International Partnership Programs

“Thank God and thank the University of Nebraska Medical Center. As far as I’m concerned, I am cured. The reason I came here is because of the well-deserved international acclaim that the University of Nebraska Medical Center has for its bone marrow transplantation program. For 25 years I’ve been treating patients with cancer of the urinary tract. I’ve always talked to and treated these patients, hopefully, with a great deal of respect and compassion. When I entered the other side of health care, that is being a patient myself, I learned about the importance of sensitivity, not only to the patient, but also to the patient’s primary caregiver. That was certainly reinforced at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.”
- Richard, MD, adult bone marrow transplant patient

“At 38, I had a relapse of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. I researched several BMT centers and chose Nebraska. From the time we started the process, I encountered such a professional and knowledgeable staff. They kept us fully informed of what was happening and what to expect as the days went by. They were so caring during a time that was so challenging for me. I believe I had the best care that could have been given and I am so thankful. I am enjoying life to its fullest, watching my four young children grow and cherishing my husband, family and friends. The transplant program means the world to me.”
- Cheryl, adult bone marrow transplant patient

“Throughout the process, they not only focused on Kyle’s medical needs, but took great effort in caring for us as a family. We were far away from home and in a situation that was so unfamiliar and frightening. When we returned for Kyle’s one-year checkup, it truly felt like a family reunion and like a second home to us. A place in our hearts will always be reserved for those who loved and cared for Kyle and us.”
- Parents of Kyle, pediatric transplant patient

“Three years later and my lungs are doing great! I couldn’t have done it without all those hardworking, caring doctors, nurses and physical therapists. They were also very good at keeping my family informed of what was going on and what they were doing. The doctors and nurses are the best.”
- Andrea, young adult bilateral-lung transplant patient

“During a very difficult time for our family, we found comfort in knowing that Connor was receiving the best medical care possible. We had total confidence in Connor’s doctors and the entire transplant team. We highly recommend Nebraska Health System to anyone in need of a transplant. We are grateful for all they have done for Connor’s aunt, his living relative organ donor, and for giving our son the chance for a healthy life.”
- Parents of Connor, a three-year-old transplant patient

“When I found out I needed a new liver, I wanted my surgery to be done at the best place, NHS University Hospital in Nebraska. When I got ‘the call,’ we rushed to the hospital. I was treated with such dignity… from the doctors and nurses to the housekeeping staff, I had never seen such remarkable people. They had the most unbelievable attitudes. After six days in the hospital, I was on my way home. My life had been extended, hopefully for a long time, thanks to the wonderful doctors and nurses at Nebraska Health System.”
- Chuck, adult liver transplant patient

“The transplant process has been both exciting and complex for me and filled with many thoughts and emotions – hopefulness, nervousness, uncertainty and determination. From the time I was placed on the waiting list until I received the transplant, I received support through all the stages. The availability and willingness of the transplant team to answer questions, provide straightforward information and include me in the decision-making process, made this a positive experience. The nurses and entire hospital staff were caring and respectful toward my family and me, too. I trust they’ll be there for me in the future.”
- Jeri, adult kidney/pancreas transplant patient

“At age 27 , Lisa had just graduated from college, fallen in love, nearly finished her doctoral program and fought Hodgkin’s Disease. She left her home in New York City to come to NHS University Hospital in Omaha. After three months of further chemotherapy, she had a stem cell transplant followed by two months of radiation therapy. “Overall, the treatments were not as horrific as I’d envisioned. The most frustrating part was being tired all the time.” Four months later, Lisa prepared to move back to New York. Doctors are extremely optimistic Lisa is cured. “I have a whole, full life ahead of me. I can finish graduate school and get married.”
- Lisa, stem cell transplant patient

University of Nebraska Medical Center/Nebraska Health System scored 100 percent of the available points in medical technology in U.S. News & World Report magazine’s survey of “America’s Best Hospitals.”

• A revolutionary technology allows our radiation oncologists to plan and control the precise dose of radiation treatment to the target, based on the tumor size, shape and location, while sparing surrounding healthy tissues. The intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) treatment planning system is being used by UNMC/NHS to treat a variety of malignancies including brain tumors, head and neck malignancies, prostate cancer, lung cancer, pancreatic cancer, Hodgkin’s disease and lymphomas. The IMRT system, called Corvus®, is the first planning system that uses the speed and power of the computer to precisely pinpoint target areas and evaluate hundreds of possible treatment options. The system’s ability to vary the intensity of the radiation beam facilitates protection of sensitive structures, while effectively treating the target.

• The treatment of prostate cancer with three-dimensional conformal prostate treatment uses multiple beam therapy to provide higher doses of radiation to the prostate, while limiting the dose to normal structures, such as the bladder and rectum. The increased prostate radiation doses made possible with this technique have already demonstrated a 20- to 25-percent improvement in survival over standard techniques, with reduced risk for side effects. We utilize an ultrasound targeting system called BAT for patients receiving treatment for prostate cancer. This method insures pinpoint accuracy when treating the prostate gland. Ultrasound guided prostate brachytherapy (radioactive seed placement) is an effective treatment option available for patients with early stage prostate cancer.

• Another weapon we are using in cancer treatment is intraoperative radiation (IORT) therapy. This program was recently strengthened with the addition of our intraoperative radiation therapy suite. The integration of IORT in orthopedic oncology resulted in a limb preservation rate in excess of 90 percent for treatment of extremity sarcomas. This procedure is also used for treatment of advanced or recurrent gynecologic malignancies.

As one of the three busiest transplantation programs in the world, UNMC/NHS has established an outstanding reputation for expertise in treating a variety of diseases.

• Our oncology and transplant teams include nationally and internationally recognized physicians and specialists, many of whom have won national and international awards in cancer care research. Every year, thousands of well-informed U.S. and international patients select us for lymphoma treatment, and bone marrow, stem cell and solid organ transplantation.

• The UNMC Eppley Cancer Center is a founding member of the prestigious National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN), an alliance of 17 of the world’s leading cancer centers located in the United States. NCCN member institutions provide superior cancer care and continually seek to improve cancer care. We are also one of only 59 National Cancer Institute-designated centers.

•The UNMC/NHS liver transplant program has patient and graft survival rates that far exceed the national average in adult, pediatric and living-related donor, and reduced-size transplants.

• Now among the world’s busiest and most successful, we were the first to create a combined liver/small bowel transplant program.

• We are one of the few transplant centers in the nation offering pancreas and kidney/pancreas transplantation and one of the five most active.

• Inpatient. Outpatient. Children. Adults. Our comprehensive cancer programs excel in supporting a wide range of patient and family medical and personal needs. World Renowned Physicians

New Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma Classification
Dr. James Armitage, with the collaboration of UNMC staff and international colleagues, recently evaluated the reproducibility and clinical relevance of a new lymphoma classification.

Previously, non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas were grouped by cell size, shape and pattern of growth. The International Lymphoma Study Group (ILSG), however, thought lymphomas could be further classified based on advances that had been made in immunology and genetics and, therefore, proposed a new classification. It was not only based on cell characteristics but also on genetic defects, as well as other factors. Dr. Armitage and Dr. Dennis Weisenburger decided to test the new classification, called the Revised European American Classification of Lymphoid Neoplasms (REAL), in the clinical setting in order to study its effectiveness. The team found that using the new classification led to more accurate diagnoses of individual specific diseases. The study showed that using the REAL definitions made it possible to accurately identify most of the major types of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. By proving that the new classification worked, the team provided the data to make a consensus on the new classification possible.

The World Health Organization (WHO), which publishes classification handbooks for pathologists, has adopted a modification of the REAL classification for diagnosing lymphomas, in part because of the reproducibility and clinical relevance demonstrated by the study spearheaded by the UNMC lymphoma research team. The new classification will be published in the fall of 2000. The last WHO handbook on lymphomas was published in 1976. Classification of lymphomas has been controversial in the past and it was difficult to establish an internationally recognized classification. Once the handbook is published, it is believed that the WHO classification will represent the first worldwide consensus on the classification of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

Custom Cancer Vaccine
Almost 57,000 new cases of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma were diagnosed in 1999, making it the fifth most common cancer in the United States. The incidence of this disease has increased by nearly 80 percent since the early 1970s. Working on a new means of battling this menacing disease Dr. Julie Vose, vice chairperson of research for internal medicine at UNMC/NHS, embarked on a new lymphoma clinical trial in June 1999. According to Dr. Vose, a significant difficulty in treating non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma is getting patients to stay in remission from the disease. The new trial targets the problem of maintaining a patient’s remission. “Most clinical trials address how to put lymphoma patients into remission,” said Dr. Vose. “We’re looking into how to keep them there. We’re attacking lymphoma from a whole different angle.” Specifically, the new clinical trial utilizes pharmacogenomics, matching drugs to each patient’s individual genetic makeup, in order to maintain a remission. The result is a custom cancer vaccine based on a patient’s unique genetic makeup and derived from his or her own tumor cells. Ironically, the bad cells that make up the patient’s cancer will then serve to fight off a recurrence of the cancer. In theory, a series of immunizations will then build the body’s ability to identify and fight a recurring lymphoma. It is hoped that this immune response will not only prolong a patient’s remission, but that it may also cure the cancer completely. The current vaccine trial has expanded to include both slow-growing and aggressive lymphomas. Dr. Vose plans to begin developing the vaccines at UNMC/NHS in about a year.

Rheumatoid Arthritis
The benefits of research are that discoveries or knowledge gained in one area often can apply to others. Knowledge from the treatment of cancer is now being taken a step further at UNMC/NHS. Our physicians are applying their expertise to determine if stem cell transplants can be used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis. A pilot study is underway involving patients with severe rheumatoid arthritis who have not responded to commonly used treatments and are at increased risk of disability and disability-related mortality. In this study, intensive immunoablation is followed by autologous blood stem cell transplantation. The preliminary results have been very promising. Two patients in the pilot program have experienced a remarkable 95-percent improvement in swollen and tender joints, and their arthritis appears to be in remission. Further clinical tests are underway.

Multiple Sclerosis
Similar studies are being conducted with patients who have primary progressive, relapsing/remitting or secondary progressive forms of multiple sclerosis. The purpose of the study is to investigate whether treatment with total body irradiation, and higher doses of immunosuppressive agents followed by re-infusion of blood stem cells, will delay the progression of the disease, or has the potential to stop the disease process. Preliminary results have been very encouraging.

* University of Nebraska Medical Center’s research led to the first peripheral stem cell transplant program in the United States in 1983 and set the standard for transplant treatment used throughout the world. UNMC/Nebraska Health System has performed more than 7,500 bone marrow, peripheral stem cell and solid organ transplants since the beginning of the transplant program.

* UNMC/NHS has been the driving force to establish a new method of classifying lymphoma, based on advances made in immunology and genetics. This will lead to targeted and better treatment programs for lymphoma.

* Through our innovative efforts in liver/small bowel transplantation and the use of stem cell transplants for treating rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis, our patients continue to benefit from the latest clinical trials and investigational drugs tested at our facilities.

* A recent addition to our campus, The Lied Transplant Center, is the first transplantation center in the world to bring together into one facility solid organ and blood stem cell (bone marrow) transplantation programs, cancer and transplantation research, patient care and education, and an innovative delivery system called Cooperative Care.

Omaha, home to the University of Nebraska Medical Center and Nebraska Health System, is fortunately far removed from the dizzying pace of large metropolitan cities and their bustling and harried populace. About one million residents within a 50-mile radius of Omaha have succeeded in maintaining a low-stress, friendly, small-town atmosphere, despite the city’s steady growth. One of the first things that strikes visitors to the city is the abundance of smiles and cheerful “hellos” from total strangers. Omahans make visitors feel quickly at home with their warm and welcoming ways, something that anxious, homesick patients and their families particularly appreciate.

Omaha is known for superb health care, agriculture, telecommunications and high-tech businesses, excellent restaurants, a world-famous zoo, the arts, affordable living, quality of life and friendliness. It is located in the very center or “heartland” of the U.S. along the Missouri River. Its international airport is modern and convenient.

The Lied Transplant Center, which opened in early 1999, is a world model for solid organ, bone marrow and stem cell transplants, and cancer care. The center employs a unique approach to patient care called Cooperative Care. This new health care model pairs the patient and a care partner (usually a family member or friend) with physicians, nurses, nutritionists, pharmacists, therapists and others to provide comprehensive care, education and support. All care partners play an active and important role during and after a patient’s treatment and recovery period. Care partners assist in administering medications, monitoring health changes, attending informational classes, providing emotional support and more. The Cooperative Care environment allows both patients and care partners to learn the skills and gain the confidence they will need before they return home. Cooperative Care helps contribute to more accurate diagnoses, more effective treatments, successful outcomes and faster recoveries, which together can result in greater patient satisfaction and lower health care costs. The Lied Cancer Treatment Center is open and professionally staffed 24 hours a day.

Care partners and patients stay in comfortable and attractive suites in a home-like setting. Each suite includes a private bedroom, separate sitting room, bathroom, kitchenette, two TV/VCRs, and high-speed Internet connections. The Center also includes the convenience of a resource center, an exercise room, playrooms for children, and a private dining room for our guests.

Our office of International Healthcare Services (OIHS) opens doors for international institutions and individual physicians to create strategic international partnership programs with University of Nebraska Medical Center/Nebraska Health System. With a unique combination of pioneering medical innovation, advanced treatment options, technical know-how, research and exchange programs, problem solving skills and resourceful solutions, we provide the best strategic partnership programs in the medical sector. Our International Professional Strategic Partnership Programs offer distinctive benefits to our global partners, including no cost training programs:

The Gift of Life
We assure our international partners that their patients will receive the very best in medical care. Our collaboration can offer these patients the possibility of an extended life or a cure, under the care and treatment of medical teams headed by internationally respected physicians and specialists.

Consulting Partnership
Early detection of cancer is a major step toward a successful outcome. It’s a sad fact that often when an international patient arrives for treatment in the U.S., the disease has reached an advanced stage and limited treatment options may be available. Through our partnership program, we will work closely with our international partners to determine the most appropriate treatment plan, and to prevent potentially dangerous time delays. As early as a patient’s first visit, you can contact UNMC/NHS immediately via video-conferencing, telephone or fax to discuss your diagnosis. The individual or institution’s physician-partner will retain complete independence over a patient’s treatment programs, but can greatly benefit from the experience of our renowned physicians and the latest treatment options available. Our specialists will be available for consultation with your patient on an ongoing basis throughout the course of treatment, and we can arrange for patient visits to our facilities in Omaha for further tests, evaluation and treatment, when necessary. Our alliance will help provide your patients with the very best medical care from the onset of their diagnosis.

Personalized Care for Your Patients
With your call as a referring physician, OIHS will assign a patient-care coordinator to organize all aspects of your patient’s visit to our facility.

Electronic Referral and Consultation
As our strategic partner, you’ll be able to consult with the finest specialists at UNMC/NHS. We offer extensive referral, consultation and video-conferencing programs utilizing state-of-the-art technology for transferring patient history and patient test data.

The Best Technology
We have been selected as one of “America’s Best Hospitals” for cancer and rheumatology by U.S. News & World Report magazine. UNMC/NHS received a 100-percent grade for our advanced medical technology. International physicians and their patients are beneficiaries of our innovative medical and technological programs, rated among the very best in the U.S.

Tele-Health Programs
OIHS forms strategic alliances with international institutions by providing tele-health programs which transmit medical information and images among locations via computer. Our program makes possible the exchange of real-time interactive diagnosis and electronic consultations for a wide variety of medical specialties. This technology allows specialists at UNMC/NHS to study patient reports and histories, pathology slides, X-rays and other radiological images from our international partners. Our institutional and individual partners have an excellent opportunity to enjoy the medical, research, educational and economic benefits derived from developing tele-health programs with us. UNMC/NHS is one of only a few U.S. medical institutions providing such extensive, high-tech services to physicians and medical institutions around the world.

Tele-Education Opportunities
In collaboration with University of Nebraska College of Medicine, UNMC/NHS has developed creative tele-education programs which can be customized for our international partners. Our programs will provide the latest, most advanced medical, research, educational and economic information available.

Venues for Clinical Studies
When new procedures and equipment are developed by UNMC/NHS research teams, qualified strategic partners can participate with us in conducting clinical trials.

Educational Exchange Programs
We provide rewarding and educational physician-exchange and student-exchange programs for our international partners.

• On-line Exchange Programs: Our extensive programs make use of state-of-the-art computerized technology to provide our international partners access to advanced health care education and medical technology.

• Exchange Programs in the U.S.A.: We offer your medical staff, administrators and others opportunities to learn the many aspects of medical and administrative operations by spending as little as two weeks to a maximum of six months as observers at the various medical specialties within our institution. They can also take advantage of our extensive medical library and research materials, and have access to our vast on-line research capabilities.

• Remote Training Programs: We provide specialized training programs at our partners’ facilities. Such missions can be useful in training large numbers of your medical staff. We can customize a wide variety of programs since UNMC is a fully accredited, highly respected academic medical center with colleges of Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Dentistry; and Office of Graduate Studies and School of Allied Health.

Research Programs
Our international programs present dynamic opportunities for global cooperative efforts in research. Joint research activities can be arranged at our transplant and other research facilities. Limited research programs can take place at our renowned UNMC Eppley Cancer Center, a founding member of the prestigious National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN). Our team of researchers can also participate in research projects organized by our partners at their facilities.

No-cost Training Programs
We have developed special, no-cost training programs for qualified international partners. Please contact Nizar Mamdani, Executive Director, OIHS, for details on all our programs.

Service Beyond Expectations
The office of International Healthcare Services (OIHS) customizes all healthcare programs to meet the unique needs of each of our international patients. All arrangements for visits are handled through our office with courtesy and professionalism, helping patients and their families in accessing the superb care that is the signature of UNMC/NHS.

Review of Medical Records and Consultations
Patients’ medical records can be faxed, mailed or electronically transmitted to OIHS, along with applicable films and test results. Our physicians carefully review medical histories to determine the best course of treatment and whether it will benefit a patient to travel to Omaha to receive this treatment. When necessary, OIHS will arrange preliminary telephone consultations or video-conferencing between patients, their personal physicians and our specialists. We then provide the fastest possible response regarding each patient’s selection to receive treatment at our facilities and, if selected, the length of time a patient needs to spend in Omaha.

Doctor Appointments
We efficiently coordinate all scheduling of a patient’s medical treatments, follow-up health care visits and confirmation of the patient’s appointment schedule.

Patient Coordinator
With one phone call from a referring physician or patient, a patient care coordinator is assigned to organize all aspects of a patient’s visit, including appointments, scheduling, medical care, financial clearance, translation, transportation and lodging. A patient care coordinator personally assists each patient throughout his or her stay in Omaha. Upon request, the patient coordinator will also help with cultural and religious preferences. We are respectful to each patient’s cultural background and to concerns about living far from home.

Updating Referring Physicians
OIHS keeps referring physicians informed about their patients’ care on a periodic basis throughout the treatment period. When a patient returns home, we regularly confer with the referring physician on the patient’s progress as well as on any necessary follow-up care.

Language Interpretation
We provide interpreters to facilitate communication with our physicians, nursing staff and other hospital personnel. Interpreters in a wide variety of languages, plus signing, are available on request.

International Air Ambulance
When requested, OIHS will oversee arrangements for international jet ambulance services to bring patients to our hospital. Local helicopter ambulance service is also available.

Cost Estimates, Financing and Billing
After our physicians have reviewed a patient’s medical history, we provide advance estimates for all charges. OIHS financial counselors will handle deposits and assist patients with other financial matters before, during and after their visit, including the completion of financial and other forms to facilitate settlement of a patient’s medical expenses. We also provide notary services.

Business and Resource Center
OIHS, in cooperation with The Lied Transplant Center, offers international patients and their families the complimentary use of an on-site resource center. This facility has a small library and is equipped with a fax machine, copier and computers with e-mail, Internet and World Wide Web connections. Guest services staff will be on hand to help locate web sites or chat rooms of medical interest to patients.

The Lied Transplant Center Accommodations
Upon special request and subject to availability, we will arrange for a patient’s accommodations at The Lied Transplant Center’s inpatient suites located within the hospital facility. All suites consist of two rooms and include not only many of the comforts of home, but numerous amenities and are Internet-ready to serve the medical, business and personal needs of patients. A guest services coordinator and chef are on staff at the center.

Accommodations
OIHS helps patients and their families find long- or short-term accommodations that best suit their individual preferences and budgets. We will arrange for discounted rates at local hotels or apartments when reservations are made through our office. Our coordinator will assist in procuring requested VIP accommodations.

Local Transportation
An OIHS representative will greet patients and their families at the Omaha airport and accompany them in a limousine to their living quarters. We will provide limousine transportation to the airport after a patient’s recovery period and help arrange other transportation needs in Omaha.

Travel
OIHS assists patients and their family members with travel arrangements to our facilities, including air transportation to Omaha. In addition, at the patient’s request, we can help with necessary paper work to obtain travel visa.

Special Diets
We are sensitive to patients’ and their families’ special dietary needs and restrictions and will, in coordination with the medical staff, provide suggestions for healthful and satisfying meals.

Concierge Services
On request, our staff will make arrangements or reservations for restaurant, entertainment, sightseeing, shopping and golf excursions.

Executive Physicals and Other Medical Services
We offer several comprehensive physical check-up options for international executives. One- or two-day physicals are tailored to meet the time constraints of busy executives and their families. Any special tests or appointments with our physicians can also be scheduled at the same time as an executive physical.

Publications
OIHS keeps patients and their physicians informed of the latest medical advances at our facilities and of any additions to our services.

Health Information Website
International physicians, healthcare providers, patients and their families can learn about the latest health news and information by visiting the OIHS Website at www.InternationalMed.org, OncoCare.net and BestCancerCare.com. The OIHS Website will include a health library, prescription drug encyclopedia, important medical links and health care articles.

Personalized Patient Package
Our comprehensive, personalized international patient package includes:
a. Details of our treatment program
b. Description of our admission policy
c. A copy of our policies in a patient’s native language d.Explanation of our requirement for deposit and payment of medical expenses
e. A blank form for the patient’s medical history, which will be used for a pre-treatment evaluation by our physicians
f. Estimate of the duration of treatment for specific types of procedures
g. A guide for patients on procedures for scheduling medical services, whether for physician appointments, diagnostic testing or inpatient care
h. A list of non-medical related services such as assistance with travel arrangements, air and ground ambulance, transportation to and from the airport, hotel arrangements and other personal services
i. Information on the availability of translators or signers and other associated services
j. Background information on our medical center, its comprehensive services and other pertinent medical information k. Information on the city of Omaha

Lymphoma Program
University of Nebraska Medical Center/Nebraska Health System is one of the most advanced centers in the U.S. for lymphoma treatment. We are world-renowned for diagnosis, therapy and research in lymphoma. Our lymphoma team consists of such internationally acclaimed specialists as James Armitage, MD; Philip Bierman, MD; R. Gregory Bociek, MD; and Julie M. Vose, MD, who are supported by highly trained coordinators. We are also treating rare forms of lymphoma that are confined to the skin. The two most common forms are cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (mycosis fungoides) and peripheral T-cell lymphoma. Patients are treated with rotational total skin electron beam therapy. This therapy has been effective in patients for whom other treatments have failed.

Oncology and Hematology
Our oncology and hematology programs provide expert treatment for all malignancies that occur in adults and children. Treatment may include chemotherapy and immunotherapy, including vaccines and radioimmunoconjugates. Hematology treats patients with blood diseases such as anemia, bleeding disorders and clotting problems. This department is home to the Regional Hemophilia Treatment Center, which cares for adult and pediatric patients with bleeding disorders. It is a member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN), an alliance of the nation’s 17 leading cancer centers. NCCN centers develop and set standards of care for the cancer treatment and perform outcome research to ensure the delivery of high quality, cost-effective services to cancer patients worldwide. Our nurses and support personnel are specialized in cancer care. The treatment area is open to patients 24 hours every day.

Transplantation Programs
Elizabeth Reed, MD, heads UNMC/NHS bone marrow transplant programs. Our multidisciplinary transplantation team for adult and pediatric patients includes physicians, case managers, registered nurses, social workers, physical and occupational therapists, pharmacists, nutritionists, child-life specialists and more. Over the past 15 years, we have conducted more than 7,500 bone marrow, stem cell and solid organ transplants. High-dose therapy with bone marrow or peripheral stem cell transplantation is also available. We are proud of our peripheral stem cell transplantation program directed by Anne Kessinger, MD, who pioneered the technique. The team is known throughout the world for its transplantation expertise for a variety of diseases and has treated patients from every U.S. state and 23 countries. UNMC/NHS transplant center has fast become the destination of choice for well-informed international patients seeking bone marrow, stem cell and solid organ transplants, and cancer treatment.

Autologous Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation
Over the years, the UNMC/NHS bone marrow transplantation program has been consistently ranked as one of the busiest adult and pediatric bone marrow transplant centers in the world. Established in 1983, it has been recognized internationally for pioneering autologous transplantation for lymphoma, using peripheral stem cells as an alternative rescue product, performing outpatient transplants and conducting groundbreaking studies on various growth factors. Broad services include high-dose therapy and autologous rescue for lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease, leukemia, neuroblastoma and such solid tumors as breast, testicular, ovarian and other cancers. More than 1,800 autologous bone marrow transplants have been performed here since 1989.

Allogenic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation
We have offered related allogenic transplants to children and adults since 1983 and added unrelated allogenic bone marrow transplantation in 1988. We are constantly refining transplantation techniques to include work in peripheral blood stem cell transplants, better techniques for T-depletion of bone marrow, immunologic therapy after transplantation and immune reconstitution after peripheral stem cell transplantation. Our multidisciplinary team includes adult and pediatric physicians, case managers, registered nurses, social workers, physical and occupational therapists, nutritionists, child-life specialists and more. We have now performed more than 500 related and unrelated allogenic hematopoietic stem cell transplants at our center.

Liver Transplantation
The UNMC/NHS liver transplant program has garnered international recognition and a worldwide referral base since its beginning in 1985. Ongoing advances in research have consistently focused on improving immunosuppression, hepatocyte transplantation, immortalizing liver cells and improving treatment for hepatitis. These efforts include active research in hepatocyte transplantation, immortalized liver cells, extracorporeal hepatic support and hepatitis treatment and prevention. Auxiliary treatments are available as a bridge to transplantation. Our liver transplant program currently has patient and graft survival rates that far exceed the national average in adult, pediatric and living related-donor transplants as well as reduced-size transplants.

Liver/Small Bowel Transplantation
UNMC/NHS is one of the few transplant centers in the world offering small bowel and liver/ small bowel transplantation. In 1990, we performed the first of its kind combined liver/small bowel transplant. This highly specialized procedure for children and adults is performed by the same multidisciplinary team that achieved success in the liver transplant arena. Consistently favorable outcomes and survival rates have made this program one of the busiest and most successful in the world.

Intestinal Transplantation
Based on their success with the combined liver/small bowel procedure, our transplantation specialists began performing intestinal transplants in 1993. Today, we are one of few facilities with expertise in this unique technique. Innovation, solid outcomes and high patient survival rates have distinguished this program as a world leader in intestinal transplantation.

Kidney Transplantation
The UNMC/NHS kidney transplant program began in 1970, and has consistently maintained a high volume of adult, pediatric and living related-kidney transplants with patient survival rates that exceed the national average. The kidney transplant program’s success is largely due to our dedicated, internationally renowned multidisciplinary team of medical professionals. Specialists provide comprehensive treatment programs for both adult and pediatric patients in endocrinology, nephrology, psychology and transplantation. Patients have three transplant options: living related, living non-related and non-living donors. Ongoing research in pre- and post-transplant issues includes multiple clinical trials and areas of basic research.

Kidney/Pancreas Transplantation
Since 1989, UNMC/NHS has performed hundreds of combined kidney/pancreas transplants, achieving high success rates. We are one of the few transplant centers in the nation offering pancreas and kidney/pancreas transplantation. Continuing clinical and basic research includes activity with insulin pumps, islet cell transplantation and immunosuppressive drug trials.

Pancreas Transplantation
UNMC/NHS became the fifth center in the world to perform 200 pancreas-only transplants and has historically been one of the busiest transplant centers in the United States. Our multidisciplinary team of specialists provides expertise in diabetes, endocrinology, nephrology, psychology, psychiatry and surgery.

Prostate Cancer
Our radiation technology offers the latest options and a high probability of success for prostate cancer patients over the traditional prostatectomy. Our protocol includes:

a) Three-Dimensional Conformal Prostate Treatment. This technique involves using multiple beam therapy to provide higher doses of irradiation to the prostate, while limiting the dose to normal structures, such as the bladder and rectum. The increased prostate radiation doses possible with this technique have already demonstrated a 20- to 25-percent improvement in disease-free survival over standard techniques, with less risk of side effects. The 3-D conformal prostate program is further strengthened by the use of prostate ultrasound targeting (BAT) and intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT).

b) Prostate Brachytherapy. This technique has been active in the treatment of prostate cancer with ultrasound guided radioactive seed implants. For many men with early stage prostate cancer, this treatment can be performed on an outpatient basis with excellent results and is very effective treatment for men concerned about potency preservation.

Cardiac Transplantation
The UNMC/NHS cardiac transplant program, started in 1994, treats critically ill children and adults who require urgent care and transplantation. The program’s multidisciplinary approach combines the expertise of transplant surgeons, pulmonologists, immunologists, infectious disease physicians, pediatric cardiologists, social workers and psychologists, as well as cardiac nurse coordinators.