The UPMC Heart Transplant Program Awarded ELITE Status by INTERLINK
May 23, 2025
The UPMC Heart Transplant Program was recently awarded the ELITE stats by INTERLINK COE Networks & Programs, recognizing the program’s outstanding outcomes and commitment to advancing patient care. UPMC is the only center in Pennsylvania to achieve ELITE status and among few centers nationwide with this distinction.
INTERLINK has more than two decades of experience working with Centers of Excellence (COEs) to provide meaningful cost-containment contracts for high-cost medical procedures, using a Performance Model to find the highest quality programs across the country. To attain ELITE status, transplant programs must demonstrate superior results across a wide range of validated risk-adjusted metrics and achieve a Performance Model score that is statistically higher than the national average.
“Achieving ELITE program status is truly a testament to our team’s exceptional skill and dedication to providing patients with the best possible care,” says David Kaczorowski, MD, surgical director, UPMC Heart Transplant Program. “Our program has a longstanding history of clinical excellence, and we continue to be pioneers in the field of heart transplantation.”
Led by Dr. Kaczorowski, Mary Keebler, MD, medical director of the Advanced Heart Failure Center, and Gavin Hickey, MD, medical director of the UPMC Ventricular Assist Device Program, the UPMC Heart Transplant Program maintains a strong legacy in cardiothoracic transplantation and mechanical circulatory support. Our commitment to innovation and patient care has allowed us to achieve groundbreaking milestones throughout the years.
As reported by the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients (SRTR), UPMC continues to achieve outstanding outcomes that exemplify the team’s extensive experience and dedication to clinical excellence.
Refer a Patient
Our team at UPMC partners with physicians across the nation to evaluate patients in need of a heart transplant and determine optimal care. When you refer a patient to UPMC, our team will support them at every stage in the transplant journey and maintain open communication with you at every point. To refer a patient or consult with one of our experts, contact cttransplant@upmc.edu.
