MedBlog

Transplant reunion celebrates donors, survivors, and second chances

At the UT Southwestern transplant reunion, recipients and their families pay tribute to those who have sacrificed and given them the gift of life.

April 10, 2024

Biliary atresia: Symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of the congenital liver condition

Biliary atresia is a rare liver condition that affects babies whose bile ducts are blocked. It is difficult to diagnose and treat, but a doctor at UT Southwestern is pursuing groundbreaking research to expedite care.

Natasha Corbitt, M.D., Ph.D.

February 2, 2024

UT Southwestern: A global leader in robotic pancreas surgery

Robotic-assisted Whipple surgery for pancreatic cancer is one of the most complex GI procedures – and UT Southwestern is a leader in this field, training U.S. and international surgeons. Explore our Simulation Center and how robotic surgery can benefit patients.

Patricio Polanco, M.D.

February 16, 2023

Making transplants easier for veterans and their families

UT Southwestern, working closely with the Dallas VA, is making access to lifesaving organ transplants easier and available closer to home for thousands of veterans and military families.

Parsia Vagefi, M.D.

November 10, 2022

Taking aim at fatty liver, cancer with new blood test

UT Southwestern has developed a simple blood test that can predict which patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease are most likely to develop liver cancer.

Maddie Kubiliun, M.D.

September 7, 2022

Son gives ‘most meaningful gift’ to father and stepfather

Thomas Locke donated a kidney to his father 12 years ago, and recently he gave a portion of his liver to save stepfather, who was in need of a transplant at UT Southwestern in Dallas. He hopes his story will inspire others to consider living-donor organ donation.

June 17, 2022

5 tips to find a living kidney or liver donor

Finding a living kidney or liver donor can be lifesaving. But asking for a gift that big is hard. Get tips, social media strategies, and conversation starters from an expert, Dr. Swee-Ling Levea.

Swee-Ling Levea, M.D.

April 14, 2022

Watch: Living donor liver transplant is a complex, life-saving surgery

Go inside the OR at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas to see a living donor liver transplant surgery. The complex procedure requires a high level of surgical expertise and hospital infrastructure, and the large team that makes it possible at UT Southwestern includes surgeons, transplant hepatologists, nurses, ICU, social workers, psychological support, specialized pharmacology, and many more healthcare professionals.

Parsia Vagefi, M.D.

September 1, 2021

Living-liver transplant: How a daughter gave her mom the gift of a lifetime

A daughter in Texas gave the gift of life to her mother, literally, when she donated a portion of her liver in the first-ever living-donor liver transplant at UT Southwestern. A year later, both mother and daughter are eager to share their story and help others still waiting for a second chance at life.

December 23, 2020

First dual HIV-positive organ transplant in Texas gives Dallas man HOPE

This summer, UT Southwestern’s transplant program helped a 53-year-old Dallas man become the first recipient of an HIV-positive to HIV-positive organ transplant in Texas.

David Wojciechowski, D.O.

November 11, 2020

Fighting fatty liver disease – the No. 1 risk factor for women's liver transplants

In the U.S, 1 in 3 adults have nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) – and it is the No. 1 reason women are added to the liver transplant list. In this MedBlog, Thomas Kerr, M.D., Ph.D., discusses why NAFLD is rampant and how it can be prevented and treated.

Thomas Kerr, M.D., Ph.D.

October 14, 2020

Tina’s Transplant Story: A race against time and acute liver failure

When acute liver failure strikes, it’s like a bolt of lightning. Tina Bartolucci knows the reality of this all too well. She had what felt like a cold and a day later she was rushed to UT Southwestern in need of a liver transplant. By the grace of an unnamed donor and the rapid response by the UT Southwestern transplant doctors, Tina survived the fight of her life.

April 9, 2020

Hepatitis C treatment can cut risk of liver-related death by 50% for patients with a history of liver cancer

This study looked at medical records for patients who were cured of liver cancer at 31 North American medical centers. The findings demonstrate that patients who were treated and cured of their hepatitis C had significantly better survival rates than those patients whose hepatitis C was not treated.

Amit Singal, M.D.

January 18, 2020

Complex liver transplant gives Frisco man new lease on life

Of the 7,000 liver transplants that take place nationwide every year, only 1 percent address bile duct cancer in the same surgery. Dr. Parsia Vagefi brought the new surgical protocol for bile duct cancer and liver disease to UT Southwestern in 2018 and he was able to save Frisco resident Juan Cueto with a new liver by transplant and surgically removing the bile duct.

March 9, 2019

Hepatocellular carcinoma kills more people in Texas than in any other state: How we can fight back

More Texans die from hepatocellular carcinoma, a form of liver cancer, than people in any other state. Explore why aggressive detection and treatment of liver diseases that cause this condition are key to good outcomes.

Amit Singal, M.D.

October 22, 2018