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Kidney Transplant

Long History of Excellence for Capital Region Residents

Albany Medical Center's transplant program has a long history of experience and expertise at every level, with physicians who specialize in kidney transplants. Since 1969, our kidney transplant program has received numerous accolades and is among the top-ranking programs in the nation. We take a collaborative multidisciplinary approach to caring for transplant recipients to achieve successful outcomes for our patients and provide support, before, during and after a transplant.

We have performed close to 3,000 kidney transplants.

In addition to our long history of expertise, we offer:

  • Cooperative efforts between surgical, anesthesiology, nephrology, endocrinology and infectious disease specialists
  • Excellent outcomes in recipients of organ transplants
  • Dedicated transplant unit and staff
Up until I actually had my transplant, I never really understood the way it would impact my life. Now I get it. One day I was a diabetic, the next day I'm not. How cool! The staff of Albany Medical Center is the greatest. I have total trust in their care. They wanted me to have a better life. I have and will continue to recommend Albany Medical Center to anyone in need of a transplant. ”
Mary D.

Contact Us

To learn more about joining the kidney transplant program at Albany Medical Center, call 518-262-5614. Before a formal evaluation appointment, you must complete any necessary tests and attend an educational seminar. Test results can be forwarded via fax at 518-262-5571.

Patients being considered for a kidney transplant must complete a comprehensive medical and psychosocial evaluation. Patients must be healthy enough for transplant surgery and follow-up.

Patients eligible for transplant are placed on a donor list for our region. When a match comes from a donor who has died, patients are called on short notice for a transplant.

A match can also come from someone who chooses to donate a healthy kidney, called a living donor. More than 500 family members and friends have donated a kidney to a loved one at Albany Medical Center in the past 40 years.

A successful kidney transplant may allow you to live a longer and more normal life. In most cases, patients will remain on immunosuppressant drugs which take strict monitoring.

View our transplant surgery educational videos.

Donating a kidney to someone you care for is one of the greatest gifts. We view living donation with the utmost respect and have a strong commitment to the safety and wellbeing of every potential donor in our program.

What are some of the advantages of living donors vs. cadaveric donor transplants?

  • Decreased incidence of kidney rejection due to similar genetic backgrounds.
  • Immunosuppressive drug doses may be lowered sooner and thus possibly lessen the side effects of the medications.
  • Convenient scheduling. This may permit the recipient to shorten their time on dialysis or avoid dialysis completely. The wait for a cadaveric kidney usually takes several years.
  • Immediate function of the transplanted kidney. Occasionally, a cadaveric kidney may not function for days or weeks after being transplanted and the recipient will require dialysis in the interim.
  • The possibility exists of obtaining a perfectly matched kidney from a sibling which has proven to be the best for longterm success.

Center for Donation and Transplant

Learn more about donation at the Center for Donation and Transplant and register to be an organ, eye, or tissue donor. CDT offers hope and healing to donor families in upstate New York and western Vermont, empowering our community to restore the health of those needing an organ or tissue transplant.