Transforming Lives Through Transplant Innovation

April marks National Donate Life Month, a time to reflect on the power of organ and tissue donation. But for those who don’t think beyond checking a box on their driver’s license, the field of transplant medicine is rapidly evolving. California-based Sutter Health is helping lead that evolution.

“Sutter’s committed to expanding services for patients with complex medical needs and improving care through innovation and multidisciplinary support,” said Dr. Bob Osorio, chair of CPMC’s Transplant and Advanced Organ Therapies Program.

Organ donation has transformed thousands of lives, offering hope and second chances to those in need.

As a not-for-profit, integrated health system – and home to some of the nation’s leading solid organ, blood and bone marrow transplant programs – Sutter is pushing the frontiers of transplant care. Its programs at California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco and Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento, have helped patients access specialized treatment closer to home for decades. And it doesn’t stop there.

Sutter’s CPMC specializes in heart, kidney, liver, pancreas and stem cell transplants. In 2024, CPMC performed 325 life-saving organ transplants – the highest number in its 55-year history. Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento focuses on heart and stem cell transplants. A team-based approach across Sutter helps patients receive coordinated care from diagnosis through post-transplant recovery, with access to a full continuum of services, from early intervention to rehabilitation.

Innovation in Transplantation

Physicians and surgeons now use advanced technologies, including the latest perfusion systems that improve organ preservation and expand the donor pool. This enables more people to receive transplants, even in cases where the donor organs were previously considered unsuitable. A recent $12 million gift from donors Kevin Kranzusch and Lynne Bosworth will further support this progress.

Sutter researchers are also deeply involved in clinical trials and foundational research, helping to bring the latest breakthroughs in heart, kidney, liver, pancreas and blood and bone marrow transplant medicine to patients. Their work has led to measurable improvements in patient care and the long-term management of transplant-related challenges over the last five decades.

Beyond transplantation, Sutter’s Advanced Organ Therapies services provide care before and after surgery – and in some cases, help patients avoid transplant altogether. These offerings include weight management, an Integrated Enhanced Support clinic, Transplant Care Coordination, addiction medicine programs and a transplant oncology initiative to aid patients whose aggressive cancers have spread to their liver. For patients waiting for a transplant, Sutter’s coordinated approach lays the groundwork for improved preparation and healing.

Take, for example, Jose Ayala, a lung transplant candidate who, with guidance from his care team, stuck to his exercise routine while on the waitlist. By staying active, Ayala aimed to build strength and improve his chances for a smoother recovery.

“By addressing each patient’s medical and social needs, Sutter is helping people live fuller, healthier lives,” said Dr. Osorio.

More than 106,000 people across the United States are currently waiting for a life-saving organ transplant. California the list, with 20,000 residents in need.

Lives Transformed

The impact of organ donation is seen every day at Sutter Health, where care teams provide hope and healing across Northern and Central California. Patients like Gabby Rojas, who received a kidney from her sister-in-law, highlight the deeply personal and transformative nature of living donation. Others – like a Berkeley student who became CPMC’s 10,000th transplant recipient, or a heart transplant patient who beat the odds and celebrated his care team – remind us how organ donation can change everything.

Patients like Ian Brodie, who underwent a heart transplant at Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento, experienced that transformation firsthand. After battling heart failure, Brodie received not just a new heart, but plenty of pep talks and motivation from a team that stood beside him at every stage of the journey.

For liver transplant recipient Goldie Williams, the gift of life became a calling. After her surgery at Sutter CPMC, Williams became a dedicated advocate for organ donation, even appearing in the annual Tournament of Roses Parade and using her story to inspire others to register as donors. Her experience, like those of thousands of others from across Sutter Health, is a testament to the power of compassion and innovation. One donor can truly change many lives.

Don’t miss Marvale Young’s story.

Sutter is proud to stand with the courageous individuals who give others a second chance through organ donation. Learn more at Donate Life California.