Kendra Conzen, MD

Associate Professor, Surgery-Transplant


FacultyPhoto
Medical School
  • MD, University of California, San Francisco, School of Medicine (2006)
Undergraduate School
  • BS, University of California–Davis (CA) (2001)
Internship
  • Washington University/Barnes-Jewish Hospital/St. Louis Children's Hospital (2007)
Residency
  • Washington University/Barnes-Jewish Hospital/St. Louis Children's Hospital, Chief Resident, Surgery (2013)
Fellowships
  • Washington University in St. Louis, Hepatobiliary and Abdominal Transplant Surgery (2014)
  • University of Colorado, Transplant Surgery (2015)
Languages
English
Department
Surgery-Transplant

Professional Titles

  • Assistant Professor in Surgery
  • Attending Surgeon

Publications

  • DuBray BJ Jr, Conzen KD, Upadhya GA, Gunter KL, Jia J, Knolhoff BL, Mohanakumar T, Chapman WC, Anderson CD. BH3-only proteins contribute to steatotic liver ischemia-reperfusion injury. J Surg Res. 2015 Apr;194(2):653-8. PubMed PMID: 25483735
  • Conzen KD, Vachharajani N, Collins KM, Anderson CD, Lin Y, Wellen JR, Shenoy S, Lowell JA, Doyle MB, Chapman WC. Morbid obesity in liver transplant recipients adversely affects longterm graft and patient survival in a single-institution analysis. HPB (Oxford). 2015 Mar;17(3):251-7. PubMed PMID: 25322849
  • Conzen K, Nydam TL. Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis. 1st ed. Switzerland: Springer International Publishing; c2017. Chapter 16, Liver Transplantation for PSC; p. 203-209.
  • Conzen K and E Pomfret. Liver Transplant in Patients with Portal Vein Thrombosis: Medical and Surgical Requirements. In: AASLD/ILTS Syllabus. (in press)
  • Conzen K and E Pomfret. Indications for Living Donor Liver Transplant. In: S Orloff (ed.). Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary and Transplant Surgery: Practical Management of Dilemmas. (in press)
  • Conzen K and T Nydam. Liver Transplantation for PSC. In: L Forman (ed.). Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis. Switzerland: Springer International Publishing. 2017
  • Heelan Gladden AA, Conzen KD, Benge MJ, Gralla J, Kennealey PK. A vascular anastomosis simulation can provide a safe and effective environment for resident skills development. American College of Surgeons Clinical Congress 2017, San Diego, CA. October 2017.
  • Heelan Gladden AA, Conzen KD, Benge MJ, Gralla J, Kennealey PT. A Vascular Anastomosis Simulation Can Provide a Safe and Effective Environment for Resident Skills Development. J Surg Educ. 2018 Sep - Oct;75(5):1367-1373. PubMed PMID: 29650486
  • Conzen K and Pomfret E. "What are the Indications for Living Donor Liver Transplant?" In: Chu Q, et al, ed. Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary and Transplant Surgery: Practical Management of Dilemmas. Chu Q et al, ed. Shreveport, LA: Beaux Books Publishing; 2018. pp
  • Conzen K and Pomfret E. "Liver Transplant in Patients with Portal Vein Thrombosis: Medical and Surgical Requirements." In: AASLD/ILTS Syllabus (in press)
  • Dagan A, Choudhury RA, Yaffe H, Yoeli D, Moore HB, Conzen KD, Adams M, Wachs M, Pomposelli J, Pomfret E, Nydam TL. Offspring vs. Non Offspring to Parent Living Donor Liver Transplantation: Does Donor Relationship Matter?. Transplantation. 2019 Sep 19. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 31568397
  • Choudhury RA, Hoeltzel G, Prins K, Chow E, Moore HB, Lawson PJ, Yoeli D, Pratap A, Abt PL, Dumon KR, Conzen KD, Nydam TL. Sleeve Gastrectomy Compared with Gastric Bypass for Morbidly Obese Patients with End Stage Renal Disease: a Decision Analysis. J Gastrointest Surg. 2019 May 1. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 31044345
  • Kolb et al. Liver Transplantation for Decompensated Cirrhosis Secondary to Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase (TERT) Mutation. Hepatology. Article DOI: 10.1002/hep.31111 (in press)
  • Conzen K and Pomfret EA. "Ethical Issues in Living Donor Liver Transplantation." Liver Transplantation: A Multidisciplinary Approach. P Burra (ed.)
  • Williams C, Stewart E, Conzen KD, Wolf S, Tran TT. Dabigatran Reversal With Idarucizumab in 2 Patients With Portal Vein Thrombosis Undergoing Orthotopic Liver Transplantation. Semin Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth. 2021 Jan 4;:1089253220982183. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 33393437
  • Choudhury RA, Yoeli D, Dagan A, Yaffe H, Moore HB, Conzen KD, Adams M, Wachs M, Pomposelli JJ, Pomfret EA, Nydam TL. Offspring to Parent LDLT: Narrowing the Gap Between Theory and Evidence. Transplantation. 2020 Oct;104(10):e307. PubMed PMID: 32969991
  • Schulick AC, Moore HB, Walker CB, Yaffe H, Pomposelli JJ, Azam F, Wachs M, Bak T, Kennealey P, Conzen K, Adams M, Pshak T, Choudhury R, Chapman MP, Pomfret EA, Nydam TL. A clinical coagulopathy score concurrent with viscoelastic testing defines opportunities to improve hemostatic resuscitation and enhance blood product utilization during liver transplantation. Am J Surg. 2020 Dec;220(6):1379-1386. PubMed PMID: 32907709
  • Moore HB, Yaffe H, Pomposelli JJ, Wachs M, Bak T, Kennealey P, Conzen K, Adams M, Pshak T, Choudhury R, Walker C, Schulick A, Ferrell T, Chapman MP, Pomfret EA, Nydam TL. Detection of early allograft dysfunction at 30 min of reperfusion in liver transplantation: An intraoperative diagnostic tool with real time assessment of graft function. Am J Surg. 2020 Dec;220(6):1518-1525. PubMed PMID: 32907708
  • Walker CB, Moore HB, Nydam TL, Schulick AC, Yaffe H, Pomposelli JJ, Wachs M, Bak T, Conzen K, Adams M, Pshak T, Choudhury R, Chapman MP, Pomfret EA, Kennealey P. The use of thromboelastography to assess post-operative changes in coagulation and predict graft function in renal transplantation. Am J Surg. 2020 Dec;220(6):1511-1517. PubMed PMID: 32878689
  • Jackson WE, Kriss MS, Burton JR Jr, Nydam TL, Conzen KD, Pomposelli JJ, Pomfret EA. Reply to "Living liver donation in previous kidney donors: A single-center experience". Am J Transplant. 2021 Jan;21(1):435-437. PubMed PMID: 32558135
  • Kassam AF, Cortez AR, Winer LK, Conzen KD, El-Hinnawi A, Jones CM, Matsuoka L, Watkins AC, Collins KM, Bhati C, Selzner M, Sonnenday CJ, Englesbe MJ, Diwan TS, Dick AAS, Quillin RC 3rd. Extinguishing burnout: National analysis of predictors and effects of burnout in abdominal transplant surgery fellows. Am J Transplant. 2021 Jan;21(1):307-313. PubMed PMID: 32463950
  • Choudhury RA, Foster M, Hoeltzel G, Moore HB, Yaffe H, Yoeli D, Prins K, Ghincea C, Vigneshwar N, Dumon KR, Rame JE, Conzen KD, Pomposelli JJ, Pomfret EA, Nydam TL. Bariatric Surgery for Congestive Heart Failure Patients Improves Access to Transplantation and Long-term Survival. J Gastrointest Surg. 2020 Apr 22. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 32323251
  • Choudhury RA, Yoeli D, Moore HB, Yaffe H, Hoeltzel GD, Dumon KR, Williams NN, Abt PL, Conzen KD, Nydam TL. Reverse epidemiology and the obesity paradox for patients with chronic kidney disease: a Markov decision model. Surg Obes Relat Dis. 2020 Jul;16(7):948-954. PubMed PMID: 32303425
  • Kolb JM, Conzen K, Wachs M, Crossno J Jr, McMahon B, Abidi MZ, Pomfret EA, Kriss M. Liver Transplantation for Decompensated Cirrhosis Secondary to Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase Mutation. Hepatology. 2020 Jul;72(1):356-358. PubMed PMID: 31943309
  • Dagan A, Choudhury RA, Yaffe H, Yoeli D, Moore HB, Conzen KD, Adams M, Wachs M, Pomposelli JJ, Pomfret EA, Nydam TL. Offspring Versus Nonoffspring to Parent Living Donor Liver Transplantation: Does Donor Relationship Matter?. Transplantation. 2020 May;104(5):996-1002. PubMed PMID: 31568397
  • Choudhury RA, Hoeltzel G, Prins K, Chow E, Moore HB, Lawson PJ, Yoeli D, Pratap A, Abt PL, Dumon KR, Conzen KD, Nydam TL. Sleeve Gastrectomy Compared with Gastric Bypass for Morbidly Obese Patients with End Stage Renal Disease: a Decision Analysis. J Gastrointest Surg. 2020 Apr;24(4):756-763. PubMed PMID: 31044345
  • Yoeli D, Jackson WE, Adams MA, Wachs ME, Sundaram SS, Sater A, Cisek JR, Choudhury RA, Nydam TL, Pomposelli JJ, Conzen KD, Kriss MS, Burton JR Jr, Pomfret EA. Challenging the Traditional Paradigm of Supply and Demand in Pediatric Liver Transplantation Through Nondirected Living Donation: A Case Series. Liver Transpl. 2021 Oct;27(10):1392-1400. PubMed PMID: 34048131
  • Schnickel GT, Greenstein S, Berumen JA, Elias N, Sudan DL, Conzen KD, Mekeel KL, Foley DP, Hirose R, Parekh JR. Understanding the Impact of Pneumonia and Other Complications in Elderly Liver Transplant Recipients: An Analysis of NSQIP Transplant. Transplant Direct. 2021 May;7(5):e692. PubMed PMID: 33912659
  • Williams C, Stewart E, Conzen KD, Wolf S, Tran TT. Dabigatran Reversal With Idarucizumab in 2 Patients With Portal Vein Thrombosis Undergoing Orthotopic Liver Transplantation. Semin Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth. 2021 Sep;25(3):200-207. PubMed PMID: 33393437
  • Jackson WE, Kriss MS, Burton JR Jr, Nydam TL, Conzen KD, Pomposelli JJ, Pomfret EA. Reply to "Living liver donation in previous kidney donors: A single-center experience". Am J Transplant. 2021 Jan;21(1):435-437. PubMed PMID: 32558135
  • Kassam AF, Cortez AR, Winer LK, Conzen KD, El-Hinnawi A, Jones CM, Matsuoka L, Watkins AC, Collins KM, Bhati C, Selzner M, Sonnenday CJ, Englesbe MJ, Diwan TS, Dick AAS, Quillin RC 3rd. Extinguishing burnout: National analysis of predictors and effects of burnout in abdominal transplant surgery fellows. Am J Transplant. 2021 Jan;21(1):307-313. PubMed PMID: 32463950
  • Choudhury RA, Foster M, Hoeltzel G, Moore HB, Yaffe H, Yoeli D, Prins K, Ghincea C, Vigneshwar N, Dumon KR, Rame JE, Conzen KD, Pomposelli JJ, Pomfret EA, Nydam TL. Bariatric Surgery for Congestive Heart Failure Patients Improves Access to Transplantation and Long-term Survival. J Gastrointest Surg. 2021 Apr;25(4):926-931. PubMed PMID: 32323251
  • Truong R, Moore HB, Sauaia A, Kam I, Pshak T, Adams M, Conzen K, Zimmerman MA, Wachs M, Bak T, Pomposelli J, Pomfret E, Nydam TL. Choledochoduodenostomy continues to be a safe alternative for biliary reconstruction in deceased-donor liver transplantation. Am J Surg. 2022 Dec;224(6):1398-1402. PubMed PMID: 36400602
  • Amara D, Parekh J, Sudan D, Elias N, Foley DP, Conzen K, Grieco A, Braun HJ, Greenstein S, Byrd C, Ko C, Hirose R. Surgical complications after living and deceased donor liver transplant: The NSQIP transplant experience. Clin Transplant. 2022 Jun;36(6):e14610. PubMed PMID: 35143698
  • Yoeli D, Jackson WE, Adams MA, Wachs ME, Sundaram SS, Sater A, Cisek JR, Choudhury RA, Nydam TL, Pomposelli JJ, Conzen KD, Kriss MS, Burton JR Jr, Pomfret EA. Challenging the Traditional Paradigm of Supply and Demand in Pediatric Liver Transplantation Through Nondirected Living Donation: A Case Series. Liver Transpl. 2021 Oct;27(10):1392-1400. PubMed PMID: 34048131
  • Cullen JM, Conzen KD, Pomfret EA. Living Donor Liver Transplantation: Left Lobe or Right Lobe. Surg Clin North Am. 2024 Feb;104(1):89-102. PubMed PMID: 37953043
  • Moore HB, LaRiviere W, Rodriguez I, Brown K, Hadley K, Pomposelli JJ, Adams MA, Wachs ME, Conzen KD, Kennealey PT, Kaplan B, Pomfret EA, Nydam TL. Early predictors of prolonged intensive care utilization following liver transplantation. Am J Surg. 2023 Dec;226(6):829-834. PubMed PMID: 37604748
  • Malamon JS, Jackson WE, Saben JL, Conzen K, Schold JD, Pomposelli JJ, Pomfret EA, Kaplan B. A model for calculating the long-term estimated post-transplant survival of deceased donor liver transplant patients. EBioMedicine. 2023 Apr;90:104505. PubMed PMID: 36870199
  • Truong R, Moore HB, Sauaia A, Kam I, Pshak T, Adams M, Conzen K, Zimmerman MA, Wachs M, Bak T, Pomposelli J, Pomfret E, Nydam TL. Choledochoduodenostomy continues to be a safe alternative for biliary reconstruction in deceased-donor liver transplantation. Am J Surg. 2022 Dec;224(6):1398-1402. PubMed PMID: 36400602
  • Amara D, Parekh J, Sudan D, Elias N, Foley DP, Conzen K, Grieco A, Braun HJ, Greenstein S, Byrd C, Ko C, Hirose R. Surgical complications after living and deceased donor liver transplant: The NSQIP transplant experience. Clin Transplant. 2022 Jun;36(6):e14610. PubMed PMID: 35143698
  • Zubkov MR, Moore HB, Lopez R, Brosi D, Choudhury RA, Arrigain S, Saben J, Conzen KD, Pomposelli JJ, Pomfret EA, Schold JD. Prognostic value of body mass index is highly modified by sex among recipients of liver transplant. Liver Transpl. 2024 Sep 1;30(9):962-966. PubMed PMID: 38687166
  • Schold JD, Conzen KD, Cooper J, Arrigain S, Lopez R, Mohan S, Husain SA, Huml AM, Kennealey PT, Kaplan B, Pomfret EA. Quantifying the Effect of Consent for High-Kidney Donor Profile Index Deceased Donor Transplants in the United States. J Am Soc Nephrol. 2024 May 1;35(5):630-641. PubMed PMID: 38347668
  • Cullen JM, Conzen KD, Pomfret EA. Living Donor Liver Transplantation: Left Lobe or Right Lobe. Surg Clin North Am. 2024 Feb;104(1):89-102. PubMed PMID: 37953043
  • Moore HB, LaRiviere W, Rodriguez I, Brown K, Hadley K, Pomposelli JJ, Adams MA, Wachs ME, Conzen KD, Kennealey PT, Kaplan B, Pomfret EA, Nydam TL. Early predictors of prolonged intensive care utilization following liver transplantation. Am J Surg. 2023 Dec;226(6):829-834. PubMed PMID: 37604748
  • Malamon JS, Jackson WE, Saben JL, Conzen K, Schold JD, Pomposelli JJ, Pomfret EA, Kaplan B. A model for calculating the long-term estimated post-transplant survival of deceased donor liver transplant patients. EBioMedicine. 2023 Apr;90:104505. PubMed PMID: 36870199

Professional Memberships

  • American Society of Transplant Surgeons (ASTS), Member
  • American Hepatopancreatobiliary Association (AHPBA), Member
  • American College of Surgeons, Associate Fellow
  • Denver Academy of Surgery, Member
  • American Association for the Study of Liver Disease (AASLD), Member
  • International Liver Transplant Society, Member

Practice Locations

UCHealth Transplant Center - Anschutz Medical Campus
1635 Aurora Ct
7th Floor
Aurora, CO 80045
720-848-0005

Hospital Affiliation
  • University of Colorado Hospital
  • Children's Hospital Colorado

Specialty Information

Specialties
  • Surgery, Board Certification (2014)
  • Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Certificate (2014)
  • Abdominal Transplant Surgery, Certificate (2015)
Conditions & Treatments
  • Surgery - Liver Transplant Surgery
  • Surgery
  • Surgery - Kidney Transplant Surgery
  • Surgery - Laparoscopic Surgery
  • Surgery - Major Liver Surgery (Hepatobiliary)
  • Surgery - Pancreas Transplant Surgery
  • Surgery - Transplant Surgery
  • Surgery - Heart Transplant Surgery
  • Surgery - Open Thoracic Aortic Surgery
  • Surgery - Living Liver Donation
Clinical Interests
My clinical interests include transplant surgery (liver, kidney, and pancreas), living donor operations for liver and kidney, non-transplant liver and pancreas surgery, bile duct surgery, and dialysis access surgery. I provide care for patients before, during, and after surgery.