42 min

The Ins and Outs of Organ Transplantation: Dr. John Fung, Dr. Michael Millis, Dr. Milda Saunders, Dr. Kumaran Shanmugarajah Deep Cuts: Exploring Equity in Surgery

    • Medicine

There’s a lot behind organ transplantation. Which organs can we transplant? When does someone need a transplant? How do we choose who gets one? And what are the ethical dilemmas surrounding transplantation? In this episode, we answer all these questions and more, including what patients can do to advocate for themselves if they do find themselves needing a transplant. We also explore UChicago Medicine’s unique role in the history of liver transplantation and debunk common misconceptions about the field, including the myth that doctors will change the quality of care if someone is listed as a organ donor. They don’t!

Dr. Michael Millis is a Professor of Surgery and the Vice Chair of Global Surgery at UChicago Medicine. He is an expert in adult and pediatric transplant surgery. Dr. Millis is also a pioneer of new techniques for liver operation. His innovations have helped the University of Chicago perform more liver transplants than any other program in the region over the past 15 years.

Dr. John Fung is a Professor of Surgery and the Chief of the Section of Transplant Surgery at UChicago Medicine. He is a renowned leader in the field of organ transplantation, including liver, kidney, pancreas, and intestinal transplantation. Dr. Fung has spearheaded the use of new minimally invasive surgical transplant techniques. Dr. Fung was one of the physicians leaders of the transplant care team that made history in December 2018, after performing two triple-organ transplants within 27 hours.

Dr. Milda Saunders is an Associate Professor of Medicine at UChicago Medicine and the Interim Associate Dean for Health Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion at the Pritzker School of Medicine. Dr. Saunders’ broad research interests include health disparities and quality of care, particularly related to chronic kidney disease. Her work has examined how a person’s residence and site of care are associated with health outcomes.

Dr. Kumaran Shanmugarajah is a fourth year surgery resident at UChicago Medicine and the Scientific Director of the Organ Perfusion Lab. He has worked internationally exploring the clinical application of basic science innovation. His interests include transplant immunology, organ engineering, and healthcare delivery models.

Find more about our work at surgery.uchicago.edu.

There’s a lot behind organ transplantation. Which organs can we transplant? When does someone need a transplant? How do we choose who gets one? And what are the ethical dilemmas surrounding transplantation? In this episode, we answer all these questions and more, including what patients can do to advocate for themselves if they do find themselves needing a transplant. We also explore UChicago Medicine’s unique role in the history of liver transplantation and debunk common misconceptions about the field, including the myth that doctors will change the quality of care if someone is listed as a organ donor. They don’t!

Dr. Michael Millis is a Professor of Surgery and the Vice Chair of Global Surgery at UChicago Medicine. He is an expert in adult and pediatric transplant surgery. Dr. Millis is also a pioneer of new techniques for liver operation. His innovations have helped the University of Chicago perform more liver transplants than any other program in the region over the past 15 years.

Dr. John Fung is a Professor of Surgery and the Chief of the Section of Transplant Surgery at UChicago Medicine. He is a renowned leader in the field of organ transplantation, including liver, kidney, pancreas, and intestinal transplantation. Dr. Fung has spearheaded the use of new minimally invasive surgical transplant techniques. Dr. Fung was one of the physicians leaders of the transplant care team that made history in December 2018, after performing two triple-organ transplants within 27 hours.

Dr. Milda Saunders is an Associate Professor of Medicine at UChicago Medicine and the Interim Associate Dean for Health Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion at the Pritzker School of Medicine. Dr. Saunders’ broad research interests include health disparities and quality of care, particularly related to chronic kidney disease. Her work has examined how a person’s residence and site of care are associated with health outcomes.

Dr. Kumaran Shanmugarajah is a fourth year surgery resident at UChicago Medicine and the Scientific Director of the Organ Perfusion Lab. He has worked internationally exploring the clinical application of basic science innovation. His interests include transplant immunology, organ engineering, and healthcare delivery models.

Find more about our work at surgery.uchicago.edu.

42 min