When Julian Martino was diagnosed with end-stage renal disease in December 2023, he didn’t put his life on hold—he doubled down on helping others.
While undergoing dialysis, the now 25-year-old completed a nursing degree and works as a hemodialysis nurse, caring for patients living with the same illness.
“While many people in this position struggle just to keep going, Julian finished nursing school and now works in the field—treating patients with the very condition he lives with,” said his father, Dr. Pat Martino, a Brampton-based dentist and graduate of the University of Toronto Faculty of Dentistry, Class of 1992.
Julian urgently needs a kidney transplant. Neither Dr. Martino nor his wife is able donate due to pre-existing medical conditions.
The family has been advised by the University Health Network (UHN) in Toronto to share Julian’s story in the hopes of finding a living donor match.
Operating out of Toronto General Hospital, UHN’s Ajmera Transplant Centre is Canada’s largest organ transplant program—and among the largest in North America. In 2024, the centre performed more than 700 organ transplants, providing lifelong care to thousands of recipients. Within the centre, the Kidney Transplant Program is the country’s largest, having completed more than 5,000 kidney transplants since its inception, including over 1,600 from living donors.
Finding a suitable living kidney donor can be challenging due to factors such as blood type compatibility, tissue matching, medical eligibility and the physical demands of surgery and recovery. In many cases, willing donors are ruled out due to underlying health conditions or immunological incompatibilities.
“Julian’s case isn’t just personal—it’s a rare intersection of patient and health-care provider,” Dr. Martino said. “He’s living the reality of end-stage kidney disease while helping others navigate it every day.”
Interested in becoming a donor? Visit uhn.ca/transplant or call UHN’s Living Donor Program at 416 340 4800 ext. 7568. You can also email Dr. Martino at dr.pat@rogers.com if you need any additional information.