Transplant Talks

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🎙️Today’s guest, Dr. Baimas-George, describes her transplant surgery fellowship as the hardest challenge of her career — one that brought her face to face with the full spectrum of organ donation, including the extraordinary commitment of living donors who undergo surgery they don’t medically need. She calls it “controlled mutilation” — a deliberate act of harm to the body, transformed into the gift of life for someone else.

Beyond the operating room, she is equally passionate about correcting myths and misconceptions around organ donation — like sensational claims that registered donors won’t receive full medical care. In reality, donation often brings patients and families profound comfort.

Her story also has a creative twist. During residency, Dr. Baimas-George began writing and illustrating children’s books to help young patients understand their procedures. When publishers weren’t interested, she proved the impact herself with a randomized controlled trial showing that her illustrated books reduced anxiety for kids and caregivers. Since then, she’s authored more than 40 books for children and adults, expanding her mission to tackle one of medicine’s biggest blind spots: health literacy. In the U.S., too many pamphlets and handouts are written at levels patients can’t easily understand — and in transplant, low health literacy leads to worse outcomes.

In this episode, Dr. Baimas-George reflects on the demands of transplant surgery and how creativity can make healthcare clearer and more humane for patients and families. 🎨🖌️⚕️

For more information on organ transplantation: https://www.americantransplantfoundation.org

Follow us on social media:

https://www.instagram.com/american_transplant_foundation/  https://www.facebook.com/AmericanTransplantFoundation/  https://www.tiktok.com/@americantransplant  https://x.com/amertransplant 

💚If you are interested in sponsoring an episode, reach out to [email protected]💚

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🎙️In this powerful episode of #TransplantTalks we hear from Kelsey, who was diagnosed with medullary cystic kidney disease at just 17 years old after routine lab work before college revealed she was already in kidney failure. Forced to delay college and begin hemodialysis, Kelsey's journey began with a selfless act from her father, Steve, who became her first kidney donor. When her body rejected his kidney—a devastating blow—Steve channeled his heartbreak into determination, launching a mission to find another perfect match. Kelsey’s path wasn’t easy. Her immune system rejected two more kidneys from living donors before a stranger, moved by a billboard sharing her need, donated the kidney that has now sustained her for nine years. Throughout it all, Kelsey’s resilience shone through. “I just had to keep pushing forward,” she says—a mindset that continues to guide her in her current role as a social worker in a dialysis center, supporting others through the same challenges she once faced. This episode is a testament to perseverance, family love, and the power of strangers to change lives.  

💚If you are interested in sponsoring an episode, reach out to [email protected].💚

In this powerful and deeply personal episode, we sit down with Dr. Jeff Druck, an emergency medicine physician and Vice Chair for Faculty Advancement, Transformation, and Wellbeing at The University of Utah. Dr. Druck shares his experience with depression, including the months it took him to recognize that something was wrong, and the painful reality of having suicidal thoughts. He sheds light on the stigma that continues to silence many healthcare professionals and explains how his drive to continue practicing medicine ultimately kept him going.

Dr. Rachel Davis, psychiatrist at University of Colorado Anschutz and living liver donor, also opens up about her own experiences with OCD and depression, discussing the cultural and professional barriers that made it difficult to seek help. Together, they explore the complex intersection of burnout and mental illness, and the very real fears clinicians face about potential repercussions on licensure when they disclose a diagnosis.

Adding another dimension to the conversation, Anastasia Henry, Executive Director of the American Transplant Foundation and co-host of the Transplant Talks podcast, shares her insights into burnout among nonprofit professionals. She highlights the emotional toll of mission-driven work and the silence that often surrounds mental health challenges in the nonprofit sector. Anastasia emphasizes the importance of proactive stress management strategies.

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This episode also touches on a disheartening reality: after reaching out to over 100 transplant professionals, not one felt safe enough to publicly share their own struggles with depression or other mental illness. Why is it still so hard to talk about this?

We dive into what needs to change—how to truly destigmatize mental illness in medicine and nonprofit work, and what institutions can do to support medical students, nonprofit professionals, and practicing clinicians alike.

💚If you are interested in sponsoring and episode, reach out to [email protected]

https://drlornabreen.org/

https://drlornabreen.org/removebarriers

https://988lifeline.org  

https://www.fsphp.org/physician-suicide-prevention-resources

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The day after her 50th birthday - also the day after she was convinced she was going to die - Kerre received the gift of life: a liver transplant. Her diagnosis was elusive, with her doctors suspecting Wilson’s disease, a rare condition that usually presents in childhood. Despite the uncertainty and the gravity of her illness, Kerre’s mindset never wavered. Kerre has been accused of having “toxic positivity,” but her optimism has served her well in life - as a senior executive and mother, and recently, through her diagnosis of end-stage liver disease and transplant journey. Now, she uses her experience to support and inspire others, and she’s become a passionate advocate for organ donation.

💚If you're interested in sponsoring the Transplant Talks podcast, please reach out to [email protected]💚

In this episode, Dr. Sixto Giusti joins us for an important conversation about the critical yet controversial topic of transplantation in the context of migration, with a particular focus on undocumented immigrants in the United States. Sixto Giusti, MD, FASN is Associate Professor of Medicine in the Division of Renal Diseases and Hypertension and Director of the Hispanic Transplant Clinic.

The number of forcibly displaced people has been rising for the past two decades, reaching 117.3 million by the end of 2023. People flee their home countries due to war, violence, persecution, human rights violations, and public unrest, and mass migration presents significant challenges to healthcare systems worldwide. Among these challenges, the impact of end-stage organ disease in migrant populations is profound, raising complex medical, ethical, and policy questions.

Dr. Giusti challenges several common myths surrounding transplantation in non-citizen U.S. residents, including:

Drawing from global experiences in managing transplantation for refugees, Dr. Giusti explores how different countries approach organ allocation and provides insights into how Colorado is addressing healthcare access for non-U.S. citizens with end-stage organ disease.

Join us as we navigate the intersection of ethics, policy, and medicine, examining what is fair, what is financially responsible, and what the future holds for transplantation in migrant populations.

💚If you're interested in sponsoring the Transplant Talks podcast, please reach out to [email protected]💚

🎙️leave a review: https://tinyurl.com/5bp9ytx

👍Don't forget to like and subscribe!

In this episode of @TransplantTalks-Podcast Dr. Sixto Giusti of @CUAnschutz and @UniversityofColoradoHealth joins us for an important conversation about the critical yet controversial topic of transplantation in the context of migration, with a particular focus on undocumented immigrants in the United States. Sixto Giusti, MD, FASN is Associate Professor of Medicine in the Division of Renal Diseases and Hypertension and Director of the Hispanic Transplant Clinic. @CUAnschutzDOM

The number of forcibly displaced people has been rising for the past two decades, reaching 117.3 million by the end of 2023. People flee their home countries due to war, violence, persecution, human rights violations, and public unrest, and mass migration presents significant challenges to healthcare systems worldwide. Among these challenges, the impact of end-stage organ disease in migrant populations is profound, raising complex medical, ethical, and policy questions.

Dr. Giusti challenges several common myths surrounding transplantation in non-citizen U.S. residents, including:

🔹 "They don’t contribute to the system, so why should they get access to organs?"

🔹 "Allowing non-citizens into the transplant system will reduce access for U.S. citizens."

🔹 "Non-citizens will have poor transplant outcomes due to inadequate post-transplant care."

🔹 "Migrants are crossing the border just to seek transplants or treatment."

Drawing from global experiences in managing transplantation for refugees, Dr. Giusti explores how different countries approach organ allocation and provides insights into how Colorado is addressing healthcare access for non-U.S. citizens with end-stage organ disease.

Join us as we navigate the intersection of ethics, policy, and medicine, examining what is fair, what is financially responsible, and what the future holds for transplantation in migrant populations.

@americantransplant

💚If you're interested in sponsoring the Transplant Talks podcast, please reach out to [email protected]💚

Also listen on @Spotify or @Apple podcasts:

https://open.spotify.com/show/6yPv16c6bl9Al4oYs6Iqih?si=0db7c872ef9c42a2

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/transplant-talks/id1775090608

For more information on organ transplantation: https://www.americantransplantfoundation.org www.livingliverdonation.com

Follow us on social media:

https://www.instagram.com/american_transplant_foundation/ https://www.facebook.com/AmericanTransplantFoundation/ https://www.tiktok.com/@americantransplant https://x.com/amertransplant

In this episode of Transplant Talks,  @CUAnschutz  liver expert, Dr. James Burton talks with us about all things liver related. Have you ever wondered how alcohol leads to liver damage? Or if binge drinking is as bad as daily drinking? What about liver cleanses - are they any good? Is acetaminophen safe when you already have liver disease? How about ibuprofen? And much more! #hepatology #liverhealth  @americantransplant 

Alcohol-related health tools:

https://auditscreen.org/check-your-drinking/ 

https://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/php/online-tools/index.html

For more information on organ transplantation: https://www.americantransplantfoundation.org https://www.livingliverdonation.com

Follow us on social media:

https://www.instagram.com/american_transplant_foundation/  https://www.facebook.com/AmericanTransplantFoundation/

https://www.tiktok.com/@americantransplant

https://x.com/amertransplant 

In this episode of Transplant Talks, @CUAnschutz liver expert, Dr. James Burton talks with us about all things liver related. Have you ever wondered how alcohol leads to liver damage? Or if binge drinking is as bad as daily drinking? What about liver cleanses - are they any good? Is acetaminophen safe when you already have liver disease? How about ibuprofen? And much more!

#hepatology #liverhealth @americantransplant

Alcohol-related health tools:

https://auditscreen.org/check-your-drinking/

https://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/php/online-tools/index.html

Also listen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts: https://open.spotify.com/show/6yPv16c6bl9Al4oYs6Iqih?si=0db7c872ef9c42a2

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/transplant-talks/id1775090608

For more information on organ transplantation: https://www.americantransplantfoundation.org

https://www.livingliverdonation.com

Follow us on social media:

https://www.instagram.com/american_transplant_foundation/ https://www.facebook.com/AmericanTransplantFoundation/ https://www.tiktok.com/@americantransplant https://x.com/amertransplant

Emma is 31 years old and a native of Florida. She had worked as a bar manager for most of her adult life. She describes, “I always was too enthusiastic of a drinker and drank more than my friends,” but things got worse during COVID. It was difficult to be home for months, and she found herself just doing shot after shot all day. After COVID, she quit drinking on and off but kept falling back into binge drinking. She would drink around the clock, get very sick, and then stop for a bit. She started having symptoms of liver disease but didn’t really know much about this and convinced herself they were “normal,” even when she started turning yellow, couldn’t stop vomiting, and became so confused she couldn’t do her job. She finally went to the emergency room when she was having trouble breathing.  Her oxygen saturation was 54%, which is dangerously low, and she had a bloodstream infection, basically on the brink of death. She was told her only chance of survival was a liver transplant, and she didn’t leave the hospital until this happened. Her team at Tampa General Hospital took a chance on her because it’s still not common to do transplants in people who don’t have an extended period of sobriety – Emma had less than two months.

Emma didn’t have a lot of (or any) time to learn new coping strategies. She found the help of her therapist, support groups, and a recovery app invaluable. “I never thought about drinking again. It was kind of like a switch flipped.” She immediately started doing advocacy work while she was recovering and is now a mentor with the American Transplant Foundation, an advocate for the American Liver Foundation, and an Ambassador for UNOS. She is determined to fight the stigma and raise awareness so people don’t have to suffer alone or feel such immense shame, like she did. She has been writing back and forth with her donor’s family, and they are planning to meet. She feels immense gratitude for her young donor but also guilt. She manages all the uncertainty of having a transplant by noticing what she can do instead of can’t do.

“My life is so full now…now I don’t do anything that doesn’t make my life feel full.”

Emma is 31 years old and a native of Florida. She had worked as a bar manager for most of her adult life. She describes, “I always was too enthusiastic of a drinker and drank more than my friends,” but things got worse during COVID. It was difficult to be home for months, and she found herself just doing shot after shot all day. After COVID, she quit drinking on and off but kept falling back into binge drinking. She would drink around the clock, get very sick, and then stop for a bit. She started having symptoms of liver disease but didn’t really know much about this and convinced herself they were “normal,” even when she started turning yellow, couldn’t stop vomiting, and became so confused she couldn’t do her job. She finally went to the emergency room when she was having trouble breathing. Her oxygen saturation was 54%, which is dangerously low, and she had a bloodstream infection, basically on the brink of death. She was told her only chance of survival was a liver transplant, and she didn’t leave the hospital until this happened. Her team at @tampageneralhospital took a chance on her because it’s still not common to do transplants in people who don’t have an extended period of sobriety – Emma had less than two months.

Emma didn’t have a lot of (or any) time to learn new coping strategies. She found the help of her therapist, support groups, and a recovery app invaluable. “I never thought about drinking again. It was kind of like a switch flipped.” She immediately started doing advocacy work while she was recovering and is now a mentor with the American Transplant Foundation, an advocate for the American Liver Foundation, and an Ambassador for UNOS. She is determined to fight the stigma and raise awareness so people don’t have to suffer alone or feel such immense shame, like she did. She has been writing back and forth with her donor’s family, and they are planning to meet. She feels immense gratitude for her young donor but also guilt. She manages all the uncertainty of having a transplant by noticing what she can do instead of can’t do.

“My life is so full now…now I don’t do anything that doesn’t make my life feel full.”

@americantransplant

Check out this list of recovery resources that she compiled: https://linktr.ee/elillibridge?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAab5o2lL1-cdFYPQRMJy3Ns9mqsAwlOcsY8lJiFlPvzsTFlRLeEhRxz8mY_aem_KmL_bcgC7DHIzg1YvsnELg

Also listen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts: https://open.spotify.com/show/6yPv16c6bl9Al4oYs6Iqih?si=0db7c872ef9c42a2

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/transplant-talks/id1775090608

For more information on organ transplantation: https://www.americantransplantfoundation.org www.livingliverdonation.com

Follow us on social media:

https://www.instagram.com/american_transplant_foundation/ https://www.facebook.com/AmericanTransplantFoundation/ https://www.tiktok.com/@americantransplant https://x.com/amertransplant