Hoag is advancing a new era of liver care by expanding access, accelerating research, and laying the groundwork to bring lifesaving transplant services closer to home for Orange County families.
Hoag’s Digestive Health Institute is entering a pivotal new chapter that brings the promise of lifesaving transplant care closer to home for Orange County families.
With the recruitment of transplant surgeon Aaron Ahearn, MD, PhD, as surgical director, Hoag has reached a major milestone in its plans to establish a comprehensive transplant program, beginning with liver and kidney transplantation. A nationally recognized liver and kidney transplant and hepatobiliary surgeon, Dr. Ahearn joins Hoag from the Keck School of Medicine at USC and brings deep expertise in building and leading high-performing transplant programs. His arrival advances Hoag’s ability to deliver the full continuum of care for transplant patients—further strengthening a model designed to keep patients close to the physicians and support systems they trust.
“Hoag has built something exceptional,” Dr. Ahearn says. “To help establish a transplant program in a community of this size and need is an extraordinary professional honor. Our goal is to deliver care at the highest national standard while keeping patients close to the physicians and families who support them.”
Despite Orange County’s population of more than 3 million people, there is currently no liver transplant program in the region. Patients must leave their care teams and their support systems at one of the most vulnerable moments in their lives. Today, Hoag already coordinates care for more than 40 transplant patients each year, managing pre- and post-transplant treatment in close collaboration with partner institutions.
Establishing a transplant program at Hoag will ensure that patients facing complex diseases can receive seamless, world-class care without leaving the community they call home. Pending regulatory approval, the program is anticipated to launch as early as 2027.
The Role of Philanthropy
Thanks to philanthropic support, innovations like FibroScan® technology are transforming how liver disease is detected and managed, enabling earlier diagnosis, reducing the need for invasive procedures, and improving care for conditions such as MASLD/MASH and liver cancer. Approximately 2,400 FibroScan assessments were performed in 2025, leading to earlier detection of liver disease, more timely intervention, and better-informed treatment plans for patients across the care continuum.
As the transplant program’s vision takes shape, philanthropy will continue to play a vital role in accelerating progress—supporting everything from advanced technology and program infrastructure to patient navigation and clinical innovation.
Investment today helps ensure that Hoag can bring transplantation services to Orange County sooner, expand access to lifesaving care, and continue advancing the standard of liver disease treatment.
As Brian Lee, MD reflects:
“Thanks to philanthropy, our patients benefit from coordinated care that addresses the root causes of disease, from weight and metabolic health to addiction support, while also providing access to cutting-edge clinical trials and innovative therapies. Behind every number is a patient whose life has been changed. We are deeply thankful for the support that allows us to care for more patients, more effectively, every year.”
To learn more about how you can support this transformative work, please contact Rachelle Rainey, Executive Director of Development, at Rachelle.Rainery@hoag.org.
