UW News

June 8, 2009

UW Medical Center performs 500th heart and 500th lung transplants

Contacts:
Susan Gregg-Hanson, (206) 616-6730/ cell: (206) 390-3226 / sghanson@u.washington.edu
Clare Hagerty, (206) 685-1323/ cell: (206) 953-8532 / clareh@u.washington.edu



MEDIA ADVISORY FOR TUESDAY, JUNE 9:


UW Medical Center performs 500th heart and 500th lung transplants


WHO: UW Medicine heart and lung surgeons and the 500th heart and 500th lung transplant recipients, including:



  • Karla Cox, 55, Tri-Cities, UWMC’s 500th lung transplant recipient
  • Dr. Michael Mulligan, Cox’s surgeon and UW associate professor, Cardiothoracic Surgery, UWMC
  • Nicholas Bear, 24, Everett, UWMC’s 500th heart transplant recipient
  • Dr. Gabriel Aldea, Bear’s surgeon and UW professor of surgery, Cardiothoracic Surgery, UWMC
  • Dr. Nahush Mokadam, surgical director, heart transplantation and mechanical circulatory support, UWMC


WHAT: UW Medicine surgeons and the 500th heart and 500th lung transplant patient recipients will discuss their medical diagnoses and road to recovery. The transplants took place at UW Medical Center on April 17, 2009, and May 8, 2009, respectively. Also in attendance will be Nicholas Bear’s wife, Gwen Bear, and Karla Cox’s husband, Dave Cox.


WHEN: Tuesday, June 9, 2009 / 11:45 a.m. – 12:45 p.m.


WHERE: UW Medical Center Surgery Pavilion, 1st floor, room SP1122*
1959 NE Pacific St.
Seattle, WA 98195


*located directly behind the 1st floor elevators and spiral staircase, to the left; free parking available in the Surgery Pavilion parking garage (show press credentials).


Founded in 1959, the UW Medical Center has been a leader in organ transplantation in the Northwest for nearly 42 years. The first kidney transplant in the region took place at UWMC in 1968, the first heart transplant in 1985, the first liver transplant in 1990, the first pancreas-only transplant in 1991, and the first lung transplant in 1992.


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