Compare 3 transplant surgeons in Knoxville, TN. Check ratings, insurance, and availability.
3
Transplant Surgeons
100%
Accepting patients
67%
Most common: MD
Ranked by Clarity Score, based on profile detail, verification, and patient activity.
Knoxville is the healthcare hub for East Tennessee, a region that stretches from the Great Smoky Mountains to the Cumberland Plateau. The University of Tennessee Medical Center serves as the regional trauma and referral center, while Covenant Health runs the largest community hospital network. For a mid-sized city, Knoxville has solid breadth across specialties, though patients with rare conditions may still be referred to Nashville or Atlanta.
Knoxville has 3 transplant surgeons. The most common credential is MD (67%). 100% are currently accepting new patients.
Knoxville's medical facilities spread along the I-40 and Kingston Pike corridors. UT Medical Center sits on Alcoa Highway south of downtown, while Fort Sanders Regional is near the UT campus. West Knoxville and Farragut have growing outpatient campuses along Kingston Pike. The city has no rail transit, and driving is the default. Most destinations within the metro are reachable in 15 to 25 minutes.
Providers practice throughout Knoxville. Downtown Knoxville is fort Sanders Regional Medical Center sits at the edge of downtown, serving the urban core and the UT campus community. Bearden is a west Knoxville commercial corridor with numerous medical and dental offices along Kingston Pike. West Knoxville is parkwest Medical Center and Turkey Creek medical offices serve this fast-growing suburban area near Farragut. South Knoxville is a residential area across the Tennessee River with community health options and proximity to UT Medical Center.
Nearby hospitals include University of Tennessee Medical Center, Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center, and Parkwest Medical Center. Local training programs run through University of Tennessee College of Medicine (Knoxville campus) and University of Tennessee, Knoxville. The University of Tennessee Medical Center is the primary Level I trauma center for the 21-county East Tennessee region.
The transplant evaluation is extensive, spanning multiple days and involving medical testing (blood work, imaging, cardiac testing), psychological evaluation, social work assessment, financial counseling, and educational sessions. The transplant surgeon will explain the procedure, risks, expected outcomes, and the lifelong commitment to immunosuppressive medications. If approved, you are placed on the transplant waiting list managed by UNOS (United Network for Organ Sharing). Wait times vary by organ, blood type, and geographic region.
Covenant Health and UT Medical Center are the two main systems. If you need a specialist referral, UT Medical Center is the academic option. For routine primary care, Covenant's network of community practices is widely accessible.
See a transplant surgeon when you are being evaluated for organ transplant listing (end-stage kidney disease, liver failure, heart failure, lung disease), when you are interested in being a living donor, or when you have been referred by your specialist (nephrologist, hepatologist, cardiologist) for transplant evaluation. Transplant teams include surgeons, physicians, coordinators, social workers, and other specialists who evaluate candidates as a group.
Transplant evaluation: covered by insurance · Kidney transplant: $250,000-400,000 · Liver transplant: $500,000-800,000 · Immunosuppressive medications: $1,000-3,000/month
Knoxville, TN has 3 licensed transplant surgeons. 100% are currently accepting new patients, so finding an available provider should be straightforward.
Yes. 100% of transplant surgeons in Knoxville, TN are currently accepting new patients. You can filter your search on FindClarity to show only providers who are taking new patients.
BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee is the dominant carrier. TennCare (Tennessee Medicaid) is accepted at UT Medical Center and most Covenant Health facilities. Humana and UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plans are common among retirees.
Transplant costs are among the highest in medicine. Kidney transplant costs $250,000 to $400,000. Liver transplant costs $500,000 to $800,000. Heart transplant costs $800,000 to $1.4 million. These figures include evaluation, surgery, hospital stay, and first-year medications. Actual costs in Knoxville, TN depend on the provider and your insurance plan. Transplant costs are typically covered by insurance, including Medicare for kidney transplant patients. The transplant center has a financial coordinator who helps navigate coverage. Immunosuppressive medications cost $1,000 to $3,000 per month and are required for life. Ask about patient assistance programs for ongoing medication costs.
Knoxville healthcare runs through two main systems: Covenant Health (community hospitals) and UT Medical Center (academic/trauma). Tennova Healthcare also operates facilities in the area. Your insurance network will steer you toward one system.
MD stands for Doctor of Medicine and DO stands for Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine. Both are equivalent qualifications. In Knoxville, TN, 67% hold the MD credential and 33% hold DO. The difference is in training pathway, not quality of care.
67% of transplant surgeons in Knoxville, TN accept Medicare. Medicare covers organ transplants at Medicare-approved transplant centers. Part A covers the hospital stay. Part B covers the surgeon and outpatient visits. Medicare Part B covers immunosuppressive drugs for 36 months post-transplant (lifetime coverage for those with Part B who enrolled due to ESRD). You can filter for Medicare-accepting providers on FindClarity.
UT Medical Center serves as the Level I trauma and specialty referral center for 21 East Tennessee counties. Covenant Health operates smaller hospitals in Morristown, Sevierville, and other surrounding towns. For routine care, Cherokee Health Systems has locations across the region.
For most routine and specialty care, yes. Knoxville has strong hospital systems and a growing physician base. For highly specialized procedures, rare conditions, or clinical trials, Nashville's Vanderbilt is the next step up and about a 3-hour drive.
Top accepted carriers in Knoxville, TN include medicare, unitedhealthcare, cigna, qhp-38344, and qhp-14002.
Organ transplantation is covered by medical insurance, including Medicare (which covers kidney transplants for all end-stage renal disease patients regardless of age). Transplant evaluation, surgery, hospital stay, and immunosuppressive medications are all covered benefits. Post-transplant medications are lifelong and expensive. Medicare covers immunosuppressive drugs for kidney transplant recipients. For other organs, coverage varies by plan. Financial counselors at transplant centers help navigate coverage.