Dr. Michael Eric Wachs

Dr. Michael Eric Wachs obituary, Denver, CO

Dr. Michael Eric Wachs

Michael Wachs Obituary

Obituary published on Legacy.com by Feldman Mortuary on Jan. 17, 2025.

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Obituary of Dr. Michael Eric Wachs
Michael Wachs, MD, passed away on Jan. 17, surrounded by his wife, Traci, and 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 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 helped it become one of the most successful pediatric transplant centers in the nation. In partnership with the University of Colorado, he helped to build one of the largest pediatric living donor transplant programs in the nation.
Dr. Wachs was born and raised in Baltimore. He attended Harvard University for undergraduate studies, received his doctorate from Icahan School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, and completed his surgery residency at University Health Center of Pittsburgh, where he was fortunate to work with Dr. Thomas Starzl, known to most as the "father of modern transplantation." After he discovered his passion for transplant, Dr. Wachs became a transplant surgery fellow at the University of California San Francisco Medical Center. Dr. Wachs was proud of his one and only place of employment, the University of Colorado School of Medicine.
Throughout his career in transplant surgery, he performed hundreds of adult and pediatric liver and kidney transplants. Dr. Wachs 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. He considered his greatest career accomplishment to be training Dr. Megan Adams.
Your gift in memory of Dr. Wachs will go to support the Pediatric Transplant Program at Children's Hospital Colorado.
Service to be livestreamed via the Feldman Mortuary YouTube Channel.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Sign Michael Wachs's Guest Book

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March 30, 2025

Diane Mettler posted to the memorial.

February 11, 2025

Tim Martinez posted to the memorial.

January 19, 2025

Karina Rickmann DeMaio posted to the memorial.

4 Entries

Diane Mettler

March 30, 2025

Traci. My heart is with you and your family. He was such a nice man... Love, Diane Mettler (the Renal RD).

Tim Martinez

February 11, 2025

Dr. Wachs saved my life. I had a Liver transplant on July 6th, 2017, and Dr. Wachs was the surgeon. He also did my 5th hernia operation 3 months later. I am eternally grateful to Dr. Wachs. Thank you - Tim Martinez

Karina Rickmann DeMaio

January 19, 2025

What a man of God I´m here today thanks for him fighting for me but also being the best surgeon to do my transplant! I could never thank him enough. Here is a picture of me still being able to watch my daughter grow.

The Millers (Leslie, Marty, and Serena)

January 17, 2025

My family is beyond sad. My mom and Michael's father have been together since the deaths of their spouses. Though we never got the chance to know Michael, we are grieving with the family. May his memory be a blessing.

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Feldman Mortuary

1673 York Street, Denver, CO 80206

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Sign Michael Wachs's Guest Book

Not sure what to say?

March 30, 2025

Diane Mettler posted to the memorial.

February 11, 2025

Tim Martinez posted to the memorial.

January 19, 2025

Karina Rickmann DeMaio posted to the memorial.