In 2021, UF College of Veterinary Medicine’s Small Animal Hospital performs first canine total ankle replacement surgery in Florida
In 2021, Team of UF Health neurosurgeons and neurologists become first in U.S. to implant new FDA-approved, technologically advanced deep brain stimulation system: Medtronic’s SenSight Directional Lead System
In 2020, First in Florida to perform a double-lung transplant on a COVID-19 survivor
In 2020, Florida’s first triple-organ transplant of its kind (heart, liver and kidney)
In 2020, UF Health Jacksonville first in Florida to administer COVID-19 vaccine
2010s
In 2010, Florida’s first program to use the Intrabeam radiation treatment system for breast cancer opened at Shands.
In 2011, UF cardiologists performed their first procedure using a new cryoballoon catheter system.
In 2011, UF surgeons implanted a diaphragm pacing system in a patient with Pompe disease for the first time in the world, enabling the man to breathe without a ventilator.
In 2011, UF physicians performed Florida’s first bronchial thermoplasty, a new minimally invasive procedure for severe asthma sufferers.
In 2012, UF surgeons performed a new valve replacement technique, transcatheter aortic valve replacement, or TAVR, approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
In 2013, UF physicians performed Florida’s first SynCardio temporary Total Artificial Heart implant in a 16-year-old girl.
In 2013, UF surgeons performed Florida’s first haploidentical transplantation for pediatric patients who lack suitable matched donors.
In 2013, UF Health surgeons performed their first procedure in a new hybrid operating room, which helps reduce surgery time for some aortic surgery cases and decreases patient exposure to radiation and contrast dyes.
In 2014, UF Health Shands became one of the first centers in the country with branched and fenestrated devices available for minimally invasive treatment of thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm treatment.
In 2014, UF Health neurosurgeons implant Florida’s first NeuroPace device in the brain of an epilepsy patient.
In 2014, UF Health psychiatrists treated first patient suffering from major depressive disorder with deep transcranial magnetic stimulation.
In 2015, the UF Health Shands Transplant Center became one of 15 centers nationwide to use the XVIVO Lung Perfusion System, which allows donor lungs to be kept alive and potentially improved to become eligible for transplant.
In 2015, UF Health neurosurgeon and UF Health neurologist turn on first deep brain “stimulus on demand” anywhere in the world for patient with Tourette syndrome.
In 2015, UF Health neurosurgeon implanted his 1000th deep brain stimulation lead, more than anyone else in the world, in the brain of a child with dystonia.
In 2017, infants with heart defects at UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital became the first in Florida to be sent home with specially configured iPads that helped track their vitals for more efficient monitoring by their care team.
In 2017, physicians from the UF College of Medicine’s Department of Ophthalmology were the first to implant a bionic eye in a man with a blinding genetic disorder.
In 2018, a UF College of Medicine – Jacksonville physician performed the world’s first implant of a regenerative bio envelope that protects a cardiac defibrillator implanted under the skin.
In 2019, University of Florida Health doctors were the first in the country to treat a baby with the gene therapy drug Zolgensma for spinal muscular atrophy.
2000s
In 2000, UF surgeons performed Florida’s first pediatric umbilical cord blood transplant to treat sickle cell anemia.
In 2000, UF surgeons performed north Florida’s first live-donor liver transplant.
In 2001, the Southeast’s first comprehensive clinic for mild traumatic brain injury opened at Shands and was the first in the nation linked to a research center (the McKnight Brain Institute of UF).
In 2002, UF surgeons performed a double-lung transplant on Florida’s youngest infant recipient.
In 2003, UF surgeons performed Florida’s first double-corneal transplant.
In 2004, UF surgeons implanted Florida’s first MicroMed DeBakey ventricular assist device.
In 2004, UF surgeons opened the first hybrid operating room for vascular and cardiovascular procedures, which accommodates minimally invasive procedures with the help of radiology machines for visualization, as well as traditional open procedures. A second hybrid OR opened in September 2008.
In 2005, UF surgeon develops the Florida Sleeve procedure, a new technique for aortic root remodeling with preservation of the aortic valve and sinuses.
In 2006, UF surgeons implanted Florida’s first mechanical Berlin Heart ventricular assist device in a pediatric patient awaiting transplantation.
In 2008, north central Florida’s first neuro intensive care unit opened at Shands.
In 2008, Shands radiology technicians installed Florida’s first ultra-high-resolution 320-detector row CT scanner capable of scanning an entire organ in a single pass to produce 3-D images and 4-D videos.
In 2009, UF surgeons implanted Florida’s first electronic breathing device in a ventilator-dependent patient with a spinal cord injury.
1990s
In 1990, the Southeast’s first pediatric neuro-oncology center opened at Shands.
In 1990, UF surgeons performed the first liver transplant at Shands.
In 1991, UF scientists pioneered the LINAC Scalpel, a linear-accelerator-based method of non-surgical stereotactic radiosurgery, which was first used at Shands. The LINAC Scalpel was the first device of its kind in the nation.
In 1991, UF surgeons performed Florida’s first pediatric kidney-liver transplant.
In 1993, UF surgeons performed Florida’s first neonatal heart transplant.
In 1994, UF surgeons performed Florida’s first adult lung transplant.
In 1995, UF surgeons performed north Florida’s first pancreas transplant.
In 1995, UF surgeons at Shands became the nation’s second and Southeast’s first medical center to use gene therapy to treat brain tumors.
In 1995, the Southeast’s first and nation’s third placenta/umbilical cord blood bank opened at Shands to support the treatment of patients with rare blood diseases, including cancer.
In 1995, UF surgeons performed Florida’s first pediatric umbilical cord blood transplant.
In 1996, UF surgeons performed Florida’s first adult umbilical cord blood transplant.
In 1996, UF surgeons performed Florida’s first pediatric lung transplant.
In 1996, UF physicians performed Florida’s first gene therapy for cystic fibrosis.
In 1997, UF surgeons performed Florida’s first pediatric pancreas-liver transplant.
In 1997, UF surgeons performed Florida’s first pediatric heart-lung transplant.
In 1997, UF surgeons performed the United States’ first embryonic tissue transplant for spinal cord repair.
In 1997, UF surgeons performed Florida’s first “mini” bone marrow transplantation for lymphoma.
In 1998, UF surgeons performed Florida’s first pediatric double-lung transplant.
In 1998, UF surgeons performed Florida’s first intracoronary radiation therapy.
In 1998, UF radiologists performed the Southeast’s first cardiac magnetic resonance spectroscopy.
In 1998, the nation’s first center for LINAC radiosurgery to treat brain tumors opened at Shands.
In 1998, UF surgeons performed the Southeast’s first hand-assisted, laparoscopic live-donor kidney removal for transplantation.
In 1999, UF physicians performed Florida’s first radiofrequency catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation.
1980s
In 1981, UF surgeons performed the Southeast’s first bone marrow transplant.
In 1983, UF surgeons performed Florida’s first pediatric bone marrow transplant.
In 1983, UF technicians installed Florida’s first clinical nuclear magnetic resonance imaging machine.
In 1984, UF installed the first extracorporeal shock wave lithotripter in Florida, which served as one of the six original primary investigation sites in the United States for ESWL.
In 1985, UF surgeons performed the first heart transplant at Shands.
In 1985, UF surgeons performed Florida’s first cochlear implantation for hearing restoration.
In 1986, UF surgeons performed Florida’s first pediatric heart transplant.
In 1987, UF surgeons performed Florida’s first artificial heart transplant.
1970s
In 1970, UF surgeons performed Florida’s first total hip replacement.
In 1974, UF surgeons were first in Florida to implant a 20-year rechargeable pacemaker.
In 1976, the nation’s first computerized cardiac catheterization lab, equipped to treat adults and children, opened at Shands.
In 1976, Florida’s first regional pediatric pulmonary center opened at Shands.
1960s
In 1960, Florida’s first neonatal intensive care unit opened at Shands.
In 1966, UF surgeons performed Florida’s first adult and pediatric kidney transplants.
In 1967, Florida’s first pediatric intensive care unit opened at Shands.
1950s
In 1958, UF physicians performed Florida’s first cardiac catheterization.
In 1959, UF surgeons performed Florida’s first open-heart surgery.