Tufts Medicine announced today that Tufts Medical Center has received official approval from the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) to commence a Living Donor Liver Transplant program, effective immediately.
"This is an exciting and important milestone in our efforts to further cement Tufts Medical Center as a hub of world-class transplant services," said John Herman, President of Tufts Medical Center. "This approval would not have been possible without the hard work and tireless advocacy of our transplant team, led by System Associate Vice President of Solid Organ Transplant Sharon Klarman. This achievement embodies our unwavering commitment to innovation, equity and compassionate care, as we continue to serve as a trusted destination for advanced liver transplant services."
According to recent statistics, more than 9,000 people are currently waiting for a liver transplant in the United States; an average of 2,000 of these people die each year before they can receive a new liver. Recent research in JAMA Surgery illustrated the profound impact of living donor liver transplants: an average extension of life by 13-to-17 years and a 34 percent decrease in mortality for patients with end-stage liver disease.
"We have assembled a highly-skilled and experienced transplant team with the expertise to transplant patients earlier—when they are healthier—improving outcomes and reducing mortality for those with advanced liver disease," said James Pomposelli, MD, PhD, Chief of Abdominal Transplant and Hepatobiliary Surgery at Tufts Medical Center, Professor of Surgery, Tufts University School of Medicine. "With OPTN approval to start offering living donor liver transplants, we can now provide comprehensive care from prevention through transplant and follow-up, while keeping expert care close to home for patients throughout the region."
The launch of the Living Donor Liver Transplant program further elevates Tufts Medicine as a premier regional destination for organ transplantation. Tufts Medical Center boasts the highest volume adult heart transplant program in New England since 2000 and a kidney transplant legacy of more than 50 years. Tufts Medical Center's Liver Transplant Program also received certification from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on July 30, 2025. This certification is reserved for transplant programs that meet rigorous federal requirements related to clinical outcomes, program infrastructure, multidisciplinary expertise, and ongoing quality oversight, and affirms that the highest national standards for liver transplantation have been met or exceeded.
"By offering living donor liver transplantation, we are opening new pathways to life-saving care and providing hope to patients with end-stage liver disease who might otherwise face extended—and potentially fatal—wait times," said Fredric Gordon, MD, Chief of Abdominal Transplant Medicine at Tufts Medical Center, Medical Director of Liver Transplantation, Professor of Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine. "Living donation allows us to accept more complex cases and transplant patients sooner, which strengthens our integrated care model and fosters seamless coordination across our Tufts Medicine network."
For more information about the Living Donor Liver Transplant program, visit www.tuftsmedicine.org/livertransplant.
