AWARDS AND ACHIEVEMENTS

METHODIST HOSPITAL | SPECIALTY AND TRANSPLANT CONTINUES TO EXCEL WITHIN THEIR KIDNEY TRANSPLANT PROGRAM

According to recently released UNOS data, the Methodist Transplant Institute in San Antonio completed 171 living donor kidney transplants and 171 deceased donor kidney transplants in 2022. The program was recognized as the largest living donor kidney transplant program and the largest Hispanic kidney transplant program in the nation. Additionally, this program ranks number one in Texas for their deceased donor program.

Meet living donor, Ashley Munoz and her father, Gilberto Munoz, who received his daughter’s kidney on December 14, 2022. Mr. Munoz began to experience fatigue and became pale. After many visits with his doctor, he was put on dialysis for about a year. During his time in the dialysis center, he was educated on living donor programs and after thorough research; he found that this hospital had the number one program in the nation. “Methodist Hospital | Specialty and Transplant has great staff! I trusted them,” said Mr. Munoz.

Ashley wanted more time with her father, so she volunteered to be his donor in hopes that they were a match. Although Mr. Munoz felt nervous about the complications of transplant surgery, he says Ashley was extremely supportive and comforting. “The entire transplant team was very responsive. I was constantly reassured about the procedure and they would answers any questions I had,” says Ashley.

Methodist Hospital | Specialty and Transplant thanks patients like Ashley and Gilberto for trusting them with their care.

According to the American Kidney Fund, it is estimated that nearly 37 million Americans are living with kidney disease and about 5700,000 people are on dialysis. Additionally, Over 800,000 Americans are currently living with kidney failure. Last year, more than 6,400 people became living organ donors.

“This achievement demonstrates that our transplant program is committed to doing what we can to remove barriers for these patients,” said Amanda Weichold, Vice President for Transplant Services at Methodist Hospital | Specialty and Transplant. “Transplantation requires the generosity of living donors and donor families.”

“Our goal is to improve the lives of people with kidney disease in our communities, one patient at a time,” said Kevin Scoggin, CEO of Methodist Hospital | Specialty and Transplant. “To achieve these milestones at a community hospital that serves a majority Hispanic population and many underserved communities around Texas, is a remarkable accomplishment.”