Covenant Health Brings Kidney Transplant Surgery Back to West Texas

in Collaboration with Texas Tech Physicians

• By Meredith Avery Cunningham (via Covenant Health news release)
• April 29, 2025
• Health

Covenant Health is proud to once again bring critically necessary services back to West Texas by establishing the region’s only kidney transplant surgery program. 

The Kidney Transplant Program at Covenant Medical Center will provide life-changing opportunities for patients suffering from end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and chronic kidney conditions. The program aims to reduce the waiting time and travel burdens previously faced by patients who had to seek treatment outside West Texas and eastern New Mexico. 

"Having a kidney transplant program right here in Lubbock means more than just medical convenience; it represents a lifeline for our patients and their families," said Dr. Lara Johnson, Covenant Health Chief Medical Officer. “The kidney transplant program not only enhances the quality of care available to our patients but also solidifies Covenant Medical Center's position as a leader in advanced medical treatments in West Texas."

Together, Covenant Health and Texas Tech Physicians realized the need to bring this service back to the South Plains, offering new hope to patients in Lubbock and the surrounding area. The program is spearheaded by Texas Tech Physicians transplant surgeon and director Lynsey Biondi, M.D.. 

The first surgery was performed at Covenant Medical Center on Monday, April 7. The patient, a male in his 40s, is recovering well. 

“Last week, I had the privilege of performing the first kidney transplant surgery at our new program in Lubbock,” Dr. Biondi said. “Our patient is now off dialysis, has normal kidney function, and is on the road to a full recovery. West Texas faces one of the highest rates of kidney failure in the nation, and our skilled team of transplant professionals is thrilled to bring this life-changing surgery to our community. This is just the beginning—one transplant down, countless more to come.”

The Kidney Transplant Program at Covenant Medical Center is fully approved and accredited by the federal government and the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN/UNOS).

Our experienced team of transplant professionals includes doctors, nurses, social workers, a pharmacist, a dietitian, and a financial counselor. A free education session is available to any provider that is interested. 

For more information about the kidney transplant program, please call 806-725-3800 or visit the Covenant Health website. 

About Covenant Health

As the home of compassionate care and health excellence, it is Covenant Health’s vision to create Health for a Better World. Covenant Health is home to the only free-standing children’s hospital in West Texas, the only certified stroke center, and the best hospital in the Panhandle Plains region as voted by U.S. News & World Report. For more than 100 years our pioneering spirit has been moving us forward, bringing world-class research and the most advanced treatments to West Texas and eastern New Mexico. Our connected health network of eight hospitals, and more than 6,000 caregivers allows us to provide our patients with the excellent care they deserve, with more locations, doctors, and specialists. 

About Texas Tech Physicians

As the medical practice component of the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine, Texas Tech Physicians delivers primary care and specialty care through our West Texas clinics in Amarillo, Lubbock and the Permian Basin. Our health care facilities are managed by the same doctors who teach tomorrow's leading physicians, which places our providers at the forefront of the latest and best practices related to modern medical technology and patient care.