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Riley Children's Health

Transplant

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Improving life through the gift of transplant.

It is extremely challenging to be told your child has an organ that is failing. Fortunately, IU Health Transplant at Riley Children's Health offers comprehensive transplant services for pediatric patients. Specialized care, years of experience and outstanding outcomes are hallmarks of our pediatric transplantation program.

We are part of IU Health Transplant, a nationally recognized organ transplant center with a mission to help patients return to self-sufficient, active lives. IU Health Transplant ranks among the top transplant centers in the U.S. by volume and is the largest, most comprehensive center of its kind in Indiana and the surrounding region.

IU Health Transplant at Riley Children's Health performs the following types of organ transplants:

  • Heart. We have nearly three decades of pediatric heart transplant experience.
  • Kidney. We are the largest kidney transplant program in Indiana.
  • Liver. IU Health was the first healthcare provider in Indiana to perform a liver transplant in 1988 and remains the only liver transplant program in Indiana.
  • Pancreas. IU Health is one of only a few transplant programs that has performed simultaneous liver and pancreas transplants for candidates with cystic fibrosis.
  • Intestine. We did Indiana’s first isolated pediatric intestine transplant in 2003 and have consistently been doing intestinal transplants every year since.
  • Multivisceral. A multivisceral transplant is one in which the intestines are replaced along with the liver, pancreas and, sometimes, the stomach. This is a very complicated procedure for pediatric patients. Our team is one of only a few in the country certified to perform this operation.

Offering living donor kidney transplants in collaboration with the living donor program at IU Health, Riley at IU Health gives pediatric patients access to the significant advantages that come from a living donor transplant, including shorter wait times and a kidney that typically lasts longer.

What Makes Us Different

Our comprehensive approach is what sets us apart from other transplant centers. Your child's transplant team will include dedicated surgeons, doctors, nurse practitioners, nurse coordinators, nurses, pharmacists, dietitians, social workers, chaplains, psychiatrists, psychologists, physical and occupational therapists, financial navigators and procurement specialists. The team also includes dedicated Child Life experts. Our support staff works exclusively in organ transplant care, making them experts in their field. Specially trained coordinators and nurses provide compassionate, quality care during all aspects of your child's treatment.

We will keep your family engaged by allowing you to stay in the same room as your child. This helps your entire family become comfortable and familiar with the transplant team.

two girls smiling

Annual Report

Read more about our patient outcomes, quality improvements and multidisciplinary programs.

Conditions & Services

Services Offered

We offer a number of different Transplant services. Below are some, but not all, of the services that we provide. If you have a question about a specific service that is not listed here, please contact our department.

  • Heart Transplant
  • Intestine Transplant
  • Kidney Transplant
  • Liver Transplant
  • Multivisceral Transplant

Doctors and Locations

Doctors

Learn more about the doctors with the Transplant Department at Riley at IU Health.

Department Forms & Resources

Department Forms & Resources

Riley Children's Health provides the following forms for parents, healthcare providers and personnel. We have also curated relevant resources from other websites and provided links with brief descriptions of the information that is available.

Resources

  • Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network

    A division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network is the primary federal entity responsible for oversight of the organ and blood stem cell transplant systems in the U.S. They are also responsible for initiatives to increase the level of organ donation in this country.

  • United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS)

    UNOS is a private, nonprofit organization that manages the nation's organ transplant system under contract with the federal government.

  • Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients (SRTR)

    SRTR is a research organization supporting the transplant community by providing analyses of transplants to improve patient outcomes. To see outcomes for IU Health Transplant at Riley Children’s Health, select organ type and click “search” under the FIND & COMPARE TRANSPLANT PROGRAMS section. Next, search by center name “Indiana University Health” and select “Pediatric” for recipient.

  • Donate Life America

    Donate Life America is committed to promoting organ and tissue donation through its alliance of community-based and national organizations.

Related Departments

Related Departments

We provide multispecialty care for a number of conditions. Below are links to our related departments.

  • Critical Care
  • Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
  • Pediatric Nephrology & Kidney Diseases
  • Riley Heart Center

Related Stories

Related Stories

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Miracle baby celebrates sweet 16 birthday

05/17/25 Patient Stories

Tamiracle Estes wasn’t expected to survive more than an hour after birth, but she defied the odds, and a kidney transplant has kept her alive.

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Blog Annaka Salazar

“She is my world, my one and only”

04/24/25 Patient Stories

This 18-year-old liver transplant recipient is looking forward to graduation, a summer with friends and a career as a nurse.

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Blog Sandra Kennedy

“A better life ahead” for transplant patients

04/23/25

Sandra Kennedy, a nurse-turned-nurse practitioner at Riley for 42 years, guides patients and families through the ups and downs of liver and multivisceral transplants.

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Blog Duncan Diehl

Teen reunites with his dog after heart transplant

03/25/25 Patient Stories

Duncan Diehl’s older brother surprised him on the day he finished cardiac rehab by bringing his dog to greet him outside the hospital.

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Blog Dr. Mark Turrentine

After 201 transplants, this surgeon feels most at home in the OR

03/20/25 Patient Care

Dr. Mark Turrentine: “There’s nothing else I can imagine ever having wanted to do more than this and feel like maybe I did something to impact somebody’s life for the better.”

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Blog Bella Sutton

As she waits for a heart transplant, 7-year-old makes hospital her home

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Bella Sutton has wiggled her way into the hearts of nurses and other patients during her 11 months at Riley.

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Blog Ja’Karr Ashley

Ja’Karr’s smile shines bright as he waits for a new heart

01/31/25

A 12-year-old Fishers boy born with a serious heart defect is on the transplant wait list.

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Blog Heart Transplant Party 1999

Filling hearts with Christmas cheer

12/05/24

The annual Riley heart transplant Christmas party got its start more than three decades ago, thanks to the efforts of its founding moms.

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Cancer fight led her to become a nurse

07/04/24 Patient Stories

For Bridget Balcerak, beating Hodgkin’s lymphoma as a teen at Riley inspired her to return to care for others.

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Blog Adriel Hernandez heart transplant

After a year at Riley, Adriel gets a heart transplant

05/13/24 Patient Stories

A 3-year-old is back home with his family now, thanks to a lifesaving gift from a stranger.

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Blog Sherck family transplant

Organ recipient’s love was big and beautiful

04/25/24 Patient Care

Malachi Sherck, who was transplanted as a baby and lived to the age of 19, received the gift of life, but so did all those who knew him.

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Transplant gives toddler new life

04/24/24 Patient Care

“We appreciate all the gifts we receive that allow kids like Ace to go on and live a great life.”

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Blog Debbie Murphy 2024 IBJ Healthcare Hero

Heart transplant coordinator is a hero to many

03/07/24

Debbie Murphy is recognized as a 2024 IBJ Healthcare Hero, but the real winners are the patients and families she supports.

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Blog Juniorwagon1

Junior’s wagon released into fleet at Riley

01/17/24 Patient Stories

The spirit of a 3-year-old heart transplant patient who left his imprint on so many will live on with help from the wagon that bears his name.

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Blog Jackweb11

Transplant gives toddler with rare condition a second chance

01/10/24 Patient Stories

Sixteen-month-old Jack received a bone marrow transplant from his sister to slow the progression of MPS 1. He was the first in the state identified through newborn screening since the metabolic disorder was added to the screening list in 2020.

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Blog Heartcelweb1

From the bottom of their hearts, they say thank you

12/03/23 Patient Stories

Dozens of heart transplant recipients return for the first Heart to Heart Christmas Party since 2019.

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Blog Lindseyweb1

30 years later, she owes her life to her sister and Riley

11/30/23 Patient Stories

A stem cell transplant saved Lindsey Kesler as a little girl. Now a mother herself, she returned to Riley with her sister, spouse, parents and kids to say thank you again to her care team.

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Blog Avaweb144

#AmazingAva goes home with a new heart

11/14/23 Patient Stories

After 579 days at Riley, this dragon-loving, Pokemon-playing 10-year-old walks out of the Heart Center with the gift of life.

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Blog Cruseweb1

Teen’s liver was dying, and so was he

11/05/23 Patient Stories

Mom: “I sat on the bathroom floor, sobbing and begging God to save him. I knew the chances weren’t good.” Transplant gives renewed hope and purpose to one family.

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Blog Jrweb11

Junior brought joy to everyone he met

09/08/23 Patient Stories

“He was strong, he was brave, he lit up any room he was in. He taught me that happiness and joy are not circumstantial, but a way of living purposefully every single day.”

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Blog Heartduoweb1

“Heart sisters” wait for lifesaving transplants

08/31/23 Patient Stories

They’ve been Riley kids their whole lives. Now they’ve formed a bond as adults on the transplant unit.

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Blog Avaweb88

Fourth-grader marks 500 days waiting for heart transplant

08/27/23 Patient Stories

Ava Graham has been inpatient at Riley for 16 months as doctors and transplant coordinators work to match her with the gift of life.

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Blog Abiweb11

Transplant gives teen the heart of a champion

08/09/23 Patient Stories

A Fort Wayne family praises the lifesaving gift that made it possible for 18-year-old Abi Fromm to walk out of Riley Hospital stronger and more determined to pursue a nursing degree.

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Blog Junior3web1

Junior gets his second hero heart

07/20/23 Patient Stories

Three-year-old boy has been waiting at Riley for a transplant since July 2022.

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“Living life and moving forward”

07/18/23 Patient Stories

Transplant patient Jeff Taber celebrates one year with his new heart.

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“I’m free!” Edward says farewell after receiving heart transplant

05/09/23 Patient Stories

An 11-year-old received a fun farewell this week after being a patient for more than 300 days waiting for a heart transplant.

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Blog Edwardsweb2

When she got the call, this mom’s heart skipped a beat

05/04/23 Patient Stories

After more than 300 days at Riley, 11-year-old Edward Sandefur receives his hero heart.

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Donate Life Wall celebrates the gift of transplant

04/25/23

Child life specialist Maddie Rodriguez pours her heart into a project that allows transplant recipients to pour colored beads into an interactive display on 9 West.

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“We are just over the moon”

03/06/23 Patient Stories

Her son received a heart transplant, and this Riley team member couldn’t be more grateful.

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Blog Culpweb1

Grief and gratitude bind these two families

01/29/23 Patient Stories

In death, a 7-year-old boy saved multiple lives through organ donation. Last week, his mom met the gregarious preschooler who received her son’s liver. Together, both families are giving back to honor Hunter Tuzinski’s memory.

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Blog Lexiwebht

Young adults navigate life after heart transplant

01/19/23 Patient Stories

A Riley support group provides a space for patients to be part of something special: “It’s nice to talk to people who get what I feel.”

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“This is the season of miracles”

12/21/22 Patient Stories

After 400 days in the hospital, “Brother O” has a new heart and a renewed passion for life.

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“His love was once in a lifetime”

12/04/22 Patient Stories

Heart transplant recipient became a tissue donor after his death. Now he will be honored in the Tournament of Roses Parade.

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Blog Avaweb11

Amazing Ava waits for a new heart

06/02/22 Patient Stories

The girl with her own hashtag is making herself at home in the hospital for as long as it takes.

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Kindergartner celebrates one year with new kidney

05/23/22

Scarlet Boetjer, whose life was saved by a nurse who donated her kidney, wants to be a doctor when she grows up.

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Mom thanks Riley team and organ donor “for giving our Mav a shot”

05/12/22 Patient Stories

After multi-organ transplant, 4-year-old “PICU mascot” has endeared himself to everyone he meets.

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One family’s loss brings life to a baby girl

04/26/22 Patient Stories

Donate Life Month: Addison Rauch was saved, thanks to a liver transplant.

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Starting kindergarten with a new heart and a dazzling smile

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Makayla Owens received a heart transplant at Riley last October. Now, the little girl with the big grin is going to school for the first time.

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Blog Sydweb

Super Sydney celebrates two years with her new heart

05/24/21 Patient Stories

David and Ashley Deaver’s daughter has taken them on quite an adventure since she was born, but they treasure all the good days now.

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Blog Aylorweb

Junior gets a new heart weeks before his first birthday

05/20/21 Patient Stories

Brian and Mallory Aylor’s son was born with multiple heart defects. He has been hospitalized at Riley for 7 months.

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Blog Brock Craft

A gift of love and life

04/29/21

Ally Brock’s mom didn’t think twice about donating a kidney to her daughter 11 years ago. Now, Ally works with other pediatric patients on their own transplant journey.

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Little boy’s pain was more than skin-deep

03/31/21 Patient Stories

Thanks to a liver transplant, 12-year-old Elias is healing from the inside out and ready to live again.

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Blog Drbrownwebmain

A hero to many, Dr. John Brown is hanging up his scrubs

12/17/20

After a 43-year career at Riley Hospital, this renowned heart surgeon is passing the scalpel.

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Blog Htpxweb

Riley transplant coordinators lead with their hearts

03/03/20

Debra Murphy and Maegan Boehm are on the front lines with heart transplant patients, helping them live their best lives with the gift of a new heart.

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Health Professionals

For Health Professionals

We work closely with referring physicians who have a patient requiring a transplant, keeping them informed of the progress and treatment of the patient throughout the entire process. Referring physicians may call to refer a patient to IU Health Transplant at Riley Children's Hospital. To transfer a patient to the hospital, Riley Children’s offers you a one-call solution for all provider needs. Call 1.844.MyRiley (844.697.4539).

Refer A Patient

Refer A Patient

Riley at IU Health works with referring physicians in Indiana and beyond. Please call the appropriate number below.

Liver Transplant (Phone): 800.382.4602
Liver Transplant (Fax): 317.968.1497

Kidney Transplant (Phone): 800.382.4602
Kidney Transplant (Fax): 317.968.1499

Intestine/Multivisceral Transplant (Phone): 800.382.4602
Intestine/Multivisceral Transplant (Fax): 317.968.1497

Heart Transplant (Phone): 317.944.9780
Heart Transplant (Fax): 317.944.7800

Refer A Patient

Research

Our connection with the Indiana University School of Medicine gives our transplant team the unique opportunity to be involved in several research initiatives that improve patient outcomes. Our research currently focuses on:

  • Xenotransplantation
  • Transplant immunology
  • Hepatic malignancies
  • Clinical outcomes

Education

In partnership with the IU School of Medicine, Riley Children's provides exceptional training opportunities in pediatric surgery and transplant surgery. The abdominal transplantation fellowship trains fellows at IU Health University Hospital and Riley Children's. It is one of only a few programs with the necessary volume to train fellows in all organ systems.

Education Resources:
  • Medical Education Programs
  • Residents
  • Abdominal Transplantation Fellowship
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Designated as Best Children's Hospitals by U.S. News & World Report, Ranked in 10 Specialties in 2023-24

©2025 Riley Hospital for Children at
Indiana University Health
Find adult services at iuhealth.org


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