UCI Health kidney transplant program helps more patients than ever
Program has been on a growth trajectory since 2015
Orange, Calif. — In 2025, the UCI Health Kidney Transplant Program added years and improved quality of life for 233 patients, the most in its history.
The kidney transplant team at UCI Health, has long filled a critical need in the region. It is the county’s oldest and largest kidney, pancreas and kidney-pancreas transplant programs. It is also the only one that’s part of an academic health system in Orange County.
“The growth of this program could only happen with the dedication, hard work and commitment of everyone here,” says Dr. Robert R. Redfield III, chief of the transplant program.
“It’s a huge operation and has a huge impact on people’s lives, giving them a second chance at life. It’s important mark these milestones.”
Leading transplant center
The program has been on a growth trajectory for several years. In 2024, 222 kidneys in 2024, up 40% from 134 in 2023.
The number of people waiting for a kidney increases each year.
California is home to nearly 19,000 of the more than 103,000 people who are waiting for a kidney transplant in the United States, according to the Organ Procurement & Transplantation Network. Nearly 700 patients are on the waiting list at UCI Health alone.
Need for living donors
Most transplanted kidneys come from deceased donors, but the wait for a match is a long one: between eight and 10 years. A transplant from a living donor can take place within three to six months once all tests are completed, says Redfield. UCI Health has developed strong relationships with organ procurement organizations around the country in an effort to reduce wait times.
Because the number of patients needing a kidney transplant far exceeds the availability of matching deceased donor kidneys, UCI Health launched a program to encourage living kidney donors more than a decade ago.
A kidney from a living donor also offers significant advantages, including a lower risk of rejection and better and longer function than kidneys from deceased donors. A kidney from a deceased donor may last eight to 12 years, while a living donor’s kidney lasts between 15 and 20 years.
Living donors can be friends or family who are a match with the recipient. They may also be donors with no connection, known as non-directed donors. There are also paired exchanges, in which patients with a willing but incompatible donor can be placed on the National Kidney Registry to find a compatible donor pair.
“We want to see more living donors,” says Dr. Uttam G. Reddy, medical director of the transplant program.
“I view dialysis as a bridge to transplant, and we want to keep that bridge as short as possible.”
Outcomes surpassing the national average
Reddy is also proud of the outcomes the team has achieved for patients, which exceed national averages.
“Our outcomes are on par with some of the top transplant programs in the country. That’s the gold standard for me.”
If you or someone you know is interested in becoming a living kidney donor at UCI Health, please go to www.livingdonoruci.org.
Make an appointment at the UCI Health Kidney Transplant Program by calling 714-456-8441.
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About UCI Health
UCI Health, one of California’s largest academic health systems, is the clinical enterprise of the University of California, Irvine. The 1,461-bed system comprises its main campus UCI Health — Orange, its flagship hospital, the UCI Health — Irvine acute care hospital and medical campus, four hospitals and affiliated physicians of the UCI Health Community Network in Orange and Los Angeles counties and a network of ambulatory care centers across the region. UCI Health — Orange provides tertiary and quaternary care and is home to the only Orange County-based National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center, high-risk perinatal/neonatal program and American College of Surgeons-verified Level I adult and Level II pediatric trauma center, gold level 1 geriatric emergency department and regional burn center. Powered by UC Irvine, UCI Health serves 5.6 million people in Orange County, western Riverside County and southeast Los Angeles County. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X (formerly Twitter).