Ahmed Nassar, MD, is a transplant and hepatobiliary surgeon at Henry Ford Health, where he has quickly emerged as a national leader in advancing Donation after Circulatory Death (DCD) practices and expanding access to lifesaving liver transplantation. Known for his clinical skill, collaborative spirit, and forward-thinking approach to donor utilization, Dr. Nassar is reshaping the standards of care for the next generation of transplant professionals.
He was nominated by Dr. Ashraf Abouelel, Senior Staff Cardiac Surgeon at Henry Ford Health, who praised Dr. Nassar’s transformative contributions to the field. “Dr. Nassar’s leadership and collaboration with our local OPO, Gift of Life Michigan, have made Normothermic Regional Perfusion (NRP) the standard of care for DCD liver donors,” wrote Dr. Abouelel. “His work has doubled liver utilization in Michigan and changed institutional protocols to evaluate DCD donors up to age 75 — a policy shift that has substantially increased the number of organs available for transplant.”
Dr. Nassar is widely respected for his ability to unite multidisciplinary teams and drive innovation from idea to implementation. His work in building consensus around NRP protocols has positioned Henry Ford Health as a model for other programs seeking to improve DCD outcomes. A strong advocate for evidence-based practice, Dr. Nassar ensures that clinical advancement is always paired with quality and safety.
In addition to his surgical excellence, Dr. Nassar is deeply committed to mentorship and system-wide improvement. He contributes meaningfully to national discussions around transplant innovation and ethics and is recognized for his ability to translate vision into results, whether through pioneering protocols or inspiring colleagues.
Ahmed Nassar’s career reflects the best of modern transplantation: bold innovation, collaborative leadership, and a steadfast commitment to improving access and outcomes. His work is not only changing how organs are recovered and used — it’s saving more lives and setting a new bar for what’s possible.
