INSIDE ASTS 2026: Stanford Abdominal Transplantation Surgery Recap

The American Society of Transplant Surgeons (ASTS) Winter Symposium was held January 22–25, 2026 at the Sheraton Grand at Wild Horse Pass in Phoenix, Arizona. The symposium brings together leading experts from across the field to share emerging research, discuss innovations in transplant care, and highlight key developments shaping the future of transplantation. Varia Kirchner, MD served as Program Chair for the meeting and there were several other Stanford contributions.

AWARDS & HONORS

Stephan Busque, MD was named a recipient of the 2026 Francis Moore Excellence in Mentorship Award, recognizing his longstanding commitment to mentoring transplant fellows and junior faculty.

The Francis Moore Excellence in Mentorship Award honors established surgeons who demonstrate exceptional dedication to the professional development, stewardship, and career advancement of fellowship trainees and early-career faculty, with recipients selected for their sustained impact on surgical education and leadership within the field.

Dr. Busque described mentorship as one of the most meaningful aspects of his career, noting, “Mentorship is one of the most rewarding parts of my career—working with transplant fellows and young faculty at a moment when they are shaping not only their skills, but their identity as surgeons and physicians is truly a privilege.” Reflecting on what he values most in mentoring others, he added, “Seeing what the mentees can accomplish over time is most rewarding.”

Dr. Busque also noted the significance of joining a distinguished group of prior recipients. “When I look at the past recipients list of this award, I am humbled. Many are leaders whose work and character have shaped our field. One of them is my own mentor, Dr. Carlos Esquivel, who received this award in 2015,” he said. 

POSTERS, PANELS, & PRESENTATIONS

• Varia Kirchner, MD and researcher Joshua Badshah, BS presented the poster Stability-Selected Machine Learning Identifies Key Determinants of Early Graft Failure in Pediatric Liver Transplantation.
  
• Varia Kirchner, MD moderated the Innovations in Transplantation session, guiding discussion on emerging technologies and advances shaping the future of transplant surgery. 
• Stephan Busque, MD presented on Simultaneous Pancreatic Islet and Bone Marrow Transplant from a Deceased Donor for Type 1 Diabetes during the session Unlocking the Pancreas: A Missed Opportunity in Every Donor?
• Marc Melcher, MD, PhD served as a moderator for the session Allocation Out of Sequence: It Saves Patients and Leads to Decreased Organ Discard, leading a debate on policy and allocation strategy.
   

The Stanford Abdominal Transplantation Surgery team also gathered for a celebratory dinner recognizing Stephan Busque, MD, for his Francis Moore Excellence in Mentorship Award, which coincided with a fellowship alumni dinner bringing together current faculty and former trainees. The next ASTS Winter Symposium will be held January 28–31, 2027, at the JW Marriott Orlando Grande Lakes in Orlando, Florida.