General Information

Emory University Hospital has a long and honored tradition of treating patients with end-stage liver disease and portal hypertension. More than two decades ago, Emory University Hospital's Chief of Surgery, Dr. W. Dean Warren pioneered several major surgical techniques which are still being used in medical centers today.

Emory Hospital performed its first liver transplant in 1987 and today performs over 65 adult liver transplants each year. The surgical team for the liver program is comprised of three very experienced individuals.

Dr. Thomas Heffron, Surgical Director, has performed more than 800 liver transplants in his career and has performed more than 110 living donor liver transplants since 1989. Dr. Andrei Stieber, Liver Surgeon, has over 18 years experience and a special interest in new surgical techniques and teaching future physicians/surgeons in the field of transplantation. Dr. James Spivey, Medical Director, is board certified in Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology. His major areas of interest are: Liver Transplantation, Evaluation and Management, Acute and Chronic Liver Disease,Viral Hepatitis, and Hepatobiliary Malignancy.

With the combined expertise of these three physicians and the entire liver transplant team , Emory's liver transplant program is able to provide patients with end-stage liver disease the best care, treatment, and follow-up available.

The Emory team is comprised of liver transplant surgeons, transplant hepatologists, and a team of gastroenterologists, anesthesiologists, pathologists, radiologists, psychiatrists, chaplains, nurses, social workers and pharmacists who are all experienced in treating patients with advanced liver disease. This group is well qualified to perform the sophisticated, life-saving surgical procedures involved in liver transplantation and to provide the care required after surgery.

View video about the liver transplant program at Emory.

Transplant Center