UPMC Expanding Heart Transplant Evaluation in Harrisburg

The UPMC Heart Transplant Program is pleased to announce that evaluations for heart transplant have become more accessible for patients in Central Pa. With the opening of a pre-transplant evaluation clinic at UPMC Harrisburg, patients with advanced heart failure will have access to pre-transplant testing close to home. If your patient is approved for transplant, our teams will partner to seamlessly transition their care to UPMC Presbyterian for surgery. 

“The UPMC Heart Transplant Program is committed to serving patients across the region by expanding access to pre-transplant evaluation and testing services” says Mary Keebler, MD, medical director of the UPMC Advanced Heart Failure Center and UPMC Heart Transplant Program. “This clinic enables us to improve access to care for patients limiting the burden of travel for pre-transplant appointments.”

Advanced heart failure patients seen by Brian Corbally, DO, in Harrisburg are reviewed by the transplant review board led by Dr. Keebler. Preliminary testing and evaluation can be completed close to home in Harrisburg, and if the patient is deemed a candidate for transplant, the completion of the evaluation process can occur during a singular trip to Pittsburgh. This minimizes the travel for the patient and through a collaborative review process between the regional teams creates a seamless transition of care between the localized evaluation and prospective transplant at UPMC Presbyterian.

A Legacy of Excellence

Reported by the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients (SRTR), UPMC is one of the top programs in the country for patient outcomes. UPMC is the national leader in 90-day survival rate following heart transplantation and is among the top nationally for patient survival rates at 30 days and one-year post transplant.

“Our outcomes exemplify the outstanding talent and skill of the entire transplant team,” says David Kaczorowski, MD, surgical director, UPMC Heart Transplant Program. “Our extensive experience and legacy of excellence are unparalleled. We remain committed to innovation and achieving patient outcomes that are consistently among the best.”

In 2023, the UPMC Heart Transplant Program was the highest volume center in Pennsylvania. Our team achieves exemplary clinical outcomes and utilizes innovative solutions, including donation after circulatory death (DCD), to safely and effectively increase the number of donor organs available for those in need. In 2023, our program was one of the top utilizers of DCD hearts and, as a percentage of our total volume, we were leaders in the U.S.

With more than 1,700 adult heart transplants completed, including some patients at their 30-year transplantation anniversary, UPMC’s rich legacy and excellent outcomes define the program as a pioneer in the field of heart transplant, now with an enhanced patient care pathway in Harrisburg.

To learn more, or to refer a patient, contact cttransplant@upmc.edu