prevent your body’s immune system from rejecting the new kidney. Tests on blood cells will be conducted to find out if your body will accept the new kidney. There are several types of kidney donors, including the following.

• Living-Related Donor—A live family member that donates a kidney.
• Cadaver Donor—A donor that recently has died but not suffered from kidney disease or injury.
• Living-Unrelated Donor—This is a spouse or friend that donates a kidney.

With increased education and awareness of the shortage of cadaver kidney donors, UT Medical Center’s kidney transplant program has grown to include approximately 40 percent of its kidney transplants being done with a living donor. There were 12 living donors in 2004.

Q. Who do I contact to become a kidney donor?
A. Contact the Office of Transplant Services at UT Medical Center at Office of Transplant Services by calling 865.305.9236.

Q. Can I have a pancreas transplant at UT Medical Center?
A. Yes. UT Medical Center, home to the only kidney transplant program in the region, expanded its current program to include pancreas transplants. UT Medical Center received permission from the United Network for Organ Sharing to begin listing those who qualify for a pancreas transplant. UT Medical Center’s pancreas transplant program is headed by an expert transplant surgeon whose skills will help to improve opportunities for a better life for patients. UT Medical Center’s kidney transplant program is already has one of the highest success rates in the country at 90 percent, and the pancreas transplant program is hoped to do just as well.