About Our Team
Penn's Liver Transplant Program brings together
a team of physicians, nurse specialists and hospital
support staff who provide coordinated care throughout
the entire transplant process. Our goal is to
meet the unique physical and emotional needs
of each patient in a caring, professional environment.
A number of people are involved in each patient's
care during the liver transplant process:
- The transplant surgeon oversees
the transplant process including recovering
the donor organ, performing the transplant
procedure and monitoring the patient after
transplant.
- The hepatologist is a medical doctor
who specializes in diseases of the liver. The
hepatologist takes care of the patient throughout
the transplant process.
- The transplant coordinator is the
primary contact for the patient, both before
and after surgery. During the evaluation appointment,
the coordinator teaches the patient all about
the transplant process, including the evaluation,
the waiting period, surgery and follow-up care.
- The social worker provides counseling
for emotional support, problem solving techniques,
and relaxation therapy for anxiety. He or she
also coordinates a support group for pre-and
post-transplant patients.
- The financial coordinator assists
patients with questions and concerns related
to health insurance coverage and liver transplantation
costs.
Members of the Penn Liver Transplant Program
include:
- Abraham
Shaked, MD, PhD, Director, Penn
Transplant Center
- Kim
Olthoff, MD, Director, Liver
Transplant Program
- Mary Kaminski, PA-C,
Manager of Penn Transplant Liver Clinical Research
- Peter L. Abt, MD, Surgeon
Transplant Hepatologists
Rajender
Reddy, MD, Medical Director
Thomas
Faust, MD
George A. Makar, MD
Transplant Psychiatrist
Robert
Weinreib, MD
Transplant Pharmacist
Erin Wade, Pharm D
Nurse Coordinators
Betsy Knight, MSN, CRNP
Meredith A Grzybowski, RN, BSN
Charisse Henderson, RN
Diane Peyton, RN, BSN, Live Donor Coordinator
Nicole Platt, EMT
Patrice Pfeiffenberger, BSN, CCTC
Catalina Read, BSN, RN, CCTC
Jon Shane, RN, EMT
Julie Spaulding, MSN, CRNP
Dawn Drazek, RN, CCTC
Clinical Manager for Abdominal Organs
Kate Ventura, RN, BSN, CCRN
Social Worker
Laura Kotler-Klein, MSW
Rebecca Cowen, MSW
Financial Coordinator
Andrew Haas, BS
Transplant Network Coordinator
Outreach to Physicians and Patients
Denise M. DuPont
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