Renown Health just opened northern Nevada's first kidney transplant institute, known as the Renown Transplant Institute.
The only other institute capable of performing kidney transplants in Nevada is in Las Vegas.
Those needing kidney transplants in the past would have to travel there or out of the state.
So, while trying to deal with the stress of getting a life saving transplant, people would have to leave their jobs and families to get the care they needed.
However, Renown Health can now administer kidney transplants in the biggest little city.
"As the population of our area has increased, the need for transplant services is quite incredible," said Dr. Rahul Mediwala, CEO, Renown Medical Group.
"That's probably the best part of this story, is that those people that didn't have those resources, especially in the rural areas here in northern Nevada, now have the ability to save their life because the program is here," said Joseph Ferreira, Founding President for the Nevada Transplant Institute and CEO for Nevada Donor Network.
The Nevada Donor Network secured $15 million in an American Rescue Plan Act grant from the state of Nevada.
This money was used to help start the Nevada Transplant Institute.
$3 million of those funds were used to help recruit staff and resources for this transplant program.
The William N. Pennington Foundation also granted $5.5 million.
This grant also starts the William N. Pennington Assistance Fund, which will help patients who don't have the proper funds to pay for the process.
The team Renown assembled that will be working this program are mostly from the area.
However, one-quarter of the staff come from other parts of the country to put the final pieces together.
"People were very excited. It's not often that a new kidney transplant gets set up," Dr. Mediwala said. "So, we've actually had our pick of individuals, and we picked the best individuals we possibly could. Incredible individuals with lots of experience coming from all over the country to staff the program."
"I think it's a great opportunity to bring out the new transplantation center from scratch," said Dr. Narisorn Atsava-Svate, Transplantation Nephrologist, who came from Oklahoma.
That new team is not only trying to be the first but stand toe-to-toe with the other institutes across the country.
"We are going to be the best," said Dr. Ernesto Molmenti, Executive Director and Surgeon, Renown Transplant Institute.
For one woman, years ago she received the news that she needed a new kidney.
"I remember honestly just getting on my knees in the doctor's office and saying thank you for the time that I have been given," said Massiel Smith, who received a kidney transplant in 2019.
In 2011, Smith was given five years to live, but she was able to defy the odds.
Since our region didn't have the capabilities, she tried to find a place that could.
"I connected with my insurance, and I asked them how does this work, who's a network and they sent me a little map that said in blue, in network, anyone in red, out of network," Smith said.
Smith said that the hospital she chose was more expensive than she had thought.
"So my funds were running out very fast, which was very overwhelming in that process," she explained.
However, that part of the process will now be alleviated for northern Nevadans, and kidney transplants are just the first domino to fall.
"The idea is to add all the organs that people may need, especially in a population our size here in the state of Nevada," Ferreira said.
The next one the NTI is planning on bringing is live transplants.
Renown Health is working on sending out referrals to those patients in need of a kidney.
People who are interested and want to get screened for a kidney transplant can call 1-833-RING-NTI.
