Kidney failure can completely change a person’s daily life. When the kidneys can no longer perform their essential functions properly, treatments such as dialysis or kidney transplantation may become necessary. For eligible patients, a kidney transplant can offer an alternative to long-term dialysis and may improve quality of life.
The United States has many specialized transplant centers with experienced nephrologists, transplant surgeons, nurses, coordinators, and other medical professionals. These centers also provide evaluation, donor matching, surgery, recovery support, and long-term follow-up.
Below are five well-known U.S. hospitals and transplant programs that provide kidney transplant services.
1. Mayo Clinic
Mayo Clinic
Mayo Clinic has one of the largest kidney transplant programs in the United States. Its kidney transplant services are available at campuses in Arizona, Florida, and Minnesota. The program has been performing kidney transplants since 1963 and has developed extensive experience with both standard and complex transplant cases. (Mayo Clinic)
One of the notable features of Mayo Clinic is its focus on living-donor transplantation. The program also offers paired kidney donation, which can provide an option for patients whose willing donor is not directly compatible. Other specialized services include ABO-incompatible transplantation and transplantation for highly sensitized patients. (Mayo Clinic)
Mayo Clinic uses a multidisciplinary approach, bringing together transplant surgeons, nephrologists, nurses, pharmacists, social workers, and other specialists. This coordinated approach is important because transplantation involves much more than the operation itself.
The center also provides pediatric kidney transplant services. Children are treated through specialized teams with experience in the particular needs of young kidney patients. (Mayo Clinic)
Mayo Clinic reported 556 kidney transplants at its Arizona location and 227 at its Florida location in 2025, while its Minnesota program has performed thousands of kidney transplants since beginning the program. (Mayo Clinic)
2. Cleveland Clinic
Cleveland Clinic
Cleveland Clinic in Ohio has a kidney transplant program with more than five decades of experience. The program provides care for people with advanced kidney disease who may require transplantation. (Cleveland Clinic)
The transplant team includes kidney specialists, transplant surgeons, transplant urologists, nurses, social workers, dietitians, and financial counselors. Having several specialties involved can be particularly useful because transplant patients often require care for multiple medical and practical issues.
Cleveland Clinic offers both deceased-donor and living-donor kidney transplantation. Selected patients may also be considered for combined kidney-pancreas transplantation. The center performs evaluation before transplantation and provides continuing care after surgery. (Cleveland Clinic)
Another important aspect is its experience with pediatric kidney transplantation. Cleveland Clinic Children’s has specialists who work with children and adolescents affected by serious kidney disease. (Cleveland Clinic)
For someone considering transplantation, the evaluation process generally involves reviewing medical history, laboratory testing, imaging, and other assessments to determine whether transplantation is an appropriate option.
3. Johns Hopkins Medicine
Johns Hopkins Medicine
Johns Hopkins Medicine’s Comprehensive Transplant Center in Baltimore provides kidney transplantation along with specialized programs for different patient needs.
The Johns Hopkins Kidney Transplant Program provides evaluation and treatment for people with kidney failure. Its services include deceased-donor transplantation and living-donor transplantation. (Johns Hopkins Medicine)
One area for which Johns Hopkins has developed specialized expertise is incompatible kidney transplantation. Its Incompatible Kidney Transplant Program was established to help some patients whose willing donors do not have compatible blood types or other matching characteristics. (Johns Hopkins Medicine)
The center also provides kidney transplant services for children through Johns Hopkins Children’s Center. Pediatric patients receive care from a multidisciplinary team that can include pediatric nephrologists, transplant surgeons, pediatric urologists, nurses, dietitians, pharmacists, social workers, and other specialists. (Johns Hopkins Medicine)
Research is another important part of the Johns Hopkins transplant program. Its physicians and researchers continue to investigate ways to improve transplantation and help patients with complicated kidney conditions.
4. UCSF Health
UCSF Health
UCSF Health’s Connie Frank Transplant Center is another major kidney transplant program in the United States. The center is particularly experienced in complex and high-risk cases and provides care before and after transplantation. (UCSF Health)
UCSF reports performing more than 400 kidney transplants annually and describes its living-donor program as the largest on the West Coast. The program also operates satellite clinics that extend kidney transplant care to patients in different parts of California and Honolulu. (UCSF Health)
The center’s transplant team includes surgeons, transplant nephrologists, infectious-disease specialists, nurse coordinators, social workers, and patient navigators. This team-based structure helps patients manage the many stages of transplantation.
UCSF also has experience with combined organ transplantation, including pancreas-kidney, liver-kidney, heart-kidney, and lung-kidney procedures. Its researchers continue to study methods for reducing rejection and expanding transplant opportunities for patients with complicated medical conditions. (UCSF Health)
According to UCSF’s 2025 program report, the center performed 241 deceased-donor and 137 living-donor kidney transplants during that year. The report cites Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients data for its survival comparisons. (medconnection.ucsfhealth.org)
5. UPMC
UPMC
UPMC provides kidney transplant services through its transplant centers in Pennsylvania, including UPMC Montefiore in Pittsburgh, UPMC Hamot in Erie, and UPMC Harrisburg. (UPMC | Life Changing Medicine)
The UPMC kidney transplant program performs more than 200 adult kidney transplants each year and has extensive experience with both living-donor and deceased-donor transplantation. It also performs combined kidney-pancreas transplantation. (UPMC | Life Changing Medicine)
Living-donor and donor-exchange options are available for appropriate patients. Donor exchange can sometimes provide another pathway when a person’s willing donor is not directly compatible.
UPMC also emphasizes care for complicated cases. Its transplant team can include nephrologists, transplant surgeons, living-donor coordinators, nurses, and other specialists who work together during evaluation, surgery, and follow-up.
The program has a long history in transplantation. UPMC reports that its surgeons have performed more than 5,400 deceased-donor kidney transplants and 2,600 living-donor kidney transplants since 1988. (UPMC | Life Changing Medicine)
What Should Patients Consider When Choosing a Kidney Transplant Hospital?
Choosing a transplant center is an important medical decision, and there is no single hospital that is right for every patient. A person should discuss the options with their nephrologist and transplant team.
Some factors worth considering include:
Experience With Your Medical Condition
Patients with diabetes, heart disease, previous transplants, incompatible donors, or other complicated conditions may need a center with experience in those specific situations.
Living-Donor Options
If a family member or friend is considering donation, ask the transplant center about living-donor evaluation and paired-donation programs.
Transplant Evaluation
Before being placed on a transplant waiting list, patients generally undergo a detailed medical evaluation. The transplant team considers overall health, kidney disease, other medical conditions, and whether transplantation is appropriate.
Long-Term Follow-Up
A kidney transplant requires ongoing medical care. Patients usually need regular monitoring and medicines to help prevent rejection. Therefore, access to a transplant center and follow-up care is an important practical consideration.
Insurance and Financial Planning
Transplantation can involve significant medical expenses. Patients should check insurance coverage, medication costs, travel expenses, and other financial considerations before making arrangements.
Final Thoughts
Kidney transplantation is a complex medical procedure that requires careful evaluation and long-term follow-up. Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, Johns Hopkins Medicine, UCSF Health, and UPMC are among the major U.S. medical centers offering specialized kidney transplant programs, with services covering living and deceased donation, complex cases, and post-transplant care. (Mayo Clinic)
However, the right transplant center depends on the individual patient. Factors such as medical history, donor compatibility, pediatric or adult care, location, insurance, and the center’s experience with a particular condition should all be discussed with qualified healthcare professionals.
For anyone considering a kidney transplant, speaking directly with a nephrologist and an authorized transplant center is the best way to understand the available options and determine the next appropriate step.