wall of heroes honors kidney transplant recipients of a living donor kidney learned what is a living donor through experience

Kidney Transplant Program

The Hennepin Healthcare Transplant Program is a collaborative effort among professionals who specialize in the pre-transplant, operative, and long-term follow-up care of End-Stage Renal disease patients, in partnership with their primary physician or nephrologist. We have performed more than 3,000 kidney transplants and are a leader of innovation in kidney transplant.

Transplant Program

900 South 8th Street
Minneapolis, MN 55415

Blue Building, Level 1
Minneapolis MN 55415

Clinic hours:

7 am - 4:30 pm Monday through Friday

Appointments:

612-873-7700 | 888-345-0816

Watch Dwayne’s Transplant Journey

Dwayne Sheppard didn't have problems with his kidneys until he was 58 years old. Severe kidney disease negatively affected his quality of life until a transplant became a necessity. His transplant journey led to quite an unexpected result. Watch Dwayne’s story and additional video anecdotes related to kidney transplantation.

The Hennepin Healthcare Transplant Program

  • Performed the first kidney transplant in 1963 in the upper midwest.
  • Since 1963, we have performed more than 3,100 kidney transplants. The transplant program continues their history of innovation to improve success rate and decrease the wait for an organ.
  • Performed the first dialysis treatment in 1963 in the upper midwest
  • Performed the first laparoscopic living donor nephrectomy in 1998 in the upper midwest
  • Completed the first paired exchange transplant in 2010 in the upper midwest
  • Hepatitis C protocol development using new medications that allow the safe transplantation of Hepatitis C positive donor kidneys.
  • 75% of Native American transplants in the upper midwest occur at Hennepin Healthcare and community education efforts are supported through a HRSA grant
  • Assists with transplant education support to the dialysis community with Explore Transplant (a nonprofit program founded to disseminate transplant education on a national level)
  • Participates in Hennepin Healthcare Research Institute research, dedicated to improving patient care and the health of our community through research and education
  • Academic training institution for physicians, nurses, pharmacists, dietitians and social workers preparing them for their future medical career

Surgical Services

Physicians in the Division of Transplant and Vascular Access Surgery provide services including renal transplantation and vascular access therapies for chronic dialysis. In addition, all other areas of general surgical care for the chronic dialysis patient are provided. The following surgical and therapeutic services are provided:

  • Laparoscopic donor nephrectomy
  • Peritoneal dialysis
  • Renal transplantation
  • Vascular access for hemodialysis

The Chronic Disease Research Group of the Hennepin Healthcare Research Institute houses and administers both the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients (SRTR) with oversight and funding from the Health Resources and Services Administration, and the United States Renal Data System Coordinating Center (USRDS) which is funded directly by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIKKD).

living donor transplant recipients collective ribbon for the living donor program

Donating through Laparoscopic Surgery

Living donors donate with advanced laparoscopic technology for improved recovery time and less discomfort.

Living Donors

Donating one's own kidney to a friend or family member is an amazing act of kindness. Here are things to consider.

Visit our Wall of Heroes

Visit our Wall of Heroes website, or visit it on the second floor in our red building by the chapel.

For Transplant Recipients

What you need to know if you are approved for a kidney transplant. 

Transplant Referrals

How you can be referred to Hennepin Healthcare's Transplant Program.

Your Care Team

Your transplant care team consists of a lot of caregivers with a different roles.