Kidney and Pancreas Tranplant Team

Patient/Visitor Guide Patient Information Mission Statement History of Kidney - Pancreas Transplant Program Highlights Statistics & Outcomes Transplant Team Referring Physician Info Financial Information

Listed below are the types of team members you may meet on team evaluation day:

Transplant Surgeon — The transplant surgeon will perform your kidney transplant surgery and supervise your care immediately following your surgery. The transplant surgeon will also follow your progress after you are discharged from the hospital.

Transplant Nephrologist — Transplant nephrologists will manage your medical care while you are in the hospital for your transplant. They will also provide follow-up care in the transplant clinic, adjusting your medications and monitoring your progress.

Physician Assistant — A physician assistant (PA) is a member of the transplant team who practices medicine under the supervision of a licensed physician. The physician assistant may obtain your medical history, perform your physical exam and supervise your transplant evaluation. He or she will educate you about transplantation as a treatment option for kidney disease. After transplant, the physician assistant continues to serve as an important member of the health care team. He or she will follow your progress in the hospital as well as in the transplant clinic.

Nurse Practitioner — A nurse practitioner is a member of the transplant team who practices medicine under the supervision of a licensed physician. The nurse practitioner may obtain your medical history, perform your physical exam and supervise your transplant evaluation. He or she will educate you about transplantation as a treatment option for kidney disease. After transplant, the physician assistant continues to serve as an important member of the health care team. He or she will follow your progress in the hospital as well as in the transplant clinic.

Transplant Coordinator — A transplant coordinator is a registered nurse who is specially trained to care for patients before and after kidney transplantation and to provide support to you and your family. Transplant coordinators work in different stages of the transplant process. One coordinator will be responsible for obtaining the results of your evaluation. This coordinator will serve as your main contact for questions from the time of your evaluation until the time of your transplant. Additional coordinators will follow your progress in the hospital and provide follow-up care at each clinic visit after you are discharged.

Social Workers —Social workers are available for evaluation and supportive counseling for you and your family throughout the phases of transplant. If you need information about local housing, fund-raising, and other transplant resources, the transplant social worker can assist you.

Psychiatrist — A psychiatrist will meet with you during the evaluation to obtain a general mental health history. He or she can identify personal or social situations that may affect the likelihood of a successful outcome after transplant. Psychiatric help is available for any developing needs or concerns.

Clinical Nutritionist — A clinical nutritionist will see you before and after your transplant to evaluate your diet and to help you maintain a healthy weight. The nutritionist will make recommendations regarding weight management and diet prior to transplantation. After your transplant you may have difficulty maintaining your weight and controlling your cholesterol and blood sugar levels. The nutritionist will be available to see you regularly after your transplant to discuss these issues.

Pharmacist — A pharmacist will begin working with you after your transplant. It is important for you to clearly understand your medications and how each affects your body. The transplant pharmacist, along with your transplant coordinator and nurses, will explain the actions, dosages and side effects of your medications. The pharmacist will be available to answer questions during your hospitalization and after transplant.

Chaplain — A chaplain is available to visit with you while you are at Emory University Hospital , remaining on call 24 hours a day. The chaplain can help you and your family deal with the emotional and spiritual issues that can be associated with transplantation.

Staff Nurses — Staff nurses are registered nurses responsible for monitoring your daily care in the hospital. They will teach you how to check your vital signs and identify any signs and symptoms of infection. They will help you learn how and when to take your new transplant medications. Staff nurses play an important role in alerting the entire team to any potential problems you or your family may have.

Transplant Financial Coordinator — Transplant financial coordinator is available to help you understand the financial issues of your transplant. Should you wish, he or she can discuss your financial concerns during any stage of your treatment.

Main Number: (404) 727-0717
Toll Free Number: 1- (877) 509-9877
Fax: (404) 727-8972
Toll Free Living Donor Number:
1 - (866) 727-3250

Main Number: (404) 727-8938
Toll Free Number: 1- (888) 247-9052

Directors
Surgical
	Christian P. Larsen, MD, DPhil Chief, Tranplantation Services Director, Emory Transplant Center Co-Director, Kidney/Pancreas Transplant Program   Board-Certified: Surgery Professional Degree: Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA Residency: Emory University Affiliated Hospitals, Atlanta, GA Fellowship: University of Oxford, UK, - General Surgery; Emory University Hospital, Atlanta, GA, - Transplantation Surgery Clinical Interests: islet transplantation, kidney transplantation, & pancreatic transplantation
	Thomas C. Pearson, MD, DPhil Surgical Director, Kidney Transplant Program Co-Director, Kidney/Pancreas Transplant Program   Board Certified: Surgery Professional Degree: Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA Residency: Emory University Affiliated Hospitals, Atlanta, GA Fellowship: University of Oxford, UK, 1987 - General Surgery; Emory University Hospital, Atlanta, GA, - Portal Hypertension; Emory University Hospital, Atlanta, GA, - Transplantation Surgery Clinical Interests: islet transplantation, kidney transplantation, & pancreatic transplantation
Medical
	Antonio Guasch, MD Medical Director, Kidney/Pancreas Transplant Program Board-Certified: Internal Medicine & Nephrology Professional Degree: University of Barcelona Medical School Residency: Grant Hospital of Chicago Fellowship: Stanford University Hospital, Stanford, CA Clinical Interests: hypertension & nephrotic syndrome
Surgeon Profiles
	Allan D. Kirk, MD, PhD, FACS Professor and Scientific Director, Emory Transplant Center Georgia Research Alliance Eminent Scholar McKelvey Scholar Board-Certified: Surgery Professional Degree: Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC Residency: Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC Fellowship: Research Fellow in Surgery, Duke University, July 1989 - September 1992 Fellow in Transplantation, University of Wisconsin, July 1995 - June 1997 Clinical Interests: kidney transplantation and pancreatic transplantation
	Kenneth Newell, MD, PhD Board-Certified: Surgery Professional Degree: University of Michigan , Ann Arbor , MI Residency: Loyola University , Chicago , IL Fellowship: University of Chicago , IL Clinical Interests: islet transplantation, kidney transplantation, & pancreatic transplantation
	Paul Tso, MD Board-Certified: Surgery Professional Degree: University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD Residency: Louisiana State University Affiliated Hospitals, New Orleans, LA Fellowship: Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems, Baltimore, MD; Ohio State University, Columbus,OH , Clinical Interests: islet transplantation, kidney transplantation, & pancreatic transplantation
	Nicole Turgeon, MD Board-Certified: Surgery Professional Degree: University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA Residency: University of Massachusetts Medical Center, Worcester, MA Fellowship: University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics, Madison, WI Clinical Interests: islet transplantation, kidney transplantation, & pancreatic transplantation
Nephrologists
	Sharon Graves, MD Board-Certified: Internal Medicine Professional Degree: University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL Residency: Emory University, Atlanta, GA Fellowship: Emory University, Atlanta, GA Clinical Interests: renal hypertension, kidney disease, renal transplant
	Kenneth Kokko, MD, PhD Board-Certified: Internal Medicine Professional Degree: Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA Residency: Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA Fellowship: Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA Clinical Interests: dialysis – renal hyperkalemia, hypertension, kidney disease, kidney transplantation, lupus nephritis, nephrotic syndrome, renal dysfunction, renal failure, & uremic syndrome
	Sudha Tata, MD Board-Certified: Internal Medicine Professional Degree: Madras Medical College, Madras, India Internship: Medical College of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA Residency: University of Texas Health Sciences Center, Houston, TX Fellowship: University of Texas Health Sciences Center, Houston, TX; Indiana University Medical Center, Indianapolis, IN Clinical Interests: dialysis – renal hyperkalemia, hypertension, kidney disease, kidney transplantation, post transplant care, renal dysfunction, renal failure, renal hypertension

Administrator of Operations Robin Pastush, RN, BSN Physician Assistants/Nurse Practitioner Laura Brannon, NP Jennifer Everett Kitchens, PA Steve Mishkin, PA Nurse Manager Renal Transplant Ginny McGrath, RN, BSN, CCTC Pre-Transplant Coordinators Shannon Dukes, RN, BS Kenya Savage, RN, BSN Pre-Transplant Living Donor Coordinators Susan Boteler, RN, BSN, CNN, CDE Erica Henderson, RN, BSN Tiffany Ofenloch, RN, BSN Pre-Transplant Medical Secretaries Jenny Cantrell Robin Miller Feride Orsoy Preshana Price-Cox Post-Transplant Coordinators Mimi Buenvenida, RN, BSN Cathy Kuharcik, RN, MSN, CNN Mary Moore, RN, BSN Beverly Tharps, RN, BSN

Transplant Pharmacist Helen Triemer, PharmD Post-Transplant Medical Secretary Lynn Layman Sybil Cunningham Transplant Social Workers Kimberly Ford, LMSW Laura Hughes, LMSW Jan Marie Robertson, LCSW Sarah Schuster, LMSW Clinical Research Staff Beth Begley, RN, BSN, CCTC Cindy Breeden, Clinical Research Coordinator Elizabeth Ferry, RN, CCRC Cheryl Fields, Medical Secretary Amy Lewis, RN, BSN, CCRC Marti Sears, RN, BSN Transplant Dietician Katie Egli, RD, LD Medication Access Program (MAP) Coordinator Debbie Martin, RN Financial Coordinators Denisha McNair Sandra Revere