Update: June 2019

What we learned from reviews of our program: After OHSU voluntarily deactivated our heart transplant program in August 2018, we conducted extensive months-long reviews and invited nationally and internationally recognized experts from around the country to share their expertise. Here's what we learned.

Update: March 2019
At OHSU, it is core to our mission to better the health and well-being of all Oregonians and provide care to transplant patients. To that end, OHSU will reactivate a robust Heart Transplant Program that provides world-class care to Oregonians and beyond. Learn more

Additional updates as of January 10, 2019:

• Of the 20 patients on our heart transplant wait list, five have been transplanted. The remaining patients are on wait lists at the University of Washington or other centers.
• Approximately 300 post-transplant patients and about 40 ventricular assist device patients are receiving care at Providence, in collaboration with OHSU Heart Transplant leadership, transplant coordinators and support staff.
• We are fully committed to reactivating the state’s only heart transplant program for patients in Oregon and beyond. To that end, we have been aggressively recruiting the specialists needed to provide the full continuum of care.
• We continue to provide an abundance of cardiovascular care and support in all other areas, including the Division of Cardiovascular Surgery, Intensive Care Units and the Knight Cardiovascular Institute.

Frequently Asked Questions

Because patient care is our top priority, OHSU has made the difficult decision to temporarily pause our heart transplant program. We are doing everything we can to help patients who are affected by this change, including transferring them to other heart transplant programs.

Need more information?
Cardiac Care Hotline: 833-674-8236
Email: cardiaccare@ohsu.edu
To protect your privacy, please do not include your personal health information in email.

What does it mean to pause the program?

During this time, we will not accept referrals for or evaluate any new patients for transplant, accept donor hearts, implant long-term heart pumps, such as ventricular assist devices as a bridge to transplant, or perform heart transplant surgeries for patients on our waiting list. All other cardiovascular services will continue as normal, including complex heart failure care.

Why did you pause the program?

We want to provide the best care for our patients. Three of our heart failure cardiologists left OHSU this fall, which means we do not have enough specialists to provide the level of care needed for an active heart transplant program. This pause gives us a chance to partner with other health systems and to continue recruiting new heart failure specialists.

What are your plans for the program?

We are committed to rebuilding and expanding in the coming months. This includes recruiting new heart failure and heart transplant specialists to add to our team. 

OHSU has performed more than 700 heart transplants and is Oregon's only heart transplant program. We truly apologize for the pause. OHSU cares deeply about our patients and families. We made this difficult decision because excellent care for our patients at all stages of transplantation is our highest priority and responsibility. 

We will keep the public updated about the OHSU Heart Transplant Program.