Meet The Transplant Team
With organ transplant, there is just no substitute for experience. The Kidney Transplant Team is one of the most experienced and highly skilled in the Delaware Valley, having cared for more than 1,000 transplant patients since 1995 with outstanding patient and graft survival rates at one year and beyond. As important, the team has earned a reputation for clinical and practice excellence and transparency.
The Kidney Transplant Team is comprised of over a dozen experienced physicians, surgeons, nurse managers, case workers, pharmacists and other transplant professionals.
Transplant Surgeon
Cosme Manzarbeitia, MD | Transplant Surgeon
Named a Philadelphia magazine “top doctor” five times, Dr. Manzarbeitia is an accomplished transplant surgeon, research pioneer and author. He has also developed and led significant organ transplant programs at several major hospitals in the U.S. The first Fellow in Multi-Organ Transplant at Mount Sinai Hospital (New York City), Dr. Manzarbeitia received his medical degree from the Universidad Autonoma de Madrid. He completed a residency in General Surgery at North General Hospital in New York City and his fellowship in Multi-Organ Transplant at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. Dr. Manzarbeitia is board certified in General Surgery.
Transplant Nephrologists
Kevin Sperling, MD | Medical Director and Transplant Nephrologist
Dr. Sperling received his medical degree from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. He completed a residency at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and a fellowship in Nephrology from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. He is board certified in Internal Medicine and Nephrology.
Roy Marcus, MD | Transplant Nephrologist
Dr. Marcus received his medical degree from Temple University School of Medicine in Philadelphia. He completed a residency at the University of Michigan Medical Center and a fellowship in Nephrology and Hypertension at the University of Michigan Medical Center. Dr. Marcus is board certified in Internal Medicine and Nephrology.
Urologists
Ilya Volfson, MD | Urologist
Dr. Volfson received his medical degree from Albany Medical College. Completed residencies in General Surgery and urology at UMDNJ New Jersey Medical School, and completed a fellowship in Endourology, Laparoscopy and Robotic Surgery at Hackensack University Medical Center. He is board-certified in Urology. Dr. Volfson is the author of several book chapters and a fellow of the American College of Surgeons.
George Dakwar, MD | Urologist
Dr. Dakwar received his medical degree from UMDNJ New Jersey Medical School. He completed a residency in urology at UMDNJ New Jersey Medical School and then a fellowship in urologic oncology at NYU Medical Center. Dr. Dakwar is board certified in Urology.
Additional Team Members
Supporting these key physicians is an experienced team of nurses, nurse managers, coordinators, social workers, dietitians, pharmacists and other transplant specialists — all of whom are available to support your needs and questions throughout the kidney transplant process.
Transplant Social Worker
Alison Harris, MSW, LSW
Dietitian
Sandra Kuserk, MS, RD, LDN
Financial Coordinator
La’Vinia Pitts
Pharmacists
Tiffany Yoder, PharmD
Richard Pacitti, PharmD, MBA
Administrative Director
Joan Gramlich, MBA
