Heart Transplant Surgery at Emory Healthcare

The Most Advanced Care for Heart Failure

A heart transplant is a surgery to give you a healthy new heart when your heart isn’t working well. This can be a life-saving procedure if you have heart failure and other treatment options have failed.

Nationally Recognized Leaders in Heart Transplant

Emory Healthcare is a pioneer in heart transplant surgery. We are Georgia's first and most experienced heart transplant program. We have been recognized for our expertise, exceptional care and dedication to equitable treatment for diverse patients. People from all over the country come here for care. Our experience includes:

Georgia’s first heart transplant
More than 1,000 heart transplants to date
Being named a Center of Medical Excellence by Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield

The doctors and researchers at Emory Heart & Vascular continue to develop therapies to provide you with the best care before, during and after your transplant surgery.

For more data and information on heart transplant survival rates, visit the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients. This is a database of transplantation statistics.

Why Choose Emory Healthcare?

NCQA patient centered specialty practice

Emory Transplant Center is the first transplant center in the nation to earn Patient-Centered Specialty Practice (PCSP) Level 3 Recognition — the highest level of recognition a practice can receive — from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA).

Emory University Hospital was awarded the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization (ELSO) Gold Level Center of Excellence Award in 2024 for pulmonary, cardiac and ECPR (extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation).

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How Heart Transplant Works

Heart transplant surgery provides you with a new heart when your heart does not work properly. Your heart transplant journey begins with a thorough medical evaluation.

Learn how heart transplant works

Heart Transplant Waiting List

If you need heart transplant surgery, you will be added to a national computerized waiting list.

The United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) is the national agency that regulates organ transplantation. They work with LifeLink of Georgia to put your name on a national computerized transplant waiting list. You can wait weeks, months or even years for a donor organ.

You may be able to wait for a new heart at home. If your heart failure condition worsens despite medication treatment, you may need to stay in the hospital until a suitable donor organ becomes available to you.

Generally, the donor heart should match your approximate size and blood group. People on the waiting list receive priority if they:

Are the sickest
Can benefit the most
Have waited the longest

The Georgia Transplant Foundations’ Mentor Project can connect you with someone who has had a transplant. You can talk with them about your concerns.

Your Heart Transplant Medical Team

Emory Heart & Vascular takes a comprehensive approach to heart transplant surgery. Your highly skilled team of specialists includes:

Cardiologists are doctors who possess specialized knowledge and skill in the diagnosis and treatment of heart conditions and will manage your medical care before and after the transplant.
Heart surgeons will perform your heart transplant surgery and supervise your care immediately following your surgery. The transplant surgeon will also follow your progress after you are discharged from the hospital.
Clinical nutritionists will see you before and after your transplant to evaluate your diet and help you maintain a healthy weight. They'll also help you manage any issues with cholesterol and blood sugar.
Financial coordinators will help you understand the cost of transplantation, explain your insurance benefits and assist you in identifying resources available to you.
Pharmacists will begin working with you after your transplant and, along with your transplant coordinator and nurses, will explain the actions, dosages and side effects of your medications.
Social workers are available for evaluation and supportive counseling for you and your family throughout the phases of transplant.
Transplant coordinators are registered nurses specially trained to care for patients before and after transplantation.

Your team works together to provide you with a customized care plan.

Become a Heart Transplant Patient

To determine if you may benefit from a heart transplant, you and your family will have a comprehensive evaluation to determine your suitability and readiness to have a successful outcome from your surgery. Some of the tests include:

Echocardiogram: Shows your heart's valves and chambers
Exercise stress test: Assesses the strength of your heart during exercise
Right heart catheterization: Evaluates the pressures in each chamber of the heart and how well the heart is circulating blood in your body

We also talk with your family members about supporting you throughout the transplant process.

Who Is a Candidate for Heart Transplantation? 

After completing the initial tests, your physicians will determine your need for a heart transplant based on several criteria, which can include:

End-stage cardiac disease that cannot be treated with medicine or surgery
Absence of serious disease, no other medical obstacles to long-term survival
Drug-free: No active drug, tobacco or alcohol abuse
Strong support network, family and friends to assist during your recovery
Age less than 70 years old, with a life expectancy of at least five to 10 years

If you have questions, talk to your doctor or transplant coordinator. You can also call UNOS at 888-894-6361 to learn more about the transplant process.

Transplant Research

Emory Transplant Center’s core mission is to provide quality care for patients in need of organ transplants while offering access to the most advanced transplant technology. That mission extends beyond the care of patients presenting today and includes improvement of the therapies available for future patients. As such, Emory Transplant Center has an exceptionally active research and development program that includes clinical trials and is seamlessly integrated into our clinical program.

Our research program has earned an international reputation for clinical excellence and medical breakthroughs. Follow the links below to learn more about our research program, including highlights and our outstanding faculty.

Research on heart transplantation includes:

Emory's Cardiothoracic Surgery Center for Clinical Research researches, develops and investigates new techniques and technologies in cardiothoracic surgery to create better outcomes and patient comfort.
The Cardiothoracic Research Laboratory conducts research and develops new technologies to treat cardiovascular diseases.

Research Highlights

Emory researchers have made significant strides in the field of transplantation. Emory performed Georgia’s first heart transplant, and currently offers the ventricular assist device (VAD) that is used as a bridge to transplant. Emory’s VAD program has the “Gold Seal of Approval” from The Joint Commission, and is one of only two certified programs of its kind in Georgia. Learn more about current research.

Find an Emory Doctor

Emory Healthcare doctors provide specialized treatment and research the latest advancements.

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Explore our Network

To expand your options, explore our network of providers throughout Atlanta and the surrounding counties.

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Learn about the Emory Healthcare Network

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Make an Appointment with Emory Transplant Services

Make an appointment online or call 404-778-7777 to schedule an appointment.

Refer a Patient to Emory Transplant

Our transplant team is dedicated to serving you and your patients. To make a referral or discuss a patient, please call 855-366-7989. After hours and on weekends, please call 404-778-5000.

Quicklinks

Heart Transplant

The Most Advanced Care for Heart Failure