Northwestern Memorial Hospital surpassed Illinois’ 23-year-old record for the most heart transplants in one year.
At an event today, the hospital said that it has performed 54 heart transplants in 2018. The state’s previous record was set by Rush University Medical Center, with 45 in 1995.
The event was a celebration of both the hospital’s success and patients’ survival, as those who have received heart transplants and their families hugged the Northwestern doctors and staff who helped save their lives. It also paid homage to the people who have donated their organs.
“Today, we recognize first the incredible generosity that arises from tragedy and acknowledge organ donors and their families who make the gift of life through transplantation possible,” said Dr. Allen Anderson, medical director of the Center for Heart Failure at Northwestern’s Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women in the U.S., with about 610,000 deaths per year, according to the Centers for Disease Control Prevention.
Less than 3,000 heart transplants are performed in the U.S. each year, Anderson said.
“A heart transplant has an immense impact upon the lives of these individuals,” he said. “So many of our patients suddenly find themselves facing unfinished lives that can be more fully completed thanks to a lifesaving transplant. Heart transplantation works. Patients realize their dreams and ambitions: growing up, starting families, watching children grow to adulthood and marry, playing with grandchildren, developing careers and even on occasion running a Fortune 100 company. Our patients grow old, and we call this success.”
United Airlines CEO Oscar Munoz had a heart attack in October 2015 and received a heart transplant at Northwestern in January 2016. He spoke at the event about the “emotional impact” of heart transplantation. He said he travels around the world telling his story and trying to educate people about the importance of calling an ambulance if they feel like something is wrong.
“I don’t think I’ll ever, ever get tired of telling this story, and more importantly I’ll never get tired of thanking folks,” Munoz said.
U.S. News World Report has named Northwestern’s cardiology and cardiac surgery program No. 1 in Illinois for the past 11 years and has ranked it in the top 10 in the U.S. for the past four years, according to Northwestern Memorial Hospital President Julie Creamer.