Chad Pavlovich

Chad Pavlovich is paying it forward. He is studying cardiac imaging at Santa Fe College, preparing to care for patients who may one day face the same challenges he overcame.

For more than a decade, Chad battled heart disease after being diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy in 2011. As his condition worsened, he faced heart failure, a lifesaving defibrillator intervention after cardiac arrest, and ventricular assist devices in 2024 to keep him alive while he awaited a transplant.

On New Year’s Eve 2024, Chad was placed on the heart transplant waiting list. Shortly after, the words “UF ORGAN OFFER” appeared on his caller ID. He answered the call and learned a donor heart was available. After receiving the lifesaving transplant, Chad returned home with a future he once feared he would never have.

Chad remains deeply grateful to his donor, the donor’s family, and the care teams at UF Health Shands Hospital who supported him throughout his journey. Now, he shares his story as a LifeQuest ambassador to honor his donor and inspire others to give the Gift of Life.