Providence Swedish's growing program marks 100th liver transplant

[3 min read]

In this article: 

• Providence Swedish is the only liver transplant program across Providence’s 51-hospital system and is a leading center in the Pacific Northwest.
• Demand for liver transplants continues to rise. Current statistics from the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration indicate that almost 9,500 patients are on liver transplant waitlists nationwide. 
• Providence Swedish is focused on expanding access to high-quality liver transplant care for patients across the region.
• Learn more about the unique program and the dedicated caregivers who support it. 

Last month, Providence Swedish reached a major milestone by completing its 100th liver transplant within the 2025 calendar year. The achievement highlights the continued growth of the liver transplant program and its expanding impact across the region. Today, Providence Swedish is the only liver transplant program across Providence’s 51-hospital system and a leading center in the Pacific Northwest.

“Reaching the 100th liver transplant in a single year is more than a milestone. It reflects years of investment, collaboration, and shared commitment to saving lives. As the program continues to grow, we remain focused on expanding access to high-quality liver transplant care for patients across the region.”

 - Chandrasekar Santhanakrishnan, M.D., executive medical director, Swedish Organ Transplant Center. 

The liver transplant program at Swedish launched in 2011 and has grown steadily over the past decade. In its early years, the program performed fewer than 30 transplants annually, with volumes increasing year over year. In recent years, the program expanded significantly to meet rising demand. By the end of 2025, Swedish completed 102 liver transplants, the highest annual total in the program’s history.

Growth driven by investment and innovation

The most dramatic period of growth occurred between 2022 and 2025. During this time, Swedish invested in additional resources, which included hiring  two liver transplant surgeons, and benefited from strong leadership support, and the adoption of new technologies such as the liver pump for donation after circulatory death (DCD) donors.  

“A big driver of our growth has been the adoption of new technologies, especially the liver pump, which allows us to safely use donation after cardiac death donors,” says Julian Horwitz, M.D., transplant surgeon.  “Historically, most liver transplants relied on brain-dead donors, but the liver pump has expanded the donor pool significantly. Combined with the right infrastructure and program investments, this technology has helped us dramatically increase access to liver transplantation and nearly double our transplant volume over the past few years.”

Dr. Horwitz also points to a cultural shift within the program that emphasizes collaboration, innovation, and a willingness to care for increasingly complex patients.

Serving patients across the region

As the only liver transplant program in the Providence system, Swedish cares for patients from across Washington State and neighboring states, including those from rural and remote communities. Many patients travel long distances to receive care, and the program is designed to provide coordinated support before, during and after transplant.

Nationally, demand for liver transplants continues to rise. Current statistics from the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration indicate that almost 9,500 patients are on liver transplant waitlists nationwide. Swedish has taken a progressive approach to patient selection, often accepting complex cases and patients who may have been declined at other centers. This approach allows more patients to access care while maintaining strong outcomes and a high standard of patient safety.

Behind every transplant is a highly skilled, multidisciplinary team. Surgeons, hepatologists, RN transplant coordinators, nurses, social workers, dieticians, pharmacists, administrators, and many others play a vital role in supporting patients and their families throughout their transplant journey. Program leaders emphasize that this team-based approach has been essential to Swedish’s growth and success.

“Reaching the 100th liver transplant in a single year is more than a milestone,” says Chandrasekar Santhanakrishnan, M.D., executive medical director at the Organ Transplant Center. “It reflects years of investment, collaboration, and shared commitment to saving lives. As the program continues to grow, we remain focused on expanding access to high-quality liver transplant care for patients across the region.”

For more information, visit the Swedish Organ Transplant Center or call 1-800-99ORGAN (1-800-996-7426).

Learn more and find a physician or Advanced Practice Clinician (APC) 

Visit our website to learn more about the Organ Transplant Center at Swedish First Hill.