Transplant Manitoba is a provincial program located at HSC. It consists of five dynamic teams dedicated to caring for individuals before and after transplant, and includes the Gift of Life, the program responsible for coordinating and supporting organ donation in the province. It took a year of planning before it was determined kidney transplants could be done in the province. In October 1969, a kidney transplant was approved by the hospital and in November 1969, the Manitoba’s very first kidney transplant from a deceased donor was completed. Before that first milestone transplant, Manitoba patients would be sent to other facilities for care.

HSC is the only hospital in Manitoba where kidney transplantation is done. The transplant team includes vascular surgeons, urologist, nephrologists, psychiatrist, social workers and dietitians, who work together in caring for each patient.

For the last 50 years, the team has performed more than 1,700 kidney transplants, all at HSC, and walked with many donor families and living donors along the journey to organ donation. The program is supported by Manitoba Health and receives funding solely to provide healthcare services and promote organ and tissue donation.