A new pediatric heart transplant program has been launched at the American Family Children’s Hospital, operated by the UW Health Transplant Center in Madison, Wisconsin. The center is the only certified facility in the state by the United Network for Organ Sharing and performs transplants for various organs including the heart, kidney, liver, lung, and pancreas, for both adults and children. The decision to establish the pediatric heart transplant program was made due to the increasing number of children requiring heart transplants who wanted to receive care at UW Health. The program has been certified by UNOS, allowing the team at American Family Children’s Hospital to use ventricular assist devices to support cardiac circulation in children awaiting transplant or who need assistance for heart recovery.
Led by Dr. Joshua Hermsen, Dr. Sonya Kirmani, and Dr. Charlie Bergstrom, the transplant team aims to provide high-quality care to children in need of a ventricular assist device or a new heart. The program will not only increase access to healthcare for Wisconsin kids but also for children across the region, eliminating the need for families to relocate or navigate unfamiliar healthcare systems. Additionally, the program will ensure long-term, individualized care for patients as they transition into adulthood and learn to manage their own healthcare. Since its inception in 1967, the UW Health Transplant Center has performed nearly 600 pediatric heart transplants and over 900 heart transplants on adults since 1973.
Overall, the establishment of the pediatric heart transplant program at the American Family Children’s Hospital, operated by the UW Health Transplant Center, aims to meet the increasing demand for pediatric heart transplants in Wisconsin. By combining expertise in pediatric heart care and transplantation, the program will provide life-saving solutions including ventricular assist devices and heart transplants to children in need. The program’s certification by UNOS allows for the use of ventricular assist devices, providing vital support to children as they await a suitable heart. The program’s key objective is to offer high-quality care closer to home, eliminating the need for families to relocate and providing continuity of care as patients transition into adulthood. Additionally, the program will benefit not only Wisconsin children but also patients across the region by ensuring access to specialized care and expertise for pediatric heart conditions.
