Cardiac Transplantation Milestones at Sharp Memorial Hospital

Jim Garlow, one of many success stories in Sharp's patient weight loss program 
The multidisciplinary heart transplant team. 

The Cardiac and Vascular Institute at Sharp Memorial Hospital has provided lifesaving heart transplantation and mechanical circulatory support to San Diegans for more than 25 years. Due to the many medical advancements and accomplishments of San Diego’s premier cardiac transplant center, our physicians and clinical staff have been able to help our patients live longer, healthier lives.

Our Milestones

1985 – Sharp Memorial Hospital performs the first heart transplant in San Diego.

1986 – Sharp Memorial Hospital places the first mechanical assist device (artificial heart pump) in San Diego.

1987 – Sharp Memorial Hospital performs San Diego’s first use of the left ventricular assist device (LVAD).

1994 – First use of the vented-electric left ventricular assist system (LVAS), which enables mobility for cardiac patients awaiting transplant surgery.

2002 – Sharp Memorial Hospital performs the first heart-kidney transplant in San Diego. Sharp Memorial Hospital was also the first hospital in California recognized by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid as a Destination Center for mechanical assist device.

2006 – Sharp Memorial Hospital was the first hospital in California to implant the HeartMate® II Left Ventricular Assist System (LVAS) to permanently support late-stage heart failure, otherwise known as Destination Therapy.

2008 – Sharp Memorial Hospital announces that the HeartMate II LVAS has received FDA approval as a bridge-to-transplant (BTT) treatment option for patients suffering from advanced-stage heart failure. Sharp Memorial Hospital also helped complete the first phase of certification training for the CardioWest™ temporary Total Artificial Heart, which would allow stable CardioWest patients to discharge and recover at home while waiting for a donor heart transplant — instead of being confined to the hospital.

What Our Patients Say
In the past three decades, the cardiac transplant program at Sharp Memorial Hospital has performed more than 300 heart transplants and provided more than 400 patients with mechanical circulatory support. Read our patients’ incredible heart transplant and cardiac care stories.

For More Information
To learn more about heart and vascular services at Sharp, visit Heart and Vascular Care. To find a Sharp-affiliated doctor, search for a San Diego cardiologist or call 1-800-82-SHARP (1-800-827-4277), Monday through Friday, 8 am to 6 pm.

Last Updated: April 26, 2013