UCSF Health’s highly skilled team of kidney transplant specialists has extensive experience in treating medically complex, high-acuity patients while consistently achieving exceptional survival rates, according to the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients (SRTR). With 378 kidney transplants performed in 2025, UCSF is rated as a high-performing hospital for acute kidney failure by U.S. News and World Report and “Elite” by INTERLINK for kidney transplant.
Accessible text for image above: 2025 Kidney Transplant Program Achievements
Why refer to UCSF
Through leading-edge research and innovation, the UCSF team continually accelerates significant advances in kidney transplant medicine. These achievements, along with collaborative partnerships with referring providers, lead to improved patient outcomes. Kidney transplant patients referred to UCSF benefit from:
- Expert, personalized care, from initial evaluation through surgery and beyond
- Extensive expertise in treating high-acuity patients
- Annual evaluation of more than 1,000 kidney transplant candidates
- Highly skilled robotic nephrectomy surgical team
- Paired exchange and family “swap” options for adults and children
- First center in the West to offer National Kidney Registry-backed protection for living donors (kidney and liver), including lost wages, travel, lodging and legal support, through the UCSF Donor Shield program
- Microsites in partnership with the National Kidney Registry to help transplant patients find living kidney donors
- Advocacy and support for living organ donors
- Access to groundbreaking clinical trials
Experienced kidney transplant team
UCSF’s dedicated, multidisciplinary kidney transplant team includes surgeons, medical specialists, transplant infectious disease experts, advanced practitioners, pharmacists, nurse care coordinators, social workers, psychiatrists and patient navigators. The team collaboratively assesses each patient’s needs and provides personalized treatment and support throughout the care journey.
When to refer
Candidates for kidney transplantation include patients with end-stage renal disease due to:
- Diabetes mellitus
- High blood pressure
- Glomerulonephritis
- Polycystic kidney disease
- Severe urinary tract issues
How to refer a patient
Please visit the UCSF Transplant Referral Portal.
To learn more
Phone: (415) 353-1551
Fax:
Pre-transplant: (415) 353-8708
Post-transplant: (415) 353-8381
