UCSF Health’s highly skilled team of liver transplant specialists has extensive experience in treating medically complex, high-acuity patients while consistently achieving exceptional survival rates, according to the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients (SRTR). With 193 transplants performed in 2025, the UCSF team has given more than 5,000 patients with advanced liver disease the chance for a longer, more active life since the program was founded in 1988.
Accessible text for image above: 2025 Liver Transplant Program Achievements
Why refer to UCSF
Through leading-edge research and innovation, the UCSF team continually accelerates significant advances in liver transplant medicine. These achievements, along with collaborative partnerships with referring providers, lead to improved patient outcomes. Liver transplant patients referred to UCSF benefit from:
- Expert, personalized care, from initial evaluation through surgery and beyond
- Extensive expertise in treating high-acuity patients
- The UCSF Asian Liver Health Center, which improves liver care and transplantation access and provides culturally appropriate liver health education and advocacy
- Expanded eligibility for patients with alcohol-related liver disease
- Increased living donor access through liver transplant “swaps” and a nondirected donor program
- Enhanced machine perfusion laboratory operations, allowing for earlier transplant
- The first center in the West to offer National Kidney Registry-backed protection for living donors (kidney and liver), including lost wages, travel, lodging and legal support, through the UCSF Donor Shield program
- The Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Liver Disease Programthat addresses underlying causes of fatty liver disease through integrated treatment approaches, including the use of resmetirom
- A hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tumor board, offering virtual case discussions and expert guidance on treatment sequencing
- Advocacy and support for living organ donors
- Access to groundbreaking clinical trials
Experienced liver transplant team
UCSF’s dedicated, multidisciplinary liver transplant team includes surgeons, hepatologists, nurses, advanced practice providers, pharmacists, dietitians and social workers. Liver transplant pathologists and interventional radiologists help accurately diagnose and manage liver disease and liver cancer progression before transplant. Transplant infectious disease experts help manage unusual infections pre- and post-transplant. The team collaboratively assesses each patient’s needs and provides personalized treatment and support throughout the care journey.
When to refer
Candidates for liver transplantation include patients with:
- Acute liver failure due to:
- Acetaminophen overdose
- Idiosyncratic drug reaction
- Toxin ingestion
- Viral infections
- Chronic liver failure due to:
- Alcohol-related liver disease
- Autoimmune conditions
- Budd-Chiari syndrome
- Genetic disorders
- Hepatocellular carcinoma
- Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis
- Viral hepatitis
How to refer a patient
Follow the instructions on this page.
To learn more
Phone: (415) 353-1888
Fax:
Pre-transplant: (415) 353-2102
Post-transplant: (415) 353-8917
