October 27, 2006

Madsen named director of MGH Transplant Center

The MGH Transplant Center embarks on an exciting era with the recent announcement that Joren Madsen, MD, DPhil, will lead the center in the newly created position of director. His appointment comes as the Transplant Center works toward a new vision: to create a multidisciplinary transplantation center that advances the integration of basic and translational research, education and patient care; to advance the center's reputation as a leader in innovation and academic and clinical excellence; and to cultivate a comprehensive approach to the clinical, scientific and social needs of patients with end-stage organ failure.

In his new role, Madsen will be responsible for guiding the center as it develops and integrates this vision. He will work closely with Jay Fishman, MD, chief of the MGH Transplant Infectious Disease Program, who has been appointed associate director of the center.

"The MGH has been a leader in the field of transplantation for a long time, and I am proud to be given the opportunity to build upon that tradition," says Madsen. "I look forward to the challenge of leading the center with Dr. Fishman as we expand and develop the clinical and scientific transplant programs at the MGH."

Madsen and Fishman were selected by the multidisciplinary Transplant Center Task Force, which was led by David Torchiana, MD, chairman and chief executive officer of the Massachusetts General Physicians Organization.

"The MGH Transplant Center has a long history of innovation and achievement in clinical, research and teaching activities," says Peter L. Slavin, MD, president of the MGH. "In this new role, Dr. Madsen will be responsible for coordinating, with organ-specific program and departmental leadership, the various aspects of our current Transplant Center to build upon our existing strong clinical, research and educational foundations. We are excited about the potential to make this already successful enterprise truly extraordinary and are confident that Drs. Madsen and Fishman's intimate knowledge of MGH transplantation, their clinical and research excellence in the field and their strong working relationships both within and outside of the MGH make them uniquely qualified to effectively lead this exciting transition."




From left, Fishman, Benedict Cosimi, MD, chief of the MGH Transplant Unit, Madsen and Andrew L. Warshaw, MD, MGH surgeon-in-chief