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1984

  • The kidney transplant program is established by Lynn Banowsky, MD.
    This program is now the busiest in Texas, with over 2,500 patients receiving transplants over 20 years.

1985

  • The kidney transplant residency program is established.

1986

  • The first heart transplant is performed. To date, we have performed nearly
    300 heart transplants.

1988

  • The first ventricular assist device is implanted as a bridge to transplant.

1990

  • C.F. LeMaistre, MD, becomes director of a regional blood and marrow stem cell transplant program including transplant services at Methodist Hospital in
    San Antonio. He is the medical director of the adult blood and marrow stem cell transplant program and is also the medical director of Texas Transplant
    Physician Group.
  • Lynn Banowsky, MD, begins extensive research regarding the placement of pediatric kidneys into adult recipients. He and the kidney transplant center become pioneers in pediatric cadaver kidney placement.

1993

  • The blood and marrow stem cell transplant program is established. More than 1,200 adults have since received blood and marrow stem cell transplants.

1994

  • Francis H. Wright, MD, joins Dr. Banowsky's kidney transplant program. Dr. Wright would eventually become director of organ transplantation at Texas Transplant Physician Group.

1995

  • The Blood and Marrow Stem Cell Cryopreservation Laboratory is established to process and store hematopoietic progenitor cell products.
  • The pancreas transplant program is established as the first pancreas transplant is performed simultaneously with a kidney transplant.
  • The blood and marrow stem cell program is recognized as a National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) collection center.

1996

  • The research department is established, and 12 years later it continues to be an integral part of Texas Transplant Physician Group.
  • The blood and marrow stem cell program is recognized as a
    NMDP transplant center.

1998

  • The blood and marrow stem cell transplant program becomes one of the first two programs in North America accredited by the Foundation for the Accreditation of Hematopoietic Cell Therapy.
  • The kidney transplant program initiates the only renal pulsatile perfusion program in Texas to maximize the preservation of donor kidneys until they can be transplanted.
  • The kidney transplant program celebrates its 1,000th kidney transplant.

1999

  • San Antonio Community Hospital changes its name to Methodist Specialty and Transplant Hospital, reflecting its dedication to transplantation.
  • Texas Transplant Institute (now Texas Transplant Physician Group) is formed with the union of the solid organ transplant programs and the blood and marrow stem cell transplant programs.
  • Sean Elliott, NBA world champion and former all-star forward with the San Antonio Spurs, receives a kidney transplant at Texas Transplant Institute (now Texas Transplant Physician Group); the resulting media attention boosts the awareness of the program and the need for organ donation.
  • Three laparoscopic operating room suites are dedicated to support one of the largest living donor kidney programs in the nation.
  • The first pancreas-alone transplant is performed.

2000

  • The heart failure clinic is established as a resource for busy cardiology practices to provide early transplant evaluation, medical management, a hospital-based cardiac rehabilitation program and educational therapy programs.
  • The 1,500th kidney transplant is celebrated.
  • Rio Grande Valley satellite transplant clinic is established.
  • The first HeartMate® left ventricular assist device is successfully implanted as a bridge to heart transplant.
  • Texas Transplant Institute joins the National Coalition of Major Transplant Centers.

2001

  • The first liver transplant is performed, with more than 150 transplants performed
    to date.
  • Corpus Christi satellite transplant clinic opens.
  • United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) approves the adult liver
    transplant program.

2002

  • A transplant reunion for recipients, donors and families breaks the world record for the largest assembly of transplant patients with 700—a record that would be broken by the 2004 reunion where 1,200 attended and then again at the 2007 reunion where 1,600 attended.
  • The American Society of Transplantation (AST) approved fellowship program is initiated in the kidney program.
  • The blood and marrow stem cell program is the first one to be re-accredited by The Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellar Therapy (FACT).
  • Participation begins in NHLBI-sponsored cord blood transplantation clinical
    trial (COBLT).
  • Participation begins in NIAAD-sponsored Severe Combined Immunosuppression Deficiency Syndrome (SCIDS) transplant trial.

2003

  • Medicare certifies the heart failure and transplant program as the first site in South Texas approved for implantation of cardiac assist devices for destination therapy.
  • Dr. LeMaistre is named national president of the FACT.
  • Participation begins in National IH-sponsored Bone Marrow Transplant Clinical Trials Network (BMT, CTN).

2004

  • 2,000th kidney transplant is celebrated.
  • 1,000th blood and marrow stem cell transplant is celebrated.
  • Heart Transplant/Failure fellowship rotation is initiated.
  • The Kidney Transplant program surpasses 300 laparoscopic donor nephrectomies. Nearly all kidneys are now removed using this minimally-invasive technique. To date, over 500 have been performed.
  • A transplant reunion for patients, donors and family members, breaks the 2002 reunion attendance record.

2005

  • A new blood and marrow transplant clinic opens to provide improved space and newer resources for the growing adult program.
  • The liver transplantation program is certified by Medicare and Medicaid.
  • The kidney transplant program establishes its third regional satellite clinic
    in Waco, Texas.
  • Construction begins late in the year on the new organ transplant clinic space. The project is completed in the spring of 2007.

2006

  • The Liver Tumor Consortium is created.
  • The first treatment for BK viral nephropathy is developed in conjunction with University of Chicago.
  • The 1,000th kidney live donor transplant is performed.
  • The 100th liver transplant is performed.

2007

  • A new radioactive microspheres treatment for liver cancer patients is introduced.
  • The 2,500th kidney transplant is performed.
  • The new integrated abdominal transplant clinic is completed.
  • A transplant reunion for patients, donors and family members breaks the 2004 reunion attendance record with 1,600 attendees.

2008

  • Texas Transplant Institute is now called Texas Transplant Physician Group.
  • The kidney transplant’s live donor program performs the first simultaneous paired exchange and the first simultaneous three-way exchange in Texas history.
  • The Liver Transplantation 1-year patient and graft survival rates are the best in Texas

2009

  • Texas Transplant Physician Group (formerly Texas Transplant Institute) celebrates its 10th anniversary. To watch a video celebrating a decade of compassionate care and cutting-edge programs: click here.
  • The Kidney Failure & Transplant Program celebrates its 25th anniversary.
  • The Kidney Failure & Transplant Program celebrates its 50th paired exchange kidney transplant.
  • The Pediatric Blood and Marrow Stem Cell Transplant Program celebrates its 200th unrelated cord blood transplant.