In medical breakthrough, UPS and KODA ship first-ever unattended kidney on a pump

Find out how UPS employees work to save lives every day
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Meet Ricky, a 54-year-old plant manager with a two-decade career at Tyson Foods. A double transplant patient, Ricky was the recipient of a groundbreaking medical shipment … made possible by UPS.

History making: Experts on the UPS Express Critical team worked closely with Kentucky Organ Donor Affiliates (KODA) to ship the first-ever kidney on a pump … completely unattended by a medical team. The shipment saved Ricky’s life at the University of Mississippi Medical Center and represented an exciting advancement in medical transportation.

How we did it: The kidney flew on a UPS plane with a perfusion pump developed by Organ Recovery Systemsa new innovation in tech that allows for kidneys to fly without trained medical oversight.

“Before, if you wanted to move a kidney on a pump, it had to be driven or you had to fly it on a chartered flight with a medical team,” said Brian Beam, UPS Express Critical manager.

A special mission: The work to get this healthcare effort off the ground began with Brian’s personal story. “My father passed due to liver failure while he was on a waiting list.”

When a KODA board member approached Brian about expanding their geographic footprint, the UPS team jumped at the opportunity. They studied KODA’s service and the process for moving organs. “I felt that UPS could do it better,” he said.

Our airline and healthcare logistics expertise made UPS uniquely qualified to support this history-making delivery.

Did you know? UPS Express Critical is our fastest service for time-sensitive, emergency goods, when speed, care and security really matter. It’s available 24/7 and all year round.

With our vast transportation network, UPS’s healthcare logistics experts can quickly determine optimal service – meaning the doctors and hospitals we serve can focus on saving the lives of patients just like Ricky.

Brian says that honoring the memory of his dad and delivering what matters is his favorite part of the job.

“We’re literally saving lives every single day.”

Did you know: UPS acquired MNX Global Logistics in 2023 to expand our capabilities of time-critical logistics, providing customers with the most reliable and efficient logistics solutions possible.

Want to learn more about our time-critical, specialized and secure shipping solutions? Visit us online at https://www.upsexpresscritical.ups.com or send us a message at UPSExpressCriticalInsideSales@ups.com.

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