Longview man receives best birthday gift ever

Kidney transplant performed by new Tyler surgeon

Robert Vanmeter of Longview received an incredible gift for his recent 60th birthday—a new kidney. The operation was also noteworthy as it was the first procedure performed here by ETMC Tyler’s new kidney transplant surgeon and transplant program director Dr. Steven Potter.

“The procedure went very well and it was particularly special for the patient as this week was his birthday, so you couldn’t ask for a better present than the gift of life,” Dr. Potter said.

In October, Dr. Potter also transplanted 32-year old Stephanie Baeza of Hughes Springs and 65-year old Sharon White of Malakoff.

Dr. Potter comes to ETMC after serving as surgical director of kidney transplantation at Sharp Memorial Hospital in San Diego. “Kidney transplantation is the optimal therapy for renal failure, and it’s a privilege to be able to offer patients in East Texas the same state-of-the-art, quality care available at the best institutions in the country.”

Dr. Potter completed his residency training at the Johns Hopkins Hospital, as well as transplant surgery fellowships at the University of Cincinnati and University of Minnesota. He is also board certified in urology. Dr. Potter has been active in the research of methods and outcomes of laparoscopic kidney removal, helping to revolutionize living donor surgery. He has also performed research on transplant immunosuppression as well as urologic oncology, and has authored more than 55 medical papers.

ETMC Tyler started offering transplant in 1987 and has completed 457 transplants on patients from all over East Texas and the state of Texas. Currently 85 East Texans are on ETMC’s kidney transplant waiting list.

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