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Heart Transplant Program

We completed our first heart transplant at Mass General Brigham more than 40 years ago. Today, we continue that spirit of excellence by offering comprehensive treatment and management for people with heart failure, cardiomyopathy, and other severe heart conditions.
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833-642-2863

Call the Heart Transplant Program at 833-642-2863.

8336422863
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A lifeline for heart failure

If standard therapies for heart failure no longer work, a transplant may be your best path forward. Within the Mass General Brigham Heart and Vascular Institute, we bring together cardiologists, heart surgeons, imaging specialists, nurses, and transplant coordinators who work as one team to guide your care.

We offer options for people with complex needs, including mechanical circulatory support and coordinated care for multiple organ transplants. Our program has a long history of innovation in transplant care, with results that compare favorably to national standards for safety and long-term success.

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Part of the Heart and Vascular Institute
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Our approach to heart transplants

Our approach centers on your needs. We coordinate every detail, from your first evaluation and therapies while you wait, through transplant and recovery.
Comprehensive heart transplant evaluation
We begin by determining whether a heart transplant is the right option for you. Our team carefully reviews your medical history, current health, and response to prior treatments. This evaluation helps ensure that transplant offers the greatest possible benefit and long-term success.
How we find a donor heart

If you’re eligible, we begin the search for a donor heart. We add you to the regional and national lists of the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS).

We partner with New England Donor Services to find a compatible match based on your blood type, size, and age. Organ allocation follows strict national guidelines, and our team manages this process for you around the clock.

Treatments while you wait for a heart transplant

Your care team includes cardiologists, social workers, and mental health specialists who support you while you wait.

To support your heart function during this time, we may recommend medications or advanced therapies such as a ventricular assist device (VAD), including a left ventricular assist device (LVAD). In some cases, a VAD may be used as a long-term treatment option if a transplant is not possible.

Ongoing care after a transplant
Our team provides lifelong care after a heart transplant. You’ll start with weekly visits for monitoring and tests. We’ll adjust your medications as needed and guide you on diet, exercise, and other steps to support your recovery. We’re always available around the clock to answer your questions and help you navigate life with your new heart.
Advancing heart failure treatment through research

We are actively involved in research to improve outcomes for people with advanced heart failure and those undergoing heart transplant. Current areas of focus include:

  • Reducing transplant rejection
  • Expanding donor availability
  • Improving organ preservation
  • Developing new therapies for complex conditions, such as coexisting heart and lung disease

When appropriate, your care team can help you explore clinical trial options.

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Our approach

Jimmy’s patient story

A second chance through heart and liver transplant

When Jimmy’s heart failure affected his liver, he needed complex, coordinated care to survive. His Heart Institute care team brought together heart and liver transplant experts to guide him through a rare dual transplant.
Hospital patient and partner smiling together at bedside, holding flowers and a card.
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Read Jimmy’s story
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Our specialists provide advanced care for end-stage heart failure and the conditions that can cause it. You receive therapies that support you and your quality of life at all stages of the transplant journey.
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Conditions and treatments

Our heart and vascular specialists

Your care is supported by a team of specialists who work together to understand your cardiovascular condition and create a personalized treatment plan. This team may include cardiologists, cardiac and vascular surgeons, interventional specialists, radiologists, and experienced nurses.
An illustration of a care team.
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Find a heart transplant specialist
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Specialists

Heart and vascular care near you

Our care locations across Mass General Brigham make it easier to access heart and vascular care close to home, with the option to connect to specialized services when needed.
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View heart transplant locations
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Locations
Mass General Brigham offers a range of related programs that support people who may need heart transplant care. These programs provide specialized evaluation and treatment for heart conditions that often contribute to advanced heart failure or require coordinated care before and after transplant.

  • Heart and Vascular Institute

    Learn about the Mass General Brigham Heart and Vascular Institute’s work to advance cardiovascular care, research, education, and community impact.

  • Transplant Surgery

    Mass General Brigham provides comprehensive transplant services for adult and pediatric patients. Learn more about New England’s largest transplant program.

  • Heart and Vascular Institute

    Learn about the Mass General Brigham Heart and Vascular Institute’s work to advance cardiovascular care, research, education, and community impact.

  • Heart Failure Program

    Find expert heart failure care near you. Mass General Brigham offers advanced therapies, transplant, and lifelong support across Boston and New England.

  • Cardiac Amyloidosis Program

    Find the answers you need at the Mass General Brigham Cardiac Amyloidosis Program. We offer innovative diagnostics, treatments, and clinical trials.

  • Infectious Disease Transplant Program

    Learn about personalized infectious disease management and care for immunocompromised patients who are preparing to undergo transplant surgery.

  • Adult Congenital Heart Disease Program

    Get care for heart valve problems, heart failure, and other congenital heart diseases at the Mass General Brigham Adult Congenital Heart Disease Program.

  • Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Program

    Explore treatment and genetic testing options for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Mass General Brigham offers expert care, diagnosis, and screening.

  • Cardiac Rehabilitation

    Safely after a heart attack, surgery, or cardiac event with expert cardiac rehabilitation. Get personalized care to rebuild strength and return to daily life with confidence.

  • Lung Transplant Program

    Learn about the Lung Transplant Program and our cutting-edge, advanced therapies used to treat patients with end-stage lung disease through transplantation.

  • Kidney Transplant Program

    Our Kidney Transplant Program provides individualized, ongoing care for patients with end-stage renal disease (kidney failure).

  • Liver Transplant Program

    The Mass General Brigham Liver Transplant Program comprises liver experts from both Mass General and Brigham and Women’s Hospital, offering greater access to a larger team of clinicians at multiple health care facilities across New England.

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Services and programs

Heart and vascular clinical trials and research

Our research is shaping the future of heart and vascular care. We offer access to clinical trials and emerging therapies, including treatments that may not yet be widely available. Eligibility depends on a person’s diagnosis, treatment history, and more. Explore our research and clinical trials or talk with your care team to learn about available options.
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Explore our heart and vascular research
https://research.massgeneralbrigham.org/en/institutes-centers/heart-and-vascular-institute
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Search clinical trials

Search open clinical trials for heart and vascular conditions

https://clinicaltrials.gov/
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Explore articles featuring expert insights on heart and vascular care, patient experiences, and tips for managing a cardiovascular diagnosis.

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Contact the Heart Transplant Program

Call us to speak with a team member who can help you understand your options and guide you to the care that is right for you. With locations throughout New England and support for patients traveling from outside the United States, we make it easier to access coordinated, expert care.
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phone
833-642-2863

Call the Heart Transplant Program at 833-642-2863.

8336422863
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International Patient Services

Contact information for international patients

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Contact