Two Physicians on the Medical Staff at Baylor Elected as Heads of National Organ Transplant Societies

Michael Ramsay, M.D., F.R.C.A., president of Baylor Research Institute (BRI) and chief of the department of anesthesiology and pain management at Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas and Göran Bo Gustaf Klintmalm, M.D., Ph.D., F.A.C.S., chief and chairman of the Baylor Regional Transplant Institute and director of transplantation services at Baylor Dallas and Baylor All Saints Medical Center at Fort Worth, have been elected as the leaders of two renowned organ transplant societies. 

Dr. Ramsay was recently named as President-elect of the International Liver Transplant Society (ILTS), a multidisciplinary organization comprised of more than 700 international members specializing in hepatology, surgery, anesthesia, critical care, radiology, and pathology. 

Dr. Klintmalm currently serves as the 34th president of the American Society of Transplant Surgeons (ASTS) where he guides the organization's involvement in transplantation research, education, training and advocacy. 

"For more than 24 years, Baylor has been a pioneer in the field of organ transplantation. Having two of our physicians lead such prestigious organizations is a reflection of Baylor's strong reputation in this field," says Joel Allison, president and CEO of Baylor Health Care System. "Under their leadership, Baylor has made significant contributions to the advancement of organ transplantation including research and developing new techniques, medications and protocols. It is an honor to have them represent our institution as they guide these organizations to help improve the quality of life for so many people." 

"Just as any successful transplant is a team effort, it takes a team of dedicated leaders like Drs. Goran Klintmalm and Michael Ramsay to foster and advance the practice and science of transplantation," says John Roberts, M.D., chief of Transplant Service at University of California, San Francisco. "It is impassioned leadership through the combined efforts of the membership of transplantation societies like the ASTS and the ILTS that affords us the opportunity on a global level to promote education, research and scientific inquiry that result in benefits to our patients and to society. The experience gained by leaders in positions like these can only serve to enhance the leadership in transplantation and research of the Baylor Health Care System regionally, nationally and internationally." 

Dr. Michael Ramsay
The goal of the ILTS is to raise the standard of care for patients requiring liver transplantation around the world and to promote education and research by disseminating and exchanging information related to liver transplantation within the international medical community, as well as to the public. 

"Liver transplantation is one of the most complex of all organ transplant surgeries. It requires a collaborative effort between researchers and physicians with special expertise in treating these highly involved cases," says Dr. Ramsay, whose term as president-elect will begin in July 2008 with his commencement as president beginning in July 2009. "The ILTS has done a tremendous job of integrating all these different specialties. More and more advances are being made in liver transplantation, especially in the field of immunological research where Baylor Research Institute is a world leader. This is an exciting time to lead this organization." 

In addition to leading the Baylor Research Institute and the department of anesthesiology and pain management at Baylor Dallas, Dr. Ramsay serves as medical director of anesthesia services at Baylor Jack and Jane Hamilton Heart and Vascular Hospital. He is a world-renowned leader in the field of anesthesiology and is the developer of the Ramsay Sedation Scale, a measurement system designed for interpreting the depth of sedation for patients in the critical care unit. A recognized and sought-after lecturer, Dr. Ramsay has given more than 200 invited presentations and lectures at conferences, seminars, and symposia worldwide and has published more than 150 original articles, textbook chapters, and abstracts in the field of anesthesiology. Currently, he serves as the principal investigator for 10 clinical research projects where he is investigating new techniques in organ transplantation and cardiac surgery. 

Dr. Göran Klintmalm
The American Society of Transplant Surgeons is the nation's oldest transplant organization with a membership of more than 1,200 transplant surgeons, physicians, scientists and allied health professionals from around the world. The society's mission is to lead the way in the 21st century by fostering and advancing the practice and science of transplantation for the benefit of patients and society; guiding those who make the policy decisions that influence the practice and science of transplantation; increasing organ donation; defining and promoting training and the career-long education of transplant surgeons, scientists and physicians; and, advancing the professional development and careers of transplant surgeons, scientists and physicians. 

"I am honored to help lead the American Society of Transplant Surgeons as we make advances in this rapidly growing field," says Dr. Klintmalm. "With the promises of immunotherapy, gene therapy and nanotechnology, transplantation is poised to make great strides in the next ten years." Dr. Klintmalm was installed as president on May 8, 2007 at the American College of Transplant Surgeon's seventh annual joint transplant meeting. 

Dr. Klintmalm has been a leader in the field of transplantation for the past 24 years. He has served on more than 25 national medical committees and has participated in more than 200 research projects. In addition, Dr. Klintmalm has been appointed to 13 editorial boards and has been published in more than 300 peer reviewed papers. Dr. Klintmalm has served as the director of Transplantation Services at Baylor Dallas since 1985. 

Baylor is one of only a few hospitals in the nation whose surgeons and physicians on the medical staff have performed more than 8,700 transplants, making Baylor one of the largest multi-specialty transplant centers in the country. According to the United Network of Organ Sharing, Baylor's transplant survival rates exceed the national standard. Baylor offers transplant programs for blood and marrow; heart and lung; kidney and pancreas; and liver. 

About Baylor Regional Transplant Institute
Baylor's transplant program was established in 1984. Today it is one of the nation's top transplant programs. Since its inception, physicians have performed more than 8,700 organ transplants, including liver, kidney, pancreas, heart and lung, as well as blood and marrow transplants. Physicians currently participate in more than 120 research protocols and, through Baylor's transplant research program, many of the researched drugs now are used as standard therapy. 

Baylor Regional Transplant Institute is the integration of transplant services at Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas and Baylor All Saints Medical Center at Fort Worth.

Contact: Ashley Howland, (214) 820-7540
Email: ashlehow@baylorhealth.edu 

About Baylor Scott & White Health
As the largest not-for-profit health system in the state of Texas, Baylor Scott & White promotes the health and well-being of every individual, family and community it serves. It is committed to making quality care more accessible, convenient and affordable through its integrated delivery network, which includes the Baylor Scott & White Health Plan, Baylor Scott & White Research Institute, the Baylor Scott & White Quality Alliance and its leading digital health platform – MyBSWHealth. Through 51 hospitals and more than 1,200 access points, including flagship academic medical centers in Dallas, Fort Worth and Temple, the system offers the full continuum of care, from primary to award-winning specialty care. Founded as a Christian ministry of healing more than a century ago, Baylor Scott & White today serves more than three million Texans. For more information, visit: BSWHealth.com