Summer 2022
Committed to Transplant
Our mission at Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork-Presbyterian Kidney and Pancreas Transplant Program is to maximize transplantation opportunities for all patients seeking our care and expertise. We are committed to delivering life-enhancing transplant services with compassion for each patient. Our patient's health and safety have and always will be our priority.
Welcome our newest Transplant Surgeon to the team, Dr. Kofi Atiemo!
"As a transplant surgeon, my goal is to provide excellent and comprehensive care, responsive to the individual needs and values of each patient, and to ensure that this care is delivered compassionately."
Dr. Atiemo received his medical degree from the University of Aberdeen, Scotland, United Kingdom. He completed surgical training in the Scotland Basic Surgical Training Scheme, becoming a member of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (MRCSEd).

After moving to the United States, Dr. Atiemo completed their junior general surgery residency at the University of Pennsylvania and senior years at the University of Massachusetts.

Following residency, Dr. Atiemo completed a two-year NIH T32 research fellowship in abdominal transplant clinical outcomes at Northwestern University. During this research, Dr. Atiemo earned a master’s degree in epidemiology and biostatistics from Northwestern University. Dr. Atiemo completed a clinical fellowship in abdominal transplantation at Northwestern University and was an Assistant Professor of Surgery at Tulane University.

Dr. Atiemo enjoys soccer, hiking, and fishing during his free time.
Upcoming Educational Webinar:
Conversations with Cornell Kidney
Tuesday, July 26th or Wednesday, July 27th, at 11:00 am
An Altruistic Kidney Donation Experience
"I donate blood several times a year. At one of the blood centers, there was a sign stating that someone needed a kidney. I took down the number and was tested; however, I was not a match. This piqued my interest in wanting to donate my kidney to someone in need. 
 
Eventually, I was introduced to The Weill Cornell/NewYork Presbyterian’s Kidney Paired Donation Program. From the beginning, I was met with nurses, doctors, coordinators, social workers, etc., who treated me with the utmost kindness and care. Their primary focus was on educating me on the process of donating a kidney and ensuring I was comfortable with this experience.
The day finally came when I was to donate my kidney. I felt ready and prepared for the surgery I would undergo. The medical team worked with precision as they removed my kidney and prepared to have it transported to another hospital where another patient was waiting to receive it. The surgery was an absolute success!
 
During my stay at Weill Cornell/NewYork Presbyterian, every staff member, from the person who cleaned my hospital room to the surgeon who performed my surgery, treated me as if I were family, ensuring my needs were taken care of and always with a smile. 
 
My experience with this hospital and this program were like no other. It was outstanding! Each person I spoke to and every professional working with me was unwavering in their skill and conscientiousness. I am so grateful to have encountered such wonderful people in this program and at this hospital. 
 
It has been a year since I donated, and I feel great physically! I have never regretted my decision to donate. It has been unbelievably rewarding to know that I could make a difference in someone’s life." 
-Colleen La Greca
Clinical Study for Kidney Transplant Recipients:
FREEDOM-1 Study
We are proud to announce that our transplant program will be participating in the FREEDOM-1 Study. This innovative trial will be researching a treatment that could end the need for long-term anti-rejection medications among living-donor kidney transplant recipients. If you are planning to have a transplant at our center, you and your living donor may be qualified to join!

You can learn more about this study at freedom1study.com

Email Meredith Aull at mea9008@med.cornell.edu if you would like more information about this clinical trial. This research study is approved by the Weill Cornell Medicine Institutional Review Board (Protocol#19-06020335)
Contact Information
1283 York Ave, Floor 9
New York, NY 10065
P: (212) 746-3099 | F: (212) 746-3100 |
E: transplant@med.cornell.edu