Transplant experts to meet in Atlanta, site of recent rare hand transplant

Hand and vascularized composite transplant experts from around the world will gather in Atlanta April 7-9 for the 10th Meeting of the International Hand and Composite Tissue Allotransplantation Society. The scientific meeting will include professionals involved in all aspects of donor hand and vascularized composite transplants, from the laboratory to patient care.

“This congress will be a unique venue for scientific exchange and discussion as well as an exceptional opportunity to establish, maintain and develop relationships with leaders in this multidisciplinary field,” says Linda Cendales, MD, local program organizing committee chair of the conference and director of the Emory University-Veterans Affairs Vascularized Composite Allograft Program.

On March 12 this year, Dr. Cendales was a member of the surgical team from Emory University Hospital who successfully performed a rare complete hand transplant on a 21-year-old college student.  The 19-hour surgery involved two teams of surgeons, anesthesiologists, nurses, and operating room staff — one dedicated to the patient and the other to the donor arm. GRA Eminent Scholar Allan Kirk (Transplant Immunology, Emory University) was also a member of the surgical team.  Read more >  or See news conference >