Michael Wachs, MD, passed away on Jan. 17, surrounded by his wife, Traci, and their three daughters, Rachael, Katie, and Sarah, along with all members of his extended family.

Dr. Wachs served as Chief of Abdominal Transplant Surgery at Children’s Hospital Colorado and Professor of Surgery at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. He was an exceptional provider, surgeon, educator, colleague, and leader. Since joining the pediatric transplant program in 1995, he helped build one of the most successful pediatric transplant centers in the nation. He was also instrumental in creating one of the largest pediatric living donor transplant programs in partnership with the University of Colorado.

Born and raised in Baltimore, Dr. Wachs attended Harvard University, earned his medical degree from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, and completed his surgery residency at the University Health Center of Pittsburgh. There, he had the privilege of working with Dr. Thomas Starzl, widely known as the "father of modern transplantation." He later completed a fellowship in transplant surgery at the University of California San Francisco Medical Center. His only place of employment was the University of Colorado School of Medicine, which he deeply valued.

Over the course of his career, Dr. Wachs performed thousands of liver and kidney transplants for both adults and children. A key milestone was performing the first adult-to-adult right lobe living donor liver transplant in 1997 with Dr. Igal Kam. He was a strong advocate for living donation and always encouraged transplant candidates to consider this option. To many families, he was more than a surgeon — he became part of their lives. He was also passionate about mentoring future surgeons, influencing the career paths of countless medical students.

Outside the operating room, Dr. Wachs was an avid concert-goer and lifelong Deadhead. He enjoyed the outdoors and loved riding his motorcycle. His legacy lives on through the physicians and patients whose lives he touched.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you consider donating here: Children's Hospital Colorado Foundation Donation Page