Liver Transplant Centers in California
14 programs compared on wait time, odds of transplant and survival
All 14 liver transplant programs in California
| Program | City | Type | Typical wait | Out of 100 listed, within 1 year | 1-year survival |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UC Davis Health | Sacramento | Adult | 1.7 months | 95 of 100 transplanted; 1 of 100 die waiting | 97.6% |
| UCSF Mission Bay | San Francisco | Adult | 2.0 months | 80 of 100 transplanted; 0 of 100 die waiting | 98.4% |
| Cedars-Sinai | Los Angeles | Adult | 2.9 months | 82 of 100 transplanted; 2 of 100 die waiting | 96.7% |
| Loma Linda University | Loma Linda | Adult | 3.8 months | 69 of 100 transplanted; 2 of 100 die waiting | 97.2% |
| Children's Hospital LA | Los Angeles | Pediatric | 5.0 months | 67 of 100 transplanted; 1 of 100 die waiting | 98.6% |
| UC San Diego Health | La Jolla | Adult | 5.0 months | 85 of 100 transplanted; 2 of 100 die waiting | 97.3% |
| Stanford Children's | Palo Alto | Pediatric | 5.2 months | 57 of 100 transplanted; 2 of 100 die waiting | 98.3% |
| Stanford Health Care | Stanford | Adult | 6.3 months | 66 of 100 transplanted; 2 of 100 die waiting | 97.2% |
| Rady Children's | San Diego | Pediatric | 8.4 months | 62 of 100 transplanted; 0 of 100 die waiting | 98.7% |
| Keck Medicine of USC | Los Angeles | Adult | 10.0 months | 43 of 100 transplanted; 4 of 100 die waiting | 96.9% |
| CPMC San Francisco | San Francisco | Adult | 14.0 months | 56 of 100 transplanted; 3 of 100 die waiting | 97.1% |
| UCSF Medical Center | San Francisco | Adult | 14.2 months | 35 of 100 transplanted; 5 of 100 die waiting | 97.2% |
| Scripps Green Hospital | La Jolla | Adult | 15.6 months | 35 of 100 transplanted; 6 of 100 die waiting | 97.2% |
| UCLA Medical Center | Los Angeles | Adult | Not reached in the report period | 31 of 100 transplanted; 5 of 100 die waiting | 96.5% |
How we calculate “out of 100”: SRTR reports how often patients on each program’s list are transplanted and how often they die while waiting. We convert those two rates into what they mean for 100 people listed at the program for one year, counting transplant and death as competing outcomes. It is an estimate for a typical patient, not a prediction for you: your MELD score, blood type and health change your own odds.
Nearby programs in other states
Waits differ widely between nearby programs. Many patients list at a second center within driving or flying distance: see how dual listing works.
| Program | Location | Typical wait | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. Joseph's Phoenix | Phoenix, AZ | 5.9 months | 297 mi |
| Banner–UMC Phoenix | Phoenix, AZ | 1.3 months | 298 mi |
| Mayo Clinic Arizona | Phoenix, AZ | 1.7 months | 306 mi |
| Banner–UMC Tucson | Tucson, AZ | 17.8 months | 364 mi |
| VA Portland | Portland, OR | 9.1 months | 484 mi |
Frequently asked questions
How many liver transplant centers are in California?
California has 14 liver transplant programs: UC Davis Health, UCSF Mission Bay, Cedars-Sinai, Loma Linda University, Children's Hospital LA, UC San Diego Health, Stanford Children's, Stanford Health Care, Rady Children's, Keck Medicine of USC, CPMC San Francisco, UCSF Medical Center, Scripps Green Hospital, UCLA Medical Center.
Which liver transplant center in California has the shortest wait?
UC Davis Health in Sacramento has the shortest typical wait in California: 1.7 months.
Can I list at a transplant center outside California?
Yes. You can be evaluated and listed at any U.S. program that accepts you, and at more than one. See dual listing.
Sources
- SRTR: Program-Specific Reports (PSR) for U.S. transplant programs
- SRTR: Transplant center search
- OPTN Policies (Policy 3.4 multiple registrations; Policy 9 liver allocation)
- HRSA/OPTN: Multiple listing, patient information
About this content
Medically reviewed by James F. Trotter, MD and Joseph S. Redman, MD, PhD of the National Friends Medical Advisory Board on . Reviewers check clinical statements against the cited sources; data tables come from the public SRTR program-specific reports and OPTN policy.
Disclosure: Dr. Trotter and Dr. Redman practice at Intermountain Health. Every program on this site, including Intermountain, is shown from the same public SRTR reports; figures a center reported to us directly are labeled as center-reported.
Published by Friends of the National Liver Waiting List, a 501(c)(3) patient advocacy charity. Updated . Not medical advice: talk with your hepatologist or transplant team about your own care.