Transplant Services - photo by Scott Holmes - renal transplant, kidney transplant, pancreas transplant, dialysis, transplant, houston, Texas, MHH-TMC, Hermann hospital, Memorial Hermann, Texas Medical Center
Department of Surgery

Team Members

Surgeons

Charles T. Van Buren, MDCharles T. Van Buren, MD

Professor of Surgery and Director of the Division of Immunology and Organ Transplantation at
The University of Texas Medical School at Houston, Medical Director: LifeGift; Transplantation - Memorial Hermann - TMC.

Stephen M. Katz, MDStephen M. Katz, MD

Associate Professor of Surgery, Division of Immunology and Organ Transplantation at
The University of Texas Medical School at Houston

Jacqueline Lappin, MDJacqueline Lappin, MD

Assistant Professor of Surgery and Director of Pancreas Transplantation, Division of Immunology & Organ Transplantation at The University of Texas Medical School at Houston.

Karoly Varga, MDKaroly Varga, MD

Assistant Professor of Surgery, Division of Immunology & Organ Transplantation at
The University of Texas Medical School at Houston.

Nephrologists

Kevin W. Finkel, M.D., FACP, FASNKevin W. Finkel, MD, FACP, FASN

Professor of Medicine, Division & Program Director, Division of Renal Diseases and Hypertension at The University of Texas Medical School at Houston.

Michael C. Braun, MDMichael C. Braun, MD

Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Molecular Biology at The University of Texas Medical School at Houston.

Bhamidipati V.R. Murthy, MBBS, MD, DMBhamidipati V.R. Murthy, MBBS, MD, DM

Associate Professor, Division of Renal Diseases and Hypertension at
The University of Texas Medical School at Houston.

Rita D. Swinford, MD Rita D. Swinford, MD

Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Director, End-Stage and Transplantation at
The University of Texas Medical School at Houston.

John R. Foringer, MDJohn R. Foringer, MD

Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of Renal Diseases and Hypertention at
The University of Texas Medical School at Houston.

Kanae Ishihara, MDKanae Ishihara, MD

Clinical Associate Professor, Division of Renal Diseases and Hypertension at
The University of Texas Medical School at Houston.

Amber S. Podoll, MDAmber S. Podoll, MD

Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Renal Diseases and Hypertention at
The University of Texas Medical School at Houston.

Scott Wenderfer MD, PhD

Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Center for Immunology and Autoimmune Diseases - Brown Foundation Institute for Molecular Medicine.

Transplant Care Coordinators / Allied Healthcare

Stephanie Anderson, RN, MSNStephanie Anderson, RN, MSN

Care Coordinator, Memorial Hermann-TMC

Erin Darbonne, RN, BSN, CNN

Care Coordinator, Memorial Hermann-TMC

Jennifer L. Jeter, RN, ADN, CCTCJennifer L. Jeter, RN, ADN, CCTC

Care Coordinator, Memorial Hermann-TMC

Mary E. Jones, RNMary E. Jones, RN

Care Coordinator, Memorial Hermann-TMC

Sean Leonhardt, RN, BSN

Care Coordinator, Memorial Hermann-TMC

Barbara J. Alvarado, RN

Care Coordinator, Memorial Hermann-TMC

Susan Feliciano, RNSusan Feliciano, RN

Care Coordinator, Memorial Hermann-TMC

Janelle Curry, RD, LD

Clinical Nutritionist, Memorial Hermann-TMC

Lisa Taylor, RN, BSN, CCTC

Care Coordinator, Memorial Hermann-TMC

Dialysis Staff

Cindie Gammon, SW, MSW

Social Worker, Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital

Kim Tran, RN, CNN

Pediatric Nurse Manager, Memorial Hermann Hospital

Irene Javier RN, BSN, CNN

Pediatric Dialysis Nurse, Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital

Diane Hirshkowitz RN, CNN

Pediatric Dialysis Nurse, Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital

Leisha Jackson-Sanders RN, BSN

Pediatric Dialysis Nurse, Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital

Sheila Thomas Grant RN, BSN, CNN

Pediatric Dialysis Nurse, Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital

Loida Ybanez RN

Pediatric Dialysis Nurse, Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital

Cindy Mogannam RD

Renal Dietician, Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital

Leigh Ann Breen

Child Life Specialist, Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital

Clora Sweet DCA

Patient Care Assistant, Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital

Professional Services

Forms

Video

Our Clinical Partners

Memorial Hermann - TMC

Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital

One of the reasons our transplant program has been so successful is because of the close working relationship that
exists between the transplant surgeons
and the renal division. It is truly interdisciplinary and collegiate, so that patients are provided exemplary
care from both a surgical and medical perspective".
- Kevin W. Finkel, MD