Nation’s Third Hand Transplant Recipient And Physicians To Discuss Progress

For Immediate Release: 12/12/2006

LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY (December 12, 2007) – David Savage, the nation’s third successful hand transplant recipient, and his wife, Karen, will discuss the groundbreaking surgery on Thursday, December 14. 

David will be joined by Dr. Warren Breidenbach, the lead hand transplant surgeon and Dr. Kadiyala Ravindra, lead transplant surgeon, with responsibility for the patient’s immunosuppressant drug regimen.  In addition, David’s physical and occupational therapists and representatives from VNA/Nazareth Home Care will be present to answer questions about his on-going therapy program.  Savage received a hand transplant on November 29 at Jewish Hospital.
 
WHAT: Nation’s third hand transplant recipient and medical team to discuss progress
 
WHEN: Thursday, December 14, 2006
           10 a.m. (EST)
 
The news conference will be uplinked via satellite on a delayed basis at 1:00 p.m. EST, Thursday Dec. 14.  Coordinates:  C Band Satellite AMC 6 Transponder 21, 72 degrees west, downlink frequency 4120, audio 6.2-6.8.  For satellite technical issues, please contact Jeff Sexton at M&S Works, (502) 540-5301.
 
WHERE:            Jewish Hospital Rudd Heart & Lung   Center
                        Hank Wagner Conference Center, 16^th floor
                        200 Abraham Flexner Way
                        Louisville, Kentucky
 
SPEAKERS:        David and Karen Savage
                        Warren Breidenbach, MD
                        Kadiyala Ravindra, MD
                        Physical/Occupational Therapists
                        VNA/Nazareth Home Care
 
BACKGROUND:
A partnership of physicians and researchers at the Jewish Hospital Hand Care Center, the University of Louisville and Kleinert Kutz developed the composite tissue allotransplantation program.  The pioneering hand transplant procedure has greatly impacted the future of transplantation and reconstructive surgery. In October 2004, Sen. Jim Bunning (R-KY) announced a $2.5 million contract award from the Department of the Navy to Jewish Hospital, U of L and Kleinert Kutz for further research into the composite tissue allotransplantation program.
 
B-roll will be provided at the press conference.  The press conference will be available via video streaming at www.handtranplant.com.  Patient and physician information, photography and video are also available on our web site at www.handtransplant.com and www.jhsmh.org.  
 
 
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