Texas Transplant Center earns national silver medal for lung transplantation

The Texas Transplant Center of the University of Texas Medical Branch has been recognized by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for its achievements in lung transplantation.

The center was awarded a silver medal for lung transplantation based on performance for mortality rates, transplantation rates and survival after transplant surgery, according to a press release.

The center is among 44 transplant programs in the U.S and one of six adult lung transplantation programs to receive the honor.

According to the HHS standards and criteria, UTMB's lung program is in the top 10 percent in the nation. It is the only program in Texas to achieve this level.

In addition, UTMB is one of 145 hospitals to receive a bronze medal recognition for achieving a 75 percent or greater collaborative conversion rate of donors.

"To be recognized by the Department of Health and Human Services is wonderful and exciting news for all of us involved with the Texas Transplant Center," said Dr. Luca Cicalese, professor of surgery and director of the Texas Transplant Center, in the release. "We worked hard to achieve these results and will press harder to sustain and improve upon them."

The Texas Transplant Center is at 301 University Blvd., Galveston.

For more information, call 800-323-4109 or visit www.utmbhealth.com.

Established in 1891, Texas' academic health center comprises four health sciences schools, three institutes for advanced study, a research enterprise that includes one of only two national laboratories dedicated to the safe study of infectious threats to human health and a health system offering a full range of primary and specialized medical services throughout Galveston County and the Texas Gulf Coast region. UTMB Health is a component of the University of Texas System.