UPMC Opens Kidney Transplant Evaluation Clinic As Nearly 100,000 People Await Lifesaving Organs

UPMC Launches Williamsport kidney transplant Evaluation Clinic As Donate Life Month Highlights 100,000 Awaiting Organs

USA: April is Donate Life Month, and UPMC is using the awareness campaign to spotlight the nationwide shortage of organs — nearly 100,000 people remain on transplant waiting lists, with kidneys the most in demand. Manpreet Singh, a transplant surgeon and nephrologist with UPMC, emphasized that demand far outstrips supply and that most donated organs are provided through deceased donors and organ procurement systems.

Patients with kidney failure face two primary paths: ongoing dialysis or pursuing transplantation. Transplantation generally offers a significantly improved quality of life, and living donor transplantation can dramatically shorten or eliminate time on dialysis. Singh notes the average wait for a kidney from a deceased donor is about five to seven years, underscoring the advantage of living donation for many patients.

To expand access, UPMC recently opened a kidney transplant evaluation clinic at UPMC Williamsport Hospital this past month. The clinic is conducting in-person assessments to determine transplant eligibility and has coordinated with local dialysis units and area nephrologists to streamline referrals and pre-transplant care.

As Donate Life Month seeks to convert awareness into action, UPMC is encouraging patients and potential living donors to learn about evaluation, eligibility, and the transplant process. The program aims to increase living donor transplants, reduce wait times, and improve outcomes for those facing end-stage kidney disease.

Video originally published on 2026-04-07 18:13:22