The Ochsner Transplant Institute has performed its 10,000th organ transplant, becoming the first and only transplant center in Louisiana to reach this milestone. Ochsner ranks among the top 40 of 350 transplant centers in the country based on the number of organ transplants performed.
The surgery took place Aug. 9, 2026, at Ochsner Medical Center-New Orleans. A liver transplant was performed by John Seal, MD, in coordination with a team of physicians, nurses, and support specialists.
"Ochsner's 10,000th transplant represents far more than a number. It reflects the collective commitment of our teams, the trust of our patients and the extraordinary generosity of organ donors and their families,” said Ari Cohen, MD, director of the Ochsner Transplant Institute. "Every transplant is a second chance at life, and this milestone speaks to the lasting impact we've made and the responsibility we carry to continue advancing care for the patients who need us most."
Since John Ochsner, MD, performed the Gulf South's first heart transplant in 1970, Ochsner has helped thousands of patients return to their families, careers and communities through life-saving organ transplantation.
The need for this expertise has never been greater. More than 100,000 people in the United States are currently waiting for a life-saving organ transplant, with over 2,000 people in Louisiana alone on transplant waiting lists.
Established in 1984, the Ochsner Transplant Institute completed its 4,000th liver transplant and its 40th robotic-assisted kidney transplant.
The institute's innovations include:
Robotic-assisted kidney transplantation, a minimally invasive approach that improves precision, reduces recovery time and enhances outcomes.
Louisiana's only in-house organ perfusion system, which preserves and optimizes donor organs outside the body, expanding the number of viable organs available.
The state's only pediatric heart transplant program and living donor liver transplant program, extending life-saving care to patients who might otherwise face limited options.