The Valley’s only kidney transplant center ranks among the nation’s best

The Rio Grande Valley’s only kidney transplant center ranked among the nation’s top-performing programs, earning the No. 2 ranking in Texas and No. 16 nationally in the latest report from the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients.

The rankings, released last week, evaluate transplant programs nationwide using performance metrics published twice a year by the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients, which is maintained under contract with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

The DHR Health Transplant Institute was established in 2017 and is the only kidney transplant center serving adults in the Valley and surrounding communities, including Laredo and Corpus Christi.

The institute performed a record 101 kidney transplants in 2025, marking the highest annual total in its history and a milestone for transplant care in South Texas.

“These metrics reflect what matters most to our patients — receiving a kidney transplant sooner and achieving excellent outcomes afterward,” Dr. Sridhar Allam, medical director of the DHR Health Transplant Institute, said in a news release Tuesday.

Allam said the rankings reflect the institute’s commitment to expanding access to advanced kidney transplant care close to home, reducing the need for Valley residents to travel outside the region for treatment.

The institute provides kidney transplant services and specialized care for patients with kidney, liver, and pancreatic disorders through a multidisciplinary team that includes physicians, surgeons, physician assistants, nurse coordinators, pharmacists, and social workers.

“Being recognized as the No. 2 program in Texas and among the top programs in the nation is a reflection of our commitment to excellence and compassionate patient care,” Marissa Castañeda, DHR Health’s senior executive vice president, said in the release.

DHR Health said local access to kidney transplant services helps reduce the financial and logistical burdens many patients and their families previously faced when seeking specialized care outside the Rio Grande Valley.