The Transplant Center
Kidney Transplant
The Pediatric Kidney Transplant Program at Primary Children's Hospital is a collaborative effort with the University of Utah Kidney Transplant Program.
We provide specialized pediatric inpatient care along with substantial outpatient resources and supportive services important to transplantation medicine. Patients continue to be followed by the multidisciplinary pediatric transplant team at regular intervals until transitioned to adult transplant care. Our program provides transplantation for an average of 15 transplants per year.
What Sets Us Apart
Multidisciplinary Care
Excellent Outcomes
Patient & Family Centered Care
Learn more about our patient and family support services >
Steroid Free
Since 2000, our program has not used maintenance steroids as part of the immunosuppressive regimen, benefits of which include:
- Specific benefits to children with growth potential
- This approach has resulted in nearly universal and immediate "catch up growth" in pediatric renal transplant recipients with remaining growth potential.
- No statistical increased incidence of rejection relative to children treated with maintenance steroids at this institution or relative to outcomes at other programs.
- Improved bone health and lipid profiles
School Re-Entry Program
We are committed to helping patients transition back to their normal lives, including school.
- Our program is unique in that it involves the same full multidisciplinary team which follows the patient pre- and post transplant. This team transitions the child back to school after transplantation.
- With the approval of the family and school, the team goes to the child's class to educate teachers, classmates, etc. regarding all relevant aspects of transplant.
Pediatric to Adult Transition Program
Adolescents and young adults are most vulnerable during transfer from the pediatric setting to adult care. Children who received a transplant at a very young age may not have a good understanding of their chronic condition and may also be more dependent upon the adults in their lives for their care.
The goal of our transition program is to prepare these adolescents and young adults and parents/guardians for a successful transfer to adult care through a comprehensive patient-centered and developmentally appropriate transition program. Completing a transition program should enable our patients to achieve self-efficacy and optimize their independence to provide self-care to the best of their ability.
- This is important because of the very high risk of organ loss within the first few years of transfer to adult care.
- Our approach includes ongoing education, involvement of a dedicated transplant staff, appropriate involvement of the family, and the provision of progressive responsibility to the young patient.
- Multidisciplinary discussions regarding the progress and appropriateness of transition to adult care occur at regular intervals.
Recognition & Accreditation
- Member and participant of American Society of Nephrology
- Pediatric Transplant Committee Member - United Network for Organ Sharing
- Medal of Honor - U.S. Health Resources & Services Administrations National Collaborative on Organ Donation and Transplantation.
- Optum Center of Excellence
- Recognized as a Best Children's Hospital by 2023-24 U.S. News & World Report in pediatric nephrology