Surgeons at the AdventHealth Transplant Institute recently performed the 1,000th transplant in the program’s history.
The institute, Central Florida’s only solid organ transplant center, offers Floridians access to a top liver transplant center without leaving the state.
“We're able to handle one of the most difficult surgeries and continue to do so with excellent outcomes,” said Dr. Thomas Chin, the director of liver transplant who came to the institute in 2007 to start the liver transplant program. “I think that should bring a lot of confidence.”
The surgical team for the 1,000th procedure was led by Dr. Michael Angelis, assisted by surgeons, Dr. Phillip Wai and Chin.
“I think the fact that we’ve gotten here after just about 15-years is a tremendous accomplishment,” Chin said. “It’s very gratifying that we can really affect someone’s life in such a positive manner.”
Shelly Kalahar, the institute’s 716th liver transplant patient, said AdventHealth has, “The best people, the best doctors, the best surgeons, the best nurses. They’re the best people I’ve ever met in my life!”
Kalahar said her transplant has allowed her to spend five more Thanksgivings, and counting, with her family. She also pointed out how meaningful it is to belong to that exclusive group of AdventHealth Transplant Institute’s first 1,000 liver transplants.
“Oh, I think it’s awesome. It saved my life. A thousand people got to live longer,” Kalahar said.
Watch the video above to see Kalahari's inspiring and surprising personal transplant journey.
Many of the innovations and programs at the AdventHealth Transplant Institute are funded through philanthropy. Among them is the Bartch Transplant House — a home-away-from-home that provides housing, support, and amenities at an affordable cost for patients and families. Those amenities are funded through donations to the Patient Assistance Fund.
12 items. To interact with these items, press Control-Option-Shift-Right Arrow. These items are in a slider. To advance slider forward, press Shift-Command-Right Arrow. To advance slider backward, press Shift-Command-Left Arrow.
News
AdventHealth Research Institute Offers Phase II Clinical Trial of Etanercept for Treatment of Blast-Induced Tinnitus
Approximately 1 billion people throughout the world suffer from tinnitus (ringing in the ears), and it is the number one disability of those who serve in the U.S. military. The condition can disrupt...
News
AdventHealth’s Karen D. Corbin, PhD, RD, Contributed to New American Diabetes Association Consensus Statement on Liver Disease in Diabetes
Metabolic dysfunction associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), formerly referred to as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), affects about 70% of people with type 2 diabetes, placing them at...
News
AdventHealth East Orlando First in Florida to Earn Advanced Foot & Ankle Surgery Certification from DNV
AdventHealth East Orlando recently became the first hospital in Florida to earn Advanced Foot & Ankle Surgery Certification from DNV, a worldwide, independent certification body.
News
Recent Study on How Physical Activity May Boost Neurocognition in Late Adulthood Featured in the Medical Journal Age and Ageing
In a new article published in the medical journal Age and Ageing, AdventHealth Research Institute’s Dr. Audrey Collins shares the results of a recent study evaluating the impact of exercise on...
News
AdventHealth Research Contributed to New Method for Tracking Diet and Its Impacts on Human Health
Accurately determining food intake remains a challenge in nutrition research. A new study published in Nature Metabolism and co-authored by Dr. Corbin introduces a metagenomics-powered approach to...
News
Mayor Demings, AdventHealth on bridging health care gaps
Discover what’s being accomplished in Central Florida to bridge the health gap with Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings and AdventHealth’s Dr. Alric Simmonds.
News
Transforming lives of stroke survivors: AdventHealth, Orlando Neurosurgery first in nation to perform 50 Vivistim implant cases
Breakthrough device offers new hope for stroke survivors struggling with rehabilitation following ischemic stroke
News
AdventHealth Inflammatory Bowel Disease Clinic Adds Intestinal Ultrasound to Help Evaluate and Guide Treatment
Jennifer Seminerio, MD, recently became one of the first in Florida to use intestinal ultrasound (IUS) to help assess and manage treatment of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). A non...
News
Respiratory Virus Testing Guidance for Flu Season
Physician leaders from AdventHealth’s emergency department, infectious disease, inpatient, pediatrics and pharmacy teams all collaborated to develop a respiratory virus testing algorithm to assist...
News
AdventHealth Celebration Introduces New Intraoperative Molecular Imaging Process to Improve Accuracy of Lung Cancer Surgery
Thoracic surgeon Colleen Gaughan, MD, and her team at AdventHealth Celebration, recently became one of the first in the country to incorporate targeted imaging agent Cytalux (pafolacianine) as part of...
News
An incredible journey through two open heart surgeries at AdventHealth
On the newest Inspiring Wholeness podcast, Obie Diaz, local morning radio show host, shares how a routine physical eventually led to two open heart surgeries.
News
Using Genomics and AI to Improve Breast Cancer Risk Assessment and Early Detection
AdventHealth recently began piloting a new Genomics Risk Assessment for Cancer and Early Detection (GRACE) program that combines the use of digital mammography, artificial intelligence (AI) technology...