UPMC organ transplants inspire TNT drama

[Guest guest]

Organ transplant milestones achieved

in Western Pennsylvania inspired

executive producer and Pittsburgh native

Hollander's new dramatic series " Heartland, " set to premiere

Monday on TNT.

" Heartland, "

set at the fictional St. Jude Regional Transplant Center and starting actor

Treat , is based on the accomplishments of organ-transplant pioneer

E. Starzl and his transplant team at the

University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, the hospital

system said this morning.

The

series is about an overworked heart and lung transplant surgeon who races the

clock to save lives with organ transplants.

Officials

from UPMC and the Center for Organ Recovery and Education, a Pittsburgh-based

organ-procurement organization, praised the series because of the attention

they expect it will to draw to organ donation.

On average, a transplant is performed

every 12 hours at UPMC Presbyterian, UPMC Montefiore

or Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh.

Over 20 years, more than 12,000 transplants have been

performed.

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