Peter Liou '13 Participates in the First Domino Split-Liver Transplant in Adults in the United States

Dr. Peter Liou '13 led one of three simultaneous surgeries at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia in a rare “domino” split-liver transplant that has set a new precedent for the field. The procedure, which took place on July 8, 2025, began with a healthy altruistic donor who provided a portion of their liver to the first recipient. That recipient’s liver—structurally intact but affected by a metabolic disorder that made it unsuitable for them—was then removed, divided, and transplanted into two additional recipients. Because donated livers regenerate, the initial act of generosity will ultimately result in four fully functioning livers.

Dr. Liou, an assistant professor of surgery at VP&S and an attending transplant surgeon at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, is trained in minimally invasive, laparoscopic, and robotic techniques. In this multi-step surgery chain, he operated on one of the final recipients, removing their diseased liver and implanting the split graft.

Read the full story about the domino split-liver transplant.