Redefining Excellence in Heart Transplantation

March 23, 2026

Part of UCSF Health’s Advanced Heart Failure Comprehensive Care Center, the Heart Transplant and Mechanical Circulatory Support (MCS) Programs treat complex, high-acuity patients while consistently achieving exceptional survival rates, according to the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients (SRTR). With 62 heart transplants performed in 2025, the UCSF team has given more than 650 patients with advanced heart disease the chance for a longer, more active life since the program was founded in 1989.

Infographic showing the 2025 Achievements for the Heart Transplant and MCS Programs

Accessible text for image above: 2025 Achievements– Heart Transplant and MCS Programs

Why refer to UCSF

Through leading-edge research and innovation, the UCSF team continually accelerates significant advances in heart transplant medicine. These achievements, along with collaborative partnerships with referring providers, lead to improved patient outcomes. Heart transplant patients referred to UCSF benefit from:

Expert, personalized care, from initial evaluation through surgery and beyond
Extensive expertise in treating high-acuity patients
Total artificial heart (TAH) program, unique in Northern California
Specialists highly skilled in using mechanical circulatory support and extracorporeal life support devices such as Impella, TandemHeart, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) and durable left ventricular assist device (LVAD)
An expanded donor pool and extended viable transport times through:
- Paragonix SherpaPak Cardiac Transport System and TransMedics Organ Care System
- Donation after circulatory death (DCD) donor organ utilization
- Hepatitis C donor organ donation
24/7 dedicated specialist access line
Dual listing for patients awaiting transplant
Re-evaluations and second opinions for patients turned down for advanced heart failure therapies at other centers
Streamlined referral process coordinated throughout California, Nevada and Hawaii
Access to groundbreaking clinical trials

Experienced heart transplant team

UCSF’s dedicated, multidisciplinary heart transplant team includes advanced heart failure cardiologists, cardiac surgeons, advanced practice providers, nurses, pharmacists, social workers, case managers, dietitians, physical therapists, occupational therapists and transplant psychiatrists. They assess each patient’s needs and provide personalized treatment and support throughout the care journey. The team collaborates closely with Advanced Heart Failure Comprehensive Care Center colleagues, including the cardiac critical care, interventional cardiology, adult congenital heart disease and cardiogenic shock teams.