The Transplant Center at Carolinas Medical Center has been active in transplantation since 1970 when the first kidney transplant was performed. The program has grown steadily and continues to fulfill its mission of providing quality care to patients with end stage renal, pancreas, liver and heart disease. This care includes early identification, intervention, evaluation, comprehensive treatment, transplantation, life-long follow-up, and professional education and research.

The Transplant Center is certified by Medicare and United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) to transplant kidney, pancreas, liver and heart for adults; and kidney, liver and heart for children. The Transplant Center, LifeShare of the Carolinas, and staff from Carolinas Medical Center participate in the Organ Donation and Transplantation Breakthrough Collaborative, which has led to a significant increase in the number of organ transplants in recent years.

The Transplant Center has a history of excellence in patient care. Long and short-term patient care is managed by an interdisciplinary team that includes, but is not limited to, transplant surgeons, transplant cardiologists, transplant nephrolologists, transplant hepatologists, physician assistants, certified transplant coordinators, medical social workers, nutritionists, pharmacists and an ethicist.

Each organ specific program meets to present, discuss and approve a patient's candidacy for transplantation, or a live kidney donor's candidacy to donate. Each laparoscopic donor surgery is attended by a laparoscopic surgeon and the transplant surgeon, all part of the Live Kidney Donor Advocacy Team.