
A birthday gift like no other
On Doug Cimins' 56th birthday, he received the greatest gift: the chance to live a better life.
Thousands of San Diegans need a kidney transplant. Living donors can end their wait.
Sometimes giving also means receiving. As a living kidney donor, you could receive more years with a spouse, more laughter with a friend and more family reunions.
Live kidney donation is when a living person donates one of their kidneys to another person in need. As a living donor, you can give hope to someone with chronic kidney failure, offering freedom from dialysis and the ability to lead a more active, healthier life.
For more than 30 years, Sharp’s Kidney and Pancreas Transplant Program has changed the lives of thousands of San Diegans and their loved ones. We have performed more than 2,300 kidney transplants, with one of the highest success rates in the country.
Our goal is to provide as many opportunities as possible for a donor match. In addition to direct donation, we also participate in kidney-donor chains that match donor and recipients across the country.
A successful transplant requires many experts, and we are here to guide you every step of the way. Our program includes a team of specialists who provide the highest quality care to both donors and recipients. Transplant surgeons, kidney doctors (nephrologists), certified transplant nurse coordinators and transplant pharmacists work together with social workers, registered dietitians and financial coordinators to deliver the extraordinary level of care we call The Sharp Experience.
If you're interested in donating your kidney through Sharp, learn how to become a donor and submit our living donor intake form.
Submit our kidney transplant candidate self-referral for evaluation form to get in touch with a transplant referral coordinator for more information about kidney transplantation at Sharp.
– Amanda Kotanen, Sharp Memorial Hospital living kidney donor