INDUSTRY NEWS

öran Klintmalm , MD , PhD , FACS , retired from his latest role as chief emeritus of the Baylor Scott & White Annette C . and Harold C . Simmons Transplant Institute at the end of September . He will take with him many lifetimes of memories and mountains of gratitude from people who have a second chance at life as a result of his commitment . “ To hear from past patients — some almost 35 years out — now telling me about their grandchildren is overwhelming . This was not conceivable at a time when less than 25 % of liver patients survived a single year . It makes my commitment and sacrifices worthwhile .”

Dr . Klintmalm first arrived at Baylor University Medical Center ( BUMC ) in 1984 to launch a transplant program that would not only create exceptional outcomes for patients but also push the boundaries of transplantation medicine . It started with a successful transplantation for a little girl named Amie , who came from Indiana in a process helped along famously by First Lady Nancy Reagan .

Having spent more than 35 years building one of the most renowned

Dr . Klintmalm with a photo of Amie Garrison , the first liver transplant patient at BUMC

multispecialty transplant centers in the

US , Dr . Klintmalm is an internationally recognized authority on transplantation . Through his committed leadership and the hard work of talented colleagues , the programs at BUMC and Baylor Scott & White All Saints Medical Center – Fort Worth have performed more than 11,000 organ transplants since

1984 . Fellows trained by Dr . Klintmalm and the Baylor Scott & White Annette C . and Harold C . Simmons Transplant Institute team are caring for patients around the world , and many are leading transplant programs at premier institutions in the US and abroad .

“ When I was offered the job in 1984 , transplantation , especially liver , was truly revolutionary . The firm commitment from the administrative and medical leadership to strive to be a clinical and scientific national / international leader led me to accept the offer . The commitment from the Foundation was similar and essential . This systemic support at Baylor Scott & White enabled us to achieve our goal to be on the very cutting edge of medicine and positively impact care for countless patients in need of transplantation in our community and around the world .”

Dr . Klintmalm has authored more than 450 peer-reviewed publications ,

45 textbook chapters and five textbooks , and is an internationally recognized authority in the transplantation of kidneys , pancreas , islet cells , hearts , lungs and , most recently , uteri .

Today , what was one of the first liver transplant programs in the US has become the third program in the nation to perform

4,000 liver transplants , with tremendous success and long-term outcomes . A unique research infrastructure with a database of all liver transplant patients has collected data throughout their lives to establish a first-of-its-kind biorepository that collects liver biopsies , revolutionizing liver and kidney therapeutics and care .

The advancements of the liver transplantation program are a result of scientific advancement together with philanthropic support . For more information on how you can support Dr . Klintmalm ’ s legacy and Baylor Scott & White ’ s continued commitment to transplant initiatives , please contact Melissa Dalton at 214.820.2705 or Melissa . Dalton @ BSWHealth . org .

THE COMPASS / BAYLOR SCOTT & WHITE FOUNDATION NEWS / WINTER 2020