Pediatric Kidney Transplant Program

Who We Treat | Highlights | Team | Locations | Appointments

If your child has severe or end-stage renal disease (ESRD), a kidney transplant is a life-changing option that can dramatically improve their health and quality of life. At Columbia University Irving Medical Center/NewYork-Presbyterian, our dedicated kidney transplantation program for children and adolescents offers the latest advances in surgical and post-transplant strategies. Our team of pediatric transplant experts provides comprehensive care to your child and family before, during, and after their surgery.

If your child has been diagnosed with kidney disease and needs a kidney transplant, please contact our Pediatric Kidney Transplant Program at (800) 543-2782 to schedule an appointment.

Who We Treat

Your child's kidneys play many essential roles in keeping them healthy, including removing waste from their bodies. Because they are still growing, kidney failure affects children differently than adults. Poor kidney function can impact your child's growth, bone strength, nervous system, and brain development.

A kidney transplant is the best treatment option for most children with severe kidney disease. With a transplanted kidney, your child can lead a full, active life. They will need to take medications and receive lifelong medical follow-up care to ensure their new kidney works properly.

Conditions We Treat

Photo of two gloved doctor's hands, one on top and one on the bottom, framing two illustrated kidneys in 3-D.

Our Pediatric Kidney Transplantation Program treats a variety of pediatric kidney conditions, including:

Congenital kidney abnormalities
End-stage renal disease (ESRD)
Kidney tumors
Nephrotic syndrome
Polycystic kidney disease

Services We Offer

Our highly-trained team performs kidney transplant surgery (sometimes called renal transplantation) to provide your child with a healthy donor kidney that takes over for their poorly functioning kidneys. Using a small incision, surgeons place the new kidney in the lower right side of the abdomen and connect it to the bladder. Your child's own kidneys are left in place to reduce the impact of the procedure.

Children with ESRD must go on dialysis—where a machine takes on the role of your kidneys for filtering waste from your blood—while they wait for a kidney transplant. Our team will help you navigate this process as well.

Learn More About the Kidney Transplantation Procedure

Program Highlights

Expanding Access to Donor Matches

Finding the most compatible donor is the best way to improve your child's transplant outcomes. For many children, a parent is eligible to be a donor. But when that's not the right choice, our Living Donor transplant program offers ways to reduce waiting times and help your child get matched with the best donor option.

Care That Minimizes Side Effects

All transplant recipients must take immunosuppressive medications throughout their lives to avoid organ rejection. However, some treatments used on adults, like steroids, can harm children, causing severe long-term side effects like delayed growth. Columbia has pioneered methods to avoid using steroids in children, helping them recover quickly while avoiding harmful side effects.

Multidisciplinary Team of Experts

Transplant surgery for children is often just part of their care. Children with kidney problems often have other conditions that need correction. Our transplant team works with specialists across Columbia, including reconstructive surgeons, pediatric urologists, and spine experts, to correct abnormalities before the transplant to help increase the chances of success.

Partner with the Leading Children's Hospital in New York City

Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital has a long history of providing exceptional care for the sickest children. We are proud to be the leading center for pediatric care for the greater New York City area.

Help for You and Your Family

We understand how overwhelming it can be to guide your child through a significant illness and surgery. Our team will be here for you at every step of your child's journey, from evaluation to preparation for transplant to surgery and recovery. We'll partner with you to help your child thrive for years to come.

Our Team

Surgery

Lloyd E. Ratner, MD, MPH

Rodrigo Sandoval, MD

Josh Weiner, MD

Soo Youn Yi, MD

Pediatric Nephrology

Fangming Lin, MD

Rushelle Byfield, MD

Samriti Dogra, MD

Hilda Elena Fernandez, MD

Catherine R. Kavanagh, MD

Yi Shi, MD

Our Locations

NewYork-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital of New York

3959 Broadway (166th Street and Broadway)
New York, NY 10032
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Make an Appointment

If your child has been diagnosed with kidney disease and may benefit from a kidney transplant, you can partner with us for the best care possible. We accept a number of insurance plans and our team can help confirm your coverage. Please contact our Pediatric Kidney Transplant Program at (800) 543-2782 to schedule an appointment.