Liise K. Kayler MD, MS, FACS

Liise Kayler

Liise K. Kayler
MD, MS, FACS

Program Director Kidney and Pancreas Transplantation, Chief of the Division of Transplant Surgery

Department of Surgery

Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences


Specialty/Research Focus

Clinical Informatics; Community Based Participatory Research; Epidemiology; Health Disparities Research; Implementation Science; Surgery; Surgery - Transplant; Transplantation

Contact Information
Dkm3 Erie County Medical Center
462 Grider street
na
Buffalo, New York 14215
Phone: (716) 289-8255
Fax: 7169617027
liisekay@buffalo.edu


Patient Care

This faculty member is affiliated with UBMD, practicing physicians who are also professors in the Jacobs School.

View this physician on UBMD


Professional Summary:

I am a transplant surgeon and clinical professor. Over the past 20 years, my clinical and research efforts have focused on helping end-stage kidney disease patients get kidney transplants, especially those who have difficulty accessing healthcare-- typically people of color, low literacy, and low socioeconomic status. I trained in multi-organ transplantation at the University of Michigan, where I also received a Master’s in clinical outcomes research and statistics. My research tackles the kidney supply deficit. To address the shortage of deceased donors, I use national data to spotlight kidneys that are commonly discarded but could have been safely transplanted. My findings have been disseminated through numerous publications, committee work at the United Network of Organ Sharing (UNOS), and in transplant society task forces-- and have contributed to paradigm shifts in the transplant field to reduce organ discard. To find solutions to expand live kidney donation, I develop and test educational interventions. My most recent intervention was developed in Buffalo, NY, where I currently serve as Division Chief of Transplant Surgery at Erie County Medical Center. My partners are community stakeholders, patients, and experts in health communication, anthropology, and community-based participatory research. In 2018, we received national funding (HRSA R39OT31887) to develop and pilot test an animation-based educational and outreach intervention about live donor kidney transplantation. In 2021 we received NIH funding (1RO1DK129845-01) to evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention to mediate donor volunteerism. Meanwhile we have developed a community-academic partnership to adapt the intervention for African American kidney failure patients and build community capacity to improve kidney transplant access and outcomes. At each step in creating and evolving the intervention, we look at potential complexities around implementation and dissemination and figure out how to overcome them both from the perspectives of patients, social network members, and medical providers.

Education and Training:

  • Certificate, American Board of Surgery, recertification (2021)
  • Certificate, Harvard Medical School Safety, Quality and Informatics Leadership Program, Harvard Medical School (2016)
  • Fellowship, Adult and Pediatric Small Intestine Transplantation, University of Pittsburgh- Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute (2005)
  • MS, Clinical Research Design and Statistical Analysis, University at Michigan (2005)
  • Fellowship, Multi-organ Transplant Surgery, University at Michigan (2002)
  • Residency, General Surgery, Maricopa Medical Center (2000)
  • MD, na, University of Nevada School of Medicine (1995)
  • BS, Medicine, University of Nevada, Cum Laude (1991)

Employment:

  • Associate Member of the Graduate Faculty, University at Buffalo (2019-present)
  • Clinical Professor, Department of Surgery - Transplantation, Erie County Medical Center (2015-present)
  • Division Chief Transplantation, Surgery, ECMC (2015-present)
  • Associate Professor of Clinical Surgery, Montefiore Einstein Center for Transplantation, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY (2011–2015)
  • Assistant Professor, Department of Surgery-Division of Transplantation and Hepatobiliary Surgery, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL (2007–2011)
  • Assistant Professor, Department of Surgery-Transplant Surgery, University of Pittsburgh - Thomas E. Starzl Transplant Institute. (2005–2007)
  • Assistant Professor, Department of Surgery-Transplant Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia PA (2002–2004)

Awards and Honors:

  • State University of New York Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Scholarship and Creative Activities (2024)
  • Top Award in 6th annual CTSI Clinical Research Achievement Award competition (2021)
  • Women of Influence Award 2021 (2021)
  • Who’s Who in Health Care (2021)
  • AAMC 2014 Mid-Career Women Faculty Professional Development Seminar (2014)
  • Top 10 Abstract Winner (2010)
  • Resident Representative, 8th Annual Fundamentals of Surgical Research Course (1997)
  • Resident Reporter (1996)
  • Medical Student Award for Outstanding Research (1995)
  • Certificate of Research Achievement, Student Research (1995)
  • Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society Scholarship Award (1991)
  • Dean's List 1986-1991 (1986)

Research Expertise:

  • Clinical Trials: Between 2022-2024 we are conducting a 2-arm parallel randomized trial among patients presenting for kidney transplant evaluation at Erie County Medical Center to compare the effects of a digital educational and outreach intervention versus usual care for living donor inquiry over 12 months of intervention use and follow-up. Questionnaires are administered to measure patient living donor kidney transplant knowledge, concerns, readiness, and outreach behaviors, as these have been identified as potential mediators of donor inquiry. Concluding investigation a mixed-methods process evaluation will use both questionnaires and focus groups to reveal insights into the recruitment, retention, uptake, and satisfaction among intervention group.
  • Community Based Participatory Research: We are engaging in community-based participatory research to foster ownership and capacity building within community members to accomplish wide dissemination of a digital educational solution to increase kidney transplant access in Buffalo and in New York state. This involved obtaining seed funding and establishing a steering committee and community advisory board to co-partner with patients, care givers, and kidney donors. Our academic-community partnership is now engaging other stakeholders in Buffalo community (such as social workers, dialysis staff, and community nephrologists) and in New York State (the NYKidney Center) to work towards overcoming the translational roadblocks.
  • Team Science: To address of challenge of advancing transplant access to African-American kidney failure patients I leverage the strengths and expertise of individuals trained in several different fields including medicine, communication, anthropology, CBPR, epidemiology, and engineering.

Grants and Sponsored Research:

  • September 2017–September 2026
    APOL1 Long-term Kidney Transplantation Outcomes Research Network (APOLLO). We are an APOLLO Network Clinical Centers (CCs) within this multi-center, multi-disciplinary study group following a prospective longitudinal cohort to determine the impact of APOL1 genetic variants as susceptibility factors in US kidney transplant recipients who received kidneys from African American donors.
    National Institutes of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease (NIDDK) of the National Institutes of Health
    Role: Co-Investigator
    $229,964
  • August 2021–July 2025
    Increasing Live Donor Kidney Transplantation Through Video-based Education and Mobile Communication
    NIH
    Role: Co-Principal Investigator
    $3,543,724
  • January 2021–December 2024
    Activating Access to Kidney Transplantation of Black Western New Yorkers with End-Stage Kidney Disease through Community-Based Participatory Research.
    University at Buffalo CTSI Award
    Role: Principal Investigator
    $5,000
  • November 2021–April 2023
    TEAMMATE: Technology Enabled and Molecular Monitoring of the Allograft and Transplant Recipient
    CareDX Inc.
    Role: Contributor
  • May 2020–May 2022
    Feasibility of an eHealth Educational Intervention for African Americans with End-stage Kidney Disease
    University at Buffalo CTSI Award
    Role: Co-Principal Investigator
    $45,000
  • September 2018–December 2021
    Living Donation and Kidney Transplantation Information Made Easy (KIDNEYTIME) with Animated Video Education. Project goal: Develop and test a mobile peer-based animated video educational intervention designed to improve kidney candidate knowledge and self-efficacy about living donation
    Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)
    Role: Co-Principal Investigator
    $1,200,000
  • July 2017–June 2019
    A Study of a Novel Organ Acceptance Rate Metric to Incentivize Organ Utilization
    NY State Department of Health. Thomas Burke, Executive Director of the NY State Council on Graduate Medical Education.
    Role: Principal Investigator
  • March 2016–March 2019
    A Phase 3, Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo Controlled Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of QPI-1002 for Prevention of Delayed Graft Function I Recipients of a Donation After Brain Death Older Donor Kidney Transplant (ReGIFT)
    Quark Pharmaceuticals, INC
  • March 2011–February 2016
    A Multicenter PRCT to characterize the surgical, medical, functional, psychological, and financial outcomes of living kidney donation. Kidney Donor Outcomes Cohort Study.
    National Institutes of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease (NIDDK) of the National Institutes of Health
    Role: Principal Investigator
    $204,479
  • March 2013–September 2015
    A Three -Part, Multi-Centre, Randomised, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Parallel-Group, Sequential Adaptive, Phase II Study to Evaluate the Safety, Tolerability and Efficacy of OPN305, a Humanised Monoclonal Antibody that Blocks Toll-Like Receptor 2, in Renal Transplant Patients at High Risk of Delayed Graft Function.
    Opsona Therapeutics Ltd.
    Role: Principal Investigator
    $39,204
See all (12 more)

Journal Articles:

See all (136 more)

Books and Book Chapters:

  • Kayler LK, Greenstein S, Molmenti E. (2014) Technique of Kidney Transplant Ureter Reconstruction. In: Kidney and Pancreas Transplantation. Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers
  • Kayler LK, Molmenti E. (2014) Technique of Dual Kidney Transplantation. In: Kidney and Pancreas Transplantation. Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers
  • Kayler LK, Kang D, Molmenti E, Howard R. (2010) Kidney Transplant Ureteroneocystostomy Techniques and Complications: Review of the Literature. In: Transplant Proceedings. Elsevier
  • Kayler LK, Martin A. (2006) "Financial Impact of Living Donor Organ Transplantation". In: Living Donor Organ Transplantation. CRC Press

Professional Memberships:

  • Alachua County Medical Society (2008–2011)
  • Florida Medical Association (2008–2011)
  • American College of Surgeons; Fellow (2004–present)
  • International Pediatric Transplant Association (2003–2004)
  • The Transplantation Society (2002–2010)
  • American Society of Transplant Surgeons (ASTS) (2000–present)
  • American Federation for Clinical Research (1995–2000)
  • Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society (1991–1995)

Presentations:

  • "Reaching Patients with Transplant Education: An Easy Dissemination Strategy" 2024 National Kidney Foundation 20th Annual Meeting of the Upstate and Western NY Council on Renal Nutrition (2024)
  • "The Making of Animated Videos for Health Communication" University at Buffalo Clinical and Translation Science Institute (CTSI) Annual Forum (2023)
  • "The impact of nonidentical ABO Deceased-Donor Kidney Transplantation on Kidney Utilization" American Society of Transplant Surgeons Winter Symposium (2022)
  • "How to shorten the wait for Kidney Transplantation with Deceased-donor kidneys" NY Center for Kidney Transplantation Inc (2021)
  • "Lessons learned creating person-facing animated-video education" Renal Medicine Grand Rounds (2021)
  • "Live-donor Kidney Transplantation" ConnectLife Virtual education (2021)
  • "Transforming Education about Kidney Transplantation" Virtual CME Saturday. UB Family Medicine (2021)
  • "Waiting too long for a Kidney Transplant? 5 Decisions patients can make to get a kidney sooner" Center for Kidney Transplantation Inc ECHO series (2020)
  • "Catalyze Organ Utilization through Modified Risk Adjustment. Soapbox Session: Fix the System - Changing Metrics for Increasing Utilization" 17th Annual State of the Art Winter Symposium (2017)
  • "Impact of Cold Ischemia Time in Kidney Transplants from Donation after Circulatory Death Donors" 12th Annual Research Day University at Buffalo (2016)
See all (76 more)

Service Activities:

  • ODHS Study Section Special Emphasis Panel/Scientific Review Group; NIH Ad hoc Reviewer (2024)
  • Business Practices Committee (ASTS); Member (2024–2027)
  • NIDDK Investigator Award to Support Mentoring of Early Career Researchers from Diverse Backgrounds; NIDDK Reviewer (2023)
  • NY Center for Kidney Transplantation Inc. (statewide collaborative); President (2023–present)
  • Clinical Transplantation; Associate Editor (2022–present)
  • Member of the Council and Member of the Committee to review NASEM report; NY State Department of Health Transplant Council Committee Member (2022–present)
  • National Expert in Transplant for IPRO ESRD Program; Advisory Board Group Member (2021–present)
  • ; Member (2021–present)
  • UB Internal Review Board alternate member; member (2021–2024)
  • Secretary, UB Surgeons Incorporated; Secretary (2021–2022)
  • Kidney and Pancreas Transplant Fellowship; Fellowship Director (2019–2023)
  • Jacobs School of Medicine Ad Hoc Committee on Promotions to Clinical Ranks; member (2019–2022)
  • Elected Board member UB Surgeons Inc.; Board member (2019–2020)
  • NKF's Consensus Conference to Decrease Kidney Discards-National Kidney Foundation; Member (2017–2022)
  • UB Oversight Committee for Clinical Research Process Improvement; member (2017–2019)
  • Key Leader, Dept. of Surgery Steering Committee Strategic Planning; Key Leader (2016–2022)
  • American Society of Transplant Surgeons (ASTS); Bylaws Committee Co-Chair (2015–present)
  • Organ Procurement and Transplant Network/United Nation of Organ Sharing.(OPTN/UNOS; Committee member Histocompatibility committee at large member (2015–2017)
  • Kidney and Pancreas Transplantation, Erie County Medical Center; Program Director and Division Chief (2015–present)
  • OPO/ConnectLife; Medical Advisory Boards (2015–present)
  • Clinical Competency Committee, Montefiore Medical Ctr.; Chair (2014–2015)
  • OPO/LiveOnNY Previously NY Organ Donor Network; Medical Advisory Board member (2014–2015)
  • Abstract review Committee for Resident Research Day in Montefiore; Reviewer (2014)
  • American Society of Transplant Surgeons (ASTS); Bylaws Committee member (2013–2015)
  • Kidney Transplantation Committee Region 9 Ad hoc KAS-Desensitization Workgro; Representative (2013–2015)
  • Abstract Review Committee, Resident Research Day, Montefiore; Reviewer (2013–2014)
  • Montefiore Medical Center; Fellowship Training Program Director (2013–2015)
  • Recruitment Committee, General Surgery Montefiore Medical Ctr. (2013–2015)
  • Montefiore Medical Center; Associate Residency Program Director (2013–2015)
  • Pancreas Transplantation Montefiore Medical Center; Surgical Director (2013–2015)
  • American Transplant Congress; Co-Chair, Abstract Review Committee, ATC (2013–2014)
  • Solid Organ Transplant Quality Council, Montefiore Medical Center; Council member (2012–2015)
  • Kidney Transplantation, Montefiore Medical Center; Surgical Director (2011–2015)
  • Live Donor Kidney Transplantation, Montefiore Medical Center; Surgical Director (2011–2014)
  • OPO/LiveOnNY Previously; Kidney and Pancreas Committee member (2011–2015)
  • OPO/LiveOnNY Previously NY Organ Donor Quality; Ad Hoc Workgroup for Organ Donor Quality (2011)
  • Division of Transplantation, University of Florida; Fellowship Director (2010–2011)
  • Kidney Transplantation, University of Florida; Surgical Director (2010–2011)
  • Transfusion Committee, University of Florida (2009–2011)
  • Post-op Hemorrhage Clinical Process Improvement Team, University of Florida; Team member (2009)
  • American Society of Transplant Surgeons (ASTS); Communications Committee member (2009–2013)
  • OPO/Life Quest Medical Advisory Board; Medical Executive Committee (2009–2011)
  • Physician Shadowing Course, University of Florida (2008–2010)
  • Live Donor Kidney Transplantation, University of Florida; Surgical Director (2007–2011)
  • OPO/Life Quest Medical Advisory Board; Medical Advisory Board (2007–2010)
  • American Transplant Congress; Member, Abstract Review Committee, ATC (2006–2011)
  • Committee on Student Affairs, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital (2003–2004)
  • American Society of Transplant Surgeons (ASTS); Vanguard Committee member (2003–2006)
  • Information and Education Committee, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital (2002–2004)
  • Interdepartmental Relations Committee, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital (2002–2004)
  • Critical Pathways Committee, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital (2002–2004)
  • American Society of Transplant Surgeons (ASTS); Member (2000–present)
  • Certified Instructor in Advanced Trauma Life Support; Instructor (1998–2003)
  • Suture and Knot Tying Workshop, Maricopa Medical Center; Teaching (1998)
  • Research Committee, Maricopa Medical Center; Research (1995–1996)
  • Anatomy Lab. Department of Biology, University of Nevada; Instructor (1989–1990)

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Contact Information

Dkm3 Erie County Medical Center
462 Grider street
na
Buffalo, New York 14215
Phone: (716) 289-8255
Fax: 7169617027
liisekay@buffalo.edu

This faculty member is affiliated with UBMD, practicing physicians who are also professors in the Jacobs School.

View this physician on UBMD