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

Michael was passionate about living donation and encouraged all transplant candidates to consider living donors, if possible. His dedication to pediatric transplant patients and their families was obvious to everyone -- and as their surgeon, he became a part of their family. Dr. Wachs’ other passion was the training of young surgeons and developing their talent. Countless medical students chose their career path based on his influence.