University of Chicago - Department of Surgery

J. Michael Millis, M.D., Professor and Chief

The Transplantation Surgery Section has particular expertise in the transplantation of liver, pancreas and kidney, and in complex surgical procedures involving the liver and pancreas. The surgeons work with a team of medical and pediatric physicians and with nurse specialists to provide careful patient evaluation, education, counseling, and postoperative treatment.

The kidney transplant program, established in 1968, has performed more kidney transplants than any program in the Chicago area. Success rates are also the highest of any kidney transplant program in the area. The University of Chicago Hospitals kidney transplant program is one of only eight programs in the United States evaluating new immunosuppressive medicines in the National Institutes of Health Cooperative Clinical Trial.

The liver transplant program is the largest in the Midwest, having performed more liver transplants than any other program since its establishment in 1984. It is currently the most active pediatric liver transplant program in the country, having pioneered the use of segmental living donor liver transplants in children. These have a far better success rate than full-size cadaver donor transplants in this population. Currently, the living donor segmental liver transplant program is being expanded to adults.

The pancreas transplant program, established in 1986, is by far the largest and most experienced pancreas transplant program in Illinois and has the best transplant success rates of any program in the area, well above national standards. Most pancreas transplants are performed in diabetics with uremia in the form of combined kidney/pancreas transplants; patients with poorly controlled Type I diabetes are also candidates for isolated pancreas transplants.

Small bowel and pancreatic islet transplantation programs have been initiated. These transplants are experimental and patients are closely screened before acceptance.

The University of Chicago Hospitals and Medical Center support active transplant programs in adult and pediatric liver transplantation, cadaveric and living related renal transplantation, pancreas transplantation and small bowel transplantation. Since the first transplant performed at the University of Chicago Medical Center in 1970 the center has performed over 1500 kidney transplants, 100 pancreas transplants, 500 pediatric and 700 adult liver transplants. The University of Chicago Medical Center has the largest and oldest series of living related liver transplants patients in North America and continues to maintain an active program in living related liver transplantation. This site is intended to provide information about our program as well as contacts for each department.

For appointments and other information on:
Kidney and Kidney/Pancreatic 773-702-9287
Liver 773-834-4601
Islet 773-702-3244