Welcome Patients and Families! 

We have reached the remarkable milestone of our 500th kidney transplant. As we celebrate today, we express our heartfelt gratitude to each of you. Thank you for trusting us with your patient’s care and for allowing us to be a part of your journey. Your support and confidence inspire us to strive for excellence every day. Every interaction, every story shared and every moment spent with you has enriched our mission and enhanced our ability to serve. We’re honored that you have trusted us with your child’s health and well-being. And we pledge to continue providing the highest standard of care.  

The Zoo’s Peacock Pavilion is your home base for today’s event, where you can hear from speakers, connect with staff and get resource materials. 

Today’s schedule  

• 9:30 a.m. Registration Opens
• 11 a.m. Welcome Remarks
• 11:05 a.m. Music from Na’Or Davidovich and Jon Savant
• 11:10 a.m. Remarks from Sandra Amaral, MD, MHS, Medical Director of the Kidney Transplant Program
• 11:15 a.m. Moment of Silence
• 11:20 a.m. Music from Brianna Herrera Jimenez and Valentina Vega Bueno 
• 11:25 a.m. Message from Former CHOP Patient Courtney Kaplin 
• 11:30 a.m. Remarks from Rick Hasz, Jr., President and CEO of Gift of Life, Presenting Sponsor
• 11:35 a.m. Remarks from Benjamin Laskin, MD, MS, Chief of the Division of Nephrology at CHOP  
• 11:40 a.m. Group Photo   
• 2 p.m. Event Ends 
• 2 – 5 p.m. Catch up and enjoy the Zoo! 

Thank you to our sponsors

Presenting sponsor

Silver sponsors

Thank you to our silver sponsors: Bergen Pharmacy, Apellis Pharmaceuticals and Nuwellis 

Thank you to our staff 

As we celebrate this significant milestone in the transplant program's journey, we want to express heartfelt gratitude to every one of you for your hard work, dedication and unwavering commitment to the program's success. Together we have achieved something remarkable, and we are excited for what the future holds. 

No thanks are enough for the fellows, nurses and the clinical and administrative staff who give their best in departments that keep this program running smoothly. There are too many to list here, but we could not do this without you. 

We also extend deep gratitude to the many adult nephrology and transplant program teams who continue to care for our patients throughout their transplant journey after they transition from CHOP.