ABOUT THE PARTNERSHIP

Partnering with Jewish Hospital and the University of Louisville School of Medicine, Kleinert, Kutz has accomplished a number of pioneering achievements and world firsts in hand and microsurgery, research, therapy and orthotics.  With more than 31 years of experience with replantation of the upper extremity, ranging from a single fingertip to whole arms, have taught hand surgeons how to transplant a hand, leading the way for the experienced team.  The team performed the nation’s first hand transplant in a 15-hour surgical procedure on Jan. 24-25, 1999 and the nation’s second in Feb.16-17, 2001.

Jewish Hospital – a service of Jewish Hospital & St. Mary’s HealthCare -- is an internationally renowned high-tech tertiary referral center, developing leading-edge advancements in hand and microsurgery, heart and lung care, home care, rehab medicine (including sports medicine), orthopaedics, neuroscience, occupational health, organ transplantation, outpatient care, plastic and aesthetic surgery and primary care.  Site of the world’s first and the nation's second successful hand transplant, the world’s first and second AbioCor® Implantable Replacement Hearts, the hospital has also achieved Magnet nursing designation and is federally designated to perform all five solid organ transplants -- heart, lung, liver, kidney and pancreas.

Jewish Hospital is one of an elite group of hospitals in the world offering hand patients a unique facility specially designed and equipped to treat hand injuries and diseases, including elective and urgent extremity care. The Jewish Hospital Hand Care Center is equipped with a hand emergency room and a suite of dedicated operating rooms staffed by health care professionals trained in caring for hand, arm and shoulder problems. The center and the team of hand surgeons from Kleinert, Kutz continue to showcase their experience and expertise in world-class hand care. The two organizations have had nearly a 50-plus year relationship and have performed a number of firsts in hand and microsurgery including the world's first successful hand transplant, first reported repair of a digital artery, first double forearm replantation, and first double upper arm replantation. 

The University of Louisville School of Medicine and Jewish Hospital have been partners and pioneers in the field of organ transplantation for over 32 years. The Transplant Center at Jewish Hospital holds Federal Designation to perform kidney, heart, lung, and liver transplants.

The Jewish Hospital & St. Mary’s Foundation was established to generate philanthropic support to underwrite programs and services of Jewish Hospital and its affiliates.  The Foundation’s four main objectives are to:

• Support medical education
• Advance medical research
• Acquire new technologies
• and Enhance patient care. 

Early funding for research on composite tissue allotransplantation and immunotherapy from the Jewish Hospital & St. Mary’s Foundation helped to bring about the nation’s first hand transplant.

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