BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Surgeons at the University of Alabama at Birmingham have completed the state’s first living-donor liver transplant, marking a major step forward in expanding lifesaving options for patients facing long wait times on transplant lists.
The procedure, performed in early March 2026, was led by Saulat S. Sheikh, M.D., assistant professor and surgical director of UAB’s Living-Donor Liver Transplant Program in the Division of Transplantation. The milestone comes after years of preparation by multidisciplinary transplant teams working to expand care for patients with liver disease.
“We are thrilled to have completed our first living-donor liver transplant at UAB — an achievement years in the making,” Sheikh said. “This milestone reflects our team’s unwavering commitment to offering the full spectrum of transplant options to the patients we serve in Alabama and neighboring states.”…