UK HealthCare performs Kentucky’s 1st robot-assisted kidney transplant

LEXINGTON, Ky. (June 8, 2026) — UK HealthCare’s Transplant Center recently performed the first kidney transplant using a surgical robot. Not only was this the first transplant performed robotically in Kentucky, but also in the surrounding region, including Tennessee, West Virginia and southern Ohio. Of the 250 transplant centers in the nation, 25 are actively performing robotic transplant procedures.  

“We are proud of the team whose dedication and expertise made this possible, and who continue to position UK HealthCare at the forefront of transplantation nationally,” said Roberto Gedaly, M.D., director of the UK Transplant Center. “This achievement, led by Dr. Matthew Black and our multidisciplinary team, places us among a very small number of U.S. centers offering this advanced procedure.” 

Led by transplant surgeon Matthew W. Black, M.D., and using the Da Vinci Xi Surgical System, the surgical team transplanted a donor kidney using smaller incisions while keeping the patient’s core muscles intact. With no major disruptions to large muscle groups and surrounding nerves, patients who opt for the robotic procedure report less pain and easier recoveries. They are also less reliant on pain medication — a crucial advantage in a state that continues to grapple with the effects of the opioid epidemic. 

That was the experience of Jeffrey Johnson of Somerset, the first patient at UK HealthCare to receive a kidney transplant using this technology. Memories of recovering from hernia surgery years ago helped inform his decision to choose the robotic procedure. 

“I had surgery for an umbilical hernia, and this did not hurt half as bad as that did,” he said. “I can do a sit-up getting out of bed. I never expected to be in that little pain. I’ve never taken a pain pill.” 

Still, the notion of being the first patient at UK HealthCare to receive a robotic kidney transplant was a little daunting. He and Black discussed the procedure at length, including the use of smaller incisions and the potential for less pain during recovery. 

“He explained to me that it was the first one for UK, but it wasn’t his first one,” Johnson said. “That eased my mind a little bit. Sometimes you just got to trust people, and he seemed like a very trustworthy person. I took about a week to think about it, then I called him back and said, ‘let’s go ahead and do it.’ I have no regrets whatsoever.” 

Transplant recipients are a unique subset of surgical patients. While all surgeries come with some degree of risk, those who receive an organ transplant are often very sick before surgery, or they have a higher body mass index. Many are physically unable to make some of the lifestyle changes that could potentially reduce their risk for complications. Obesity impairs both the body’s immune system and its ability to heal wounds, including surgical incisions. Although robotic surgery will be available to any kidney transplant patient, Black and the other surgeons will primarily focus on patients at higher risk for wound complications. 

“The core advantage of this procedure is that compared to the standard open technique, it has fewer wound complications, such as surgical-site infections or wounds requiring wound vacs,” said Black. “For our patient population, which is very prone to having a high BMI and being immunosuppressed, this is seen as a major advantage to our program.” 

“Robotic kidney transplantation expands access for patients with morbid obesity, who often face barriers to transplantation,” said Gedaly. “Bringing this capability to UK HealthCare is a meaningful step toward more equitable care for Kentuckians.” 

Johnson wants his fellow Kentuckians to know that if they ever find themselves needing a kidney transplant, choosing the robotic procedure is an easy decision. 

“Obviously, I've never had a kidney transplant the other way, so I can’t really attest to how it feels,” he said. “But I know the way I feel after this one, and I would recommend it to anybody. If I had it to do over again, I would go in with a lot less nervousness, knowing what I know now. I would not think twice about using the robot.” 

The success of the first robotic kidney transplant follows several recent achievements in the field of abdominal transplant surgery. In 2023, the surgical robot was first used for a living donor nephrectomy procedure. Over the past five years, the volume of liver transplants has more than doubled, culminating in a record number of transplants in 2025. UK HealthCare ranks nationally in the top third of transplant centers based on volume. 

“As our program evolves, we have prioritized innovation that leads to better outcomes and a new beginning for our patients,” said Gedaly. “Our progress reflects a strong commitment to leadership in the field.”