FEATURED, FROM LEFT: Gabriel and Sylvia Espinoza of Edinburg lost an 18-year-old son, Jeremy (featured in the framed portrait), in March 2003, when he was killed as a passenger in a car accident. Incredibly, two weeks before his tragic death – in a pronouncement that showed he was wise beyond his young age – Jeremy had told his family that he always wanted to help people. He convinced them to donate his organs in the event of his passing – and as a result, Jeremy saved five lives. His parents are seen here on Friday, February 27, 2026, at the Edinburg Conference Center at Renaissance for a flag signing event for the upcoming Transplant Games of America that will be held in June in Denver, Colorado.
Photograph Courtesy DHR HEALTH
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DHR Health Transplant Institute one of the more advanced hospital services in Texas providing comprehensive adult kidney transplants, report Sen. Juan Hinojosa, Edinburg Mayor Omar Ochoa
By DAVID A. DÍAZ
[email protected]
The DHR Health Transplant Institute, opened in Edinburg in 2017, remains a highly-regarded, specialized center in Texas and is the only CMS and UNOS-certified kidney transplant program in the Rio Grande Valley, according to Sen. Juan Hinojosa, D-McAllen, and Edinburg Mayor Omar Ochoa.
Kidneys act as filters, removing waste and extra fluid from the blood to produce urine, and they also balance fluids and electrolytes, help regulate blood pressure, make red blood cells by releasing a hormone called erythropoietin, and activate vitamin D to maintain bone health. These essential functions keep the body’s chemistry balanced and support overall health.
A kidney transplant replaces a failed kidney with a healthy one from a living or deceased donor, usually in the lower abdomen. It offers better long-term survival and quality of life than dialysis, with grafts lasting eight to 20 years. Patients must take lifelong immunosuppressant medication. Recovery involves a few days in the hospital and weeks for healing, according to the National Kidney Foundation.
Major kidney transplant centers in Texas, recognized for high volume and quality outcomes by the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients (SRTR), include Parkland Health in Dallas, Houston Methodist Hospital, and Baylor Scott & White in Fort Worth. Other prominent centers are located in San Antonio, Austin, and the DHR Health Transplant Institute in Edinburg.
The DHR Health Transplant Institute, located at 1100 East Dove Avenue, is the only transplant institute in the Rio Grande Valley and is comprised of a multidisciplinary team of physicians, surgeons, pharmacists, social workers, and other healthcare providers who offer care for kidney, liver, and pancreatic disorders, including kidney transplantation.
Sen. Juan Hinojosa, D-McAllen, noted that through the DHR Health Transplant Institute, “this comprehensive care is available locally in the Rio Grande Valley, close to home, eliminating the need for patients and their families to travel out of town for transplant services.
“Kidney transplants are a remarkable medical treatment for many people, including those with diabetes, obesity, andhypertension (high blood pressure) that can lead to kidney failure and the need for transplants,” said Hinojosa. “If it wasn’t for the DHR Health Transplant Institute, residents in the Rio Grande Valley – a metropolitan region with almost 1.5 million people – would have to travel hundreds of miles for a kidney transplant.”
The DHR Health Transplant Institute is part of Hinojosa’s Senate District 20.
There are numerous types of kidney disease that can progress quickly or take many years to develop. With chronic kidney disease, the kidneys are unable to properly clean the blood, which can lead to bone and heart disease or stroke, according to the Texas Commission on Health and Human Services. High blood pressure, diabetes and kidney stones are among the signs of kidneys not working correctly. Family medical history can also play a role in chronic kidney disease.
“The need for a kidney transplants is a statewide concern,” said Edinburg Mayor Omar Ochoa. “As of March 2025, more than 50,000 Texans were on kidney dialysis, and more than 8,000 are awaiting a kidney transplant, according to the Texas Health and Human Services Commission.”
“Nearly 4,000 Rio Grande Valley residents are currently on dialysis, according to DHR Health’s Dr. Sridhar Allam,” added Ochoa. “A kidney transplant is often the preferred treatment for end-stage renal disease (ESRD), as it provides a longer and better quality of life compared to a lifetime on dialysis. A successful transplant allows the new kidney to take over the work of the failed kidneys, restoring normal function.”
Allam, a board-certified transplant nephrologist (kidney doctor), is the Medical Director of the DHR Health Transplant Institute.
Dialysis is a life-sustaining medical treatment that filters waste, toxins, and excel fluid from the blood when the kidneys have failed. It replicates vital kidney functions, such as regulating blood pressure and balancing chemical levels in the body, typically in cases of end-stage renal disease. The two primary types are hemodialysis (using a machine) and peritoneal dialysis (using the abdominal lining, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
“Access to local transplant care goes beyond convenience; it is about equity, fairness and real opportunity,” said Allam. “Transplantation demands frequent appointments, lifelong monitoring, and close follow-up.”
For many Valley families, facing financial strain, transportation barriers, or caregiving responsibilities, traveling out of region creates overwhelming burdens – missed work, high costs for lodging and travel, emotional exhaustion and separation from support networks.
“By providing advanced care locally, we reduce these hardships, improve adherence, enhance quality of life, and strengthen long-term outcomes,” Allam continued. “Our community is no longer needs to send loved ones far away for a second chance. Instead, we build those chances together, right here in the Valley.”
He noted that the Rio Grande Valley faces significant healthcare disparities compared to the rest of the nation, such as:
• Obesity affects 47 percent of Valley adults, compared with 36 percent nationally.
Obesity is not a direct, primary cause of kidney failure but it is a major risk factor for chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end-stage renal disease (ESRD), often leading to a need for a transplant.
• Diabetes prevalence in the Rio Grande Valley stands at 44 percent compared with 26 percent nationally.
Obesity-related diabetes and hypertension (high-blood pressure) can cause significant kidney damage, while increased fat distribution can increase mortality risk and surgical complications post-transplant.
“These challenges are compounded by powerful social determinants of health: a predominantly Hispanic population (more than 90 percent), poverty rates around 24 percent (compared with 12 percent nationally), adults without a high school degree (35 percent compared with five percent nationally), high physical inactivity, and elevated mental health and substance use concerns,” Allam reported.
Those factors contribute directly the kidney disease in the region.
“The Rio Grande Valley represents roughly four percent of Texas’ population, yet accounts for about eight percent of the state’s end-stage rebar disease patients – approximately 4,000 individuals, here on dialysis,” Allam continued. “While dialysis sustains life, transplantation remains the gold-standard treatment, offering longer, healthier lives with greater freedom and quality.”
The DHR Health Transplant Institute holds certifications from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), which is the contractor for the Organ Procurement and Transportation Network (OPTN). These certifications and approvals mean the institute meets the stringent standards for performing adult kidney transplant and living kidney donor programs, making it the only such center in the Rio Grande Valley.
A CMS kidney transplant program refers to a hospital-based transplant center certified by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to perform kidney transplants, meeting strict, mandatory quality, safety , and performance standards.
A UNOS-certified kidney transplant is a surgical procedure performed at a center approved by the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), which manages the nation’s organ procurement and transplant network. These centers follow strict, federal guidelines for matching donors with recipients, ensure equitable access and high-quality care.
One of the biggest differences a transplant can make is life expectancy (the average number of years a person can expect to live).
“A transplant can essentially double a patient’s life expectancy compared to staying on dialysis,” he said. “For example, a 40-60 year-old might live about 11 years on dialysis. With a transplant, that number jumps to 22 years.”
Allam brings decades of experience to his work caring for patients with advanced kidney failure. He previously led one of the top-ranked transplant programs in the nation at Medical City Fort Worth.
With compassion and expertise, Allam said the DHR Health Transplant Institute continues to bring renewed hope to kidney patients across the region – one life-saving transplant at a time.
“My role is to help prepare patients for kidney transplantation, optimize their health, and manage their care after surgery,” he explained. “We work as a team, from surgeons and nurse coordinators to social workers, pharmacists, and dietitians, to ensure the best outcomes for every patient.”
Another important role for the DHR Health Transplant Instituteisto educate people about the importance of agreeing to be organ donors, especially multicultural communities, about the critical need for organ, eye, and tissue donation.
“Barriers to organ donation in communities like ours are multifaceted, often rooted in cultural, informational, and systemic issues,” he said. “Organizations like the DHR Health Transplant Institute and the Texas Organ Sharing Alliance (TOSA) are working locally to close this gap through awareness campaigns, flag-raising ceremonies, and community proclamations that celebrate donors and promote registration.”
The Texas Organ Sharing Alliance (TOSA) is a federally designated organ procurement organization (OPO) responsible for coordinating organ donation and recovery in Central and South Texas.
Allam emphasized the power of living kidney donation. When it comes to preventing kidney disease in the first place, he encourages everyone to pay attention to diet and lifestyle.
“Processed foods, excess calories, and lack of physical activity contribute to conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure,” he said. “These are the biggest drivers of kidney failure today.”
Kidney failure, also known as renal failure, occurs when the kidneys lose their ability to effectively filter waste products and excess fluid from the blood. This can lead to a buildup of harmful substances in the body and various complications.
Kidney failure can be acute (sudden onset) or chronic (gradual progression). In severe cases, it can lead to life-threatening complications such as electrolyte imbalances, heart failure, and stroke.
Risk factors can include:
• Diabetes: High blood sugar levels can damage the blood vessels in the kidneys over time.
• High blood pressure: Prolonged high blood pressure can put stress on the kidneys, leading to damage.
• Age, Family history of kidney disease, liver disease, autoimmune disorders, and alcohol abuse.
• Trauma: Physical injuries to the kidneys can impair their function.
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For more on this and other Texas legislative news stories that affect the Rio Grande Valley metropolitan region, please log on to Titans of the Texas Legislature (TitansoftheTexasLegislature.com).
