Seattle Children’s Kidney Transplant Program

Compassionate Care, Transformational Outcomes

For children with kidney failure, Seattle Children’s provides state-of-the-art care before, during and after kidney transplant. We have the only pediatric-focused kidney transplant program in the Pacific Northwest and are consistently one of the top programs by volume in the United States.

Why Choose Seattle Children’s Kidney Transplant Program

Seattle Children’s kidney transplant patient outcomes are among the best in the nation.

100% One-year patient survival rate for kidney transplants, higher than the national average

100% One-year graft survival rate for kidney transplants, higher than the national average

600+ Transplants since the program began in 1984

54% of patients received a living donor transplant

Our Kidney Transplant Services

Seattle Children's is 1 of the top 5 kidney transplant centers by volume in the United States, with excellent clinical outcomes. U.S. News & World Report consistently ranks our nephrology program among the nation’s top 10, which means your child will be cared for by the very best.

Our program has been named a Center of Excellence by Optum’s Clinical Sciences Institute and a Program of Excellence by Cigna LifeSOURCE.

: A doctor talks with a teenage patient and their caregiver in an exam room.

Kidney Transplant Therapies and Clinical Trials

Transplanting organs in children is a relatively new field that is always changing. At Seattle Children’s, your child will have access to the most current, state-of-the-art kidney transplant therapies and clinical trials.

Our transplant doctors are constantly improving surgery techniques and immunosuppression strategies to provide patients and families with the latest treatments and the best care in pediatric nephrology.

Learn more about our kidney transplant research and clinical trials.

A doctor uses a stethoscope to listen to a child’s belly while a caregiver holds the child on their lap.

Pediatric Dialysis and Apheresis

We also have inpatient and outpatient pediatric dialysis services available. Dialysis is a way to remove waste (such as nitrogen and creatinine) and excess fluid from the blood when the kidneys are not able to function on their own, either before the transplant or until the new kidney is fully working.

Seattle Children’s offers the only pediatric apheresis service in Washington. By non-surgically “cleaning” your child’s blood, apheresis can help improve the long-term success of your child’s kidney transplant.

Two children and an adolescent sit together on a bench smiling at the camera

Kidney Organ Donation, Including Living Donors

Because Seattle Children’s provides specialty care across the 6-state region of Washington, Oregon, Alaska, Montana, Idaho and Hawaii, we are uniquely positioned to search for viable organs in a wider geographic area than that of many other children’s hospitals.

The body needs only 1 kidney to filter blood, so a healthy person can donate 1 of their 2 kidneys and lead a normal life. More than half of our patients receive a living donor transplant.

Learn more about kidney organ donation.

A doctor greets a child with a fist bump in an exam room.

We Never Forget Our Patients Are Still Kids

Our goal is for your child to live their best life possible. That’s why we provide holistic care, coordinated by your child’s transplant nurse, and including a dietician, pharmacist, social worker and Child Life specialist, among others.

Learn what to expect if your child needs a kidney transplant.

Learn More About Kidney Diseases

Some kidney diseases can be treated. But when a child reaches or will soon reach kidney failure (also called end-stage renal disease, or ESRD), kidney transplant is the treatment of choice.

Learn How the Kidneys Work

The kidneys do essential jobs for your child’s body, like filtering waste and balancing the chemicals in your child’s blood. They also play a role in regulating your child’s blood pressure and keeping their bones healthy.

Meet Your Kidney Transplant Team

Our kidney transplant doctors are constantly improving surgery techniques and immunosuppression strategies to provide patients and families with the most current treatments and the best care in pediatric nephrology.

Meet your team.

Sarah Elizabeth Aker, PA-C

Andre A S Dick, MD, MPH

Patrick J Healey, MD

Yong Kyong Kwon, MD

Christine E Lundberg, ARNP

Daryl M Okamura, MD

Kelsey Paige Pearson, PA-C

Roberto Gordillo Perez, MD

Jodi M Smith, MD, MPH

Ryutaro Hirose, MD

Yuk Ming Law, MD

Michael McMullan, MD

Pamela Valentino, MD

Danielle Ruppert Wendel, MD

Let’s Get You Where You Need to Be

What to Expect

Read about the kidney transplant process and what to expect if your child needs a kidney transplant.

Contact Seattle Children’s Transplant Center at 206-987-1800. To become a patient at Seattle Children’s Hospital, your child needs a referral from a primary doctor or specialist. We welcome patients from around the world. For information about requesting treatment, see our Services for International Patients.

International Care

We welcome patients from around the world. For information about requesting treatment, see our Services for International Patients.

Getting Care at Seattle Children’s Kidney Transplant Program

Patient Success Stories

Stella’s Story

While she was on peritoneal dialysis (PD), Stella Allison couldn’t get her PD catheter wet. Now that she’s had a kidney transplant and is off dialysis, she can’t wait to start swim lessons.

“She’s a different kid after transplant … much more interactive, alert and articulate. There’s just a different brightness about her.”

~ Dr. Sangeeta Hingorani, who noticed improvement with each clinic visit after Stella received a new kidney

Read Stella's story.

Young girl with long brown hair and a pink fleece jacket stares off to the right while the sun shines on her face

Raegan's Story

Today, 8-year-old Raegen is thriving thanks to her mother’s kidney donation.

“I wish more people knew about the need for organ donation. It’s not something you want to think about happening to your child, but it’s so important. I gave my daughter life again.”

~ Francisca Allard, whose very first surgery was done to donate a kidney to her daughter