The UPMC Heart Transplant Program Awarded Optum Center of Excellence for Heart Transplantation

The UPMC Heart Transplant Program has been recognized as a Center of Excellence for heart transplantation with Optum as part of their credentialed Centers of Excellence transplant network. Optum’s COE network includes only the most experienced and statistically successful health care providers based on thorough annual evaluations. Their success correlates with high volumes and deep levels of provider experience and specialization.

“We are proud to be recognized as an Optum Center of Excellence,” says David Kaczorowski, MD, surgical director of the UPMC Heart Transplant Program and chief of adult cardiac surgery at the UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute. “It reflects our commitment to advancing complex heart failure care and ensuring patients have access to highly specialized, multidisciplinary expertise when they need it most.”

UPMC directly partners with transplant case managers to enhance patient care. Our partnership with case managers is key to helping patients and their families navigate the transplant process. We strive to provide a seamless referral process, on-going education, and transplant resources for case managers to share with patients, including education about living donor transplantation, resources for finding a living donor, and multi-listing at more than one center.

The UPMC Heart Transplant Program is among the nation’s most recognized and experienced centers. Our experts provide life-saving care for patients with end-stage heart disease and heart failure, including those deemed high risk or were turned down for a transplant at another center. Our team also takes on some of the most complex cases, including multi-organ transplant.

We partner closely with patients and referring providers throughout every phase of the transplant process—from evaluation through post-transplant care—to ensure continuity, achieve the best possible clinical outcomes, and support long-term health following transplantation. Through a fully integrated, multidisciplinary approach, we deliver world-class care and a second chance at life for patients with advanced heart disease.

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