[The role and perspective of recipient transplant coordinator in Japan]

The transplant recipient coordinator (RCo) has an important role in the clinical arena of organ transplantation for better patient management and successful outcome. In Japan, the step towards organization of RCo system has been in progress along with the increase of living-related liver transplantation as well as the start of transplantation from brain-dead donors. Considering its limited numbers and lack of national educational system, the Japanese Society of Transplantation recently has organized to start the new certification system for RCo setting prerequisites for application, educational programs and method of examination.