Sandip Kapur Appointed Chief of Transplant Surgery at New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell
A leading pioneer of advanced techniques in transplantation surgery, Dr. Sandip Kapur has been appointed chief of the Division of Transplantation Surgery at New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center.
New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell and its medical partner The Rogosin Institute have nearly tripled the annual number of transplants performed over the last two and half years, with a total of 210 performed in 2007. This feat was made possible through advances like kidney swaps and blood type–incompatible procedures that have revolutionized live-organ-donor transplantations. According to the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), New York-Presbyterian Hospital has the largest transplantation program in the United States, including the highest volume of kidney and heart transplants.
Currently, Dr. Kapur, along with Dr. Manikkam Suthanthiran, is co-leading the first-ever clinical trial of a novel molecular test that can help predict organ rejection and may eventually free organ recipients from having to take the drugs for the rest of their lives.
Recently, he helped lead one of the first successful “kidney chain” or NEAD (never-ending altruistic donor) kidney transplant procedures. A California woman donated her kidney to a stranger in New York City, resulting in life-saving kidney transplantations for three patients. Going forward, the innovative arrangement will potentially benefit hundreds of the 70,000 kidney patients on the national transplantation waiting list.
“An immensely talented surgeon, inspirational leader and teacher, Dr. Kapur is uniquely qualified to be chief of transplantation surgery. We look forward to continued innovation in our transplant program,” says Dr. Fabrizio Michelassi, surgeon-in-chief at New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center.#
