DALLAS, Texas - Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas, part of Baylor Scott & White Health, has reached a historic milestone with its 5,000th kidney transplant, a reflection of decades of innovation, clinical excellence and life-changing care for patients facing kidney failure.

For the transplant team, the number represents far more than procedures performed. It represents 5,000 individuals given a second chance at life, thousands of families reunited around dinner tables, and countless milestones, memories and moments made possible through the gift of organ donation.

"This milestone is really about people," said Giuliano Testa, chief of abdominal transplant, Baylor University Medical Center. "Behind every transplant is a patient who has endured uncertainty and hope, a family walking alongside them and, in many cases, a donor whose extraordinary generosity changed the course of another person's life."

The achievement comes as Baylor University Medical Center celebrates more than 40 years of transplantation leadership. Since performing its first kidney transplant in 1985, the medical center has grown into a leading transplant program, helping advance the field while caring for patients from across Texas and beyond.

A National Leader in Living Donation

A defining strength of Baylor University Medical Center's kidney transplant program is its commitment to living donation. The program has grown into one of the most active living donor kidney transplant programs in Texas.

The success of the living donor program is measured not only by volume but by the personal connections it creates. Parents have donated to children. Children have donated to parents. Friends, spouses and even individuals who never met their recipients have stepped forward to give the gift of life.

Through innovative programs, including paired kidney exchanges, Baylor University Medical Center has helped make transplantation possible even when a donor is not a direct match for their loved one, expanding opportunities for patients who otherwise might continue waiting for a lifesaving organ.

A Team United by Purpose

Reaching 5,000 kidney transplants is the result of a multidisciplinary team dedicated to guiding patients through every stage of the transplant journey. Surgeons, physicians, nurses, transplant coordinators, social workers, pharmacists, dietitians, researchers and many others work together to provide comprehensive, compassionate care. The transplant program's success has long been built on this collaborative model, where every team member plays a vital role in changing lives.

Looking Ahead

As Baylor University Medical Center celebrates this milestone, the focus remains on the future. The transplant team continues working to expand access to transplantation, advance research and innovation, and create new opportunities for patients waiting for a second chance.

The 5,000th kidney transplant is a remarkable achievement, but for the team, it is also a reminder of the work that remains: helping more patients live longer, healthier lives through the power of transplantation.

About Baylor Scott & White Health

As the largest not-for-profit health system in the state of Texas, Baylor Scott & White is empowering customers to live well by reimagining traditional healthcare - creating more convenient, personalized and informed experiences. It serves more than three million customers through 55 hospitals, including flagship academic medical centers in Dallas, Fort Worth and Temple; the Baylor Scott & White Research Institute; 1,400+ access points; 59,000+ team members; and its leading digital platform - MyBSWHealth. The system's award-winning employer solutions include Baylor Scott & White Health Plan, Baylor Scott & White Quality Alliance and Levanto - which offers digitally enabled health products. Founded as a Christian ministry of healing more than a century ago, Baylor Scott & White's mission is to promote the health and well-being of all individuals, families and communities. For more information, visit: BSWHealth.com

# # #