Transplant services at Geisinger

Transplant patients may contact the Department of Transplantation and Liver Surgery at 1-877-821-8613.

Transplant services

Liver and kidney failure are major public health issues often optimally treated by life-saving organ transplantation. Organ transplant surgery has saved the lives of hundreds of thousands of individuals, and Geisinger has been providing lifesaving organ transplants since 1981.

Combining quality, excellence and the top transplant physicians and specialists, Geisinger is proud to be a leader in organ transplantation. We value being able to treat patients throughout our large service area, including central and northeastern Pennsylvania and south-central New York. From the first appointment through recovery and beyond, our dedicated team of professionals is here to support our patients and their families with the highest standard of care.

Our patients benefit from a comprehensive multi-disciplinary transplant team, which includes specially-trained surgeons, physicians, nurses, social workers, dietitians, pharmacists and financial counselors, as well as collaborating specialty providers, which include cardiologists, pulmonologists and urologists, among others.

What you should know about transplant surgery

We offer kidney and liver transplant surgery for patients with end-stage kidney and liver disease, including combined liver/kidney transplantation.
We also perform complex hepatobiliary (e.g. laparoscopic and open liver resection for tumors, bile duct repairs) procedures, and dialysis access procedures.
As part of our comprehensive care mission, we provide advanced care of liver and kidney failure both before and after a life-saving transplant.
While all transplant procedures take place at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, we offer pre- and post-surgery services at other locations including Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center in Wilkes-Barre and Geisinger-Grays Woods near State College.
Check reliable sources such as Gift of Life, the National Kidney Foundation and the American Liver Foundation for additional information.

Why choose Geisinger for your transplant surgery?

Our team has performed more than 1,300 successful transplants since our program began in 1981. Our program survival statistics are as good or better than national assessment averages.
We have professionals who were trained at world-renowned institutions, including Columbia University, Washington University/St. Louis, Drexel and Temple, among others.
Our transplant department is part of the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network. For paired living-donor kidney transplantation, we’re a member of the Alliance for Paired Donation.
Our transplant program is Medicare approved and United Network for Organ Sharing certified.

Get care with transplant surgery

COVID-19 information for transplant candidates and recipients

Learn more

Transplant surgery treatments

We offer a full range of organ transplant options, including:

Kidney transplant
Liver transplant
Dialysis access
Complex hepatobiliary surgery
Liver surgery

Bonded for life, Matt and Brian’s story…

Matt Rhoades and Brian Dugan share a lot of things - a love of music, a passion for motorcycles, the same sense of style. The best friends recently added a kidney to that list. The two met over a decade ago when Brian, right, was playing drums in the rock band True Becoming. Their friendship bloomed but recently it took on a whole new meaning. “We were tight before, but this is life-changing. It definitely brought us closer,” says Brian, who helplessly watched as 31-year-old Matt’s health deteriorated with his kidneys functioning at only 15%. “I was pretty much in shock. When you think of dialysis you think of being hooked to a machine 24/7. I would need to change my entire lifestyle,” says Matt. Friends and family lined up to help, but it was Brian who proved to be the real rock star when he matched as Matt’s kidney donor. “I was excited knowing I could help Matt,” Brian adds. When surgery day arrived, the pair walked into Geisinger Medical Center together, laughing and joking. Waking up from surgery, Matt wasn’t concerned about his own health. His first question was “How is Brian?” Today, they're bonded for life thanks to the efforts of the Geisinger transplant team and surgeons, nephrology doctors, nurses and dietitians who guided them through it all. And while Matt feels indebted to Brian for his sacrifice, Brian’s response to his friend is simple: “You don’t owe me anything. Just do good for the next person.” #GeisingerStories