The Christ Hospital Kidney Transplant: Wait Times & Patient Data

Limited Deceased-Donor Kidney Availability: Most Ohio kidney transplant programs have favorable deceased-donor supply relative to waiting-list demand; the Christ Hospital is the notable exception. The Christ Hospital has historically performed relatively few deceased-donor kidney transplants compared with the size of its waiting list. In the fall of 2026, the waiting list had grown to approximately 175 patients, while deceased donor transplants still hovered at 30 annually, resulting in long waits for deceased donor transplants at the center.

Strong Living-Donor Program: While The Christ Hospital has relatively limited access to deceased-donor kidneys, it has maintained a strong living-donor kidney transplant program. In many recent years, the hospital has performed approximately as many living-donor transplants as deceased-donor transplants, and in some years living-donor transplants have actually exceeded deceased-donor volume. The program also has a history of participating in kidney paired donation. In 2008, the Christ Hospital and nearby University Hospital collaborated on a paired kidney exchange in which living-donor kidneys were transported between the two hospitals, located only about 1.5 miles apart. Today, The Christ Hospital continues to offer kidney exchange through participation in the National Kidney Registry. For patients who have a potential living donor—including a donor who is not directly compatible—this is an important strength of the program.