Josue Alvarez-Casas, MD

Dr. Josue Alvarez-Casas is an ASTS ( American Society of Transplant Surgeons ) Certified Fellowship-trained transplant surgeon and a key member of the kidney and pancreas transplant team at Hackensack University Medical Center.

Dr. Alvarez-Casas earned his medical degree  and completed his general surgery residency at Universita’ Degli Studi Di Genova (Italy).  He then pursued an advanced fellowship in Abdominal Transplant Surgery at the University of Maryland School of Medicine , providing him with the expert surgical skills required to perform Kidney , Pancreas and Liver Transplantation. 

His practice is focused on performing kidney and pancreas transplant surgeries for recipients, as well as the cutting edge Robotic Assisted surgical procedure for living kidney donors. 

A fluent Spanish and Italian  speaker, Dr. Alvarez-Casas is committed to providing Culturally sensitive , clear, compassionate communication to a diverse patient community, ensuring all patients and their families feel comfortable and well-informed.

Dr. Alvarez-Casas is also Director of Organ Procurement and Preservation applying critical , evolving techniques in transplantation used to maintain donor organ viability outside the body. He has expertise in Machine perfusion , including Normothermic and hypothermic methods, continuously delivering Oxygenated solutions to tissues , allowing for assessment , repair and extended transport times for Kidneys , Livers and Pancreas. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Are kidney donors able to live normal, healthy lives after donation? 
Donors can live a normal life after donation. We fully evaluate everybody prior to allowing them to donate, and if we do determine that there are contraindications to donating and we’re putting them at risk, then we will not clear somebody to donate.

2. Does a kidney donor have to take medications for the rest of their life? 
A kidney donor will be given prescriptions for pain medication and stool softeners at discharge from the hospital. These are only for the immediate post-operative period; after that time, a donor does not have to take medication. A kidney donor will never have to take anti-rejection medications.

3. Do kidney donors have to follow a special diet following donation? 
A kidney donor should eat a healthy, well-balanced diet. However,  there are no dietary restrictions following donation.

4. Will a female kidney donor still be able to get pregnant after donation? 
A female kidney donor should wait at least six months after donation to become pregnant. The body requires time to recover from the surgery and to adjust to living with one kidney prior to pregnancy.

5. How can I schedule an appointment with Dr. Alvarez-Casas?
You can schedule an appointment by calling his office in Hackensack:
HMH Organ Transplantation
20 Prospect Avenue, Suite 404
551-996-2608