Lung Transplant
Vanderbilt Health is one of the oldest lung transplant programs in the country – and the only one in Tennessee, giving new hope and longer life to patients suffering from end-stage lung disease. Our specialists offer innovative treatment options not available at other medical centers, allowing us to serve more patients while providing shorter wait times and excellent outcomes.
Conditions We Treat
- Fibrotic lung disease
- Other advanced lung diseases
Meet Your Care Team
In addition to our skilled surgeons, pulmonologists and advanced practice providers, your care team includes nurse coordinators and support staff to help you through the entire process.
Matthew BacchettaMD, MBA, MA
- Cardiac Surgery, Lung Transplant, Lung Transplantation, Lung/Thoracic Cancer, Pulmonary Endarterectomy for Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension, Surgery for Diseases of the Lung, Surgery for Diseases of the Rib Cage and Diaphragm
Caitlin T. DemarestMD, PhD
- Lung Transplantation, Robotic Surgery, Surgery for Diseases of the Esophagus, Surgery for Diseases of the Lung, Surgery for Diseases of the Rib Cage and Diaphragm, Thoracic Surgery
Eric L. GroganMD, MPH
- Lung Conditions, Lung Transplant, Lung Transplantation, Lung/Thoracic Cancer, Surgery for Diseases of the Lung, Surgery for Diseases of the Rib Cage and Diaphragm, Surgery for Lung Cancer and Esophageal Cancer
Konrad HoetzeneckerMD
- Airway Reconstruction, Cancer, Lung Cancer, Thymic Cancer and Mesothelioma, Lung Transplant, Lung Transplantation, Minimally Invasive Surgery, Otolaryngology
Eric S. LambrightMD
- Lung Conditions, Lung Transplant, Lung Transplantation, Lung/Thoracic Cancer, Pediatric Lung Transplant, Surgery for Diseases of the Lung, Surgery for Diseases of the Rib Cage and Diaphragm
Ivan M. RobbinsMD
- Allergy / Pulmonary and Critical Care, Critical Care Medicine, Lung Transplant, Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine
Ciara M. ShaverMD, PhD
- Allergy / Pulmonary and Critical Care, Critical Care Medicine, General Pulmonary Medicine, Internal Medicine, Lung Transplant, Pulmonary, Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine
Why Choose Lung Transplant at Vanderbilt
- Knowledge and experience
Vanderbilt Health has one of the busiest lung transplant programs in the country, with quality measures consistently exceeding national benchmarks. Our surgeons and teams performed 99 lung transplants in 2024, the most ever in one year. Two of the procedures involved combined organ transplants. For the second calendar year in a row, ours is the busiest program in the Southeast and is the nation’s eighth largest by volume.
- Team approach
Our thoracic surgeons, transplant pulmonologists, nurse practitioners and coordinators work together to provide compassionate, personalized care. We work with infectious disease specialists, transplant psychiatrists, pharmacists and more to meet your physical and emotional needs. Our team also works with heart specialists to provide lifesaving lung-heart transplants.
- Advanced treatments
In addition to lung transplants, we offer other specialized therapies and treatments for advanced lung disease, including extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), lung volume reduction surgery for COPD patients who are not ready for lung transplants, and pulmonary endarterectomy for patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension. ECMO can help some patients recover from certain kinds of severe lung damage and perhaps avoid a lung transplant. We also use ECMO to care for extremely ill patients waiting for a transplant.
- Short wait times
Time is critical for people in need of a lung transplant. Our wait times for patients on the active transplant list are consistently shorter than national averages.
- Coordinated pharmacy services
Our transplant pharmacists offer the highest level of care and expertise for transplant patients. Each transplant pharmacist works directly with doctors and staff to monitor patients' care plans.
- Support services
Our transplant center provides many support services, including social workers, transplant pharmacists and a dedicated nurse coordinator. They will guide you through the transplant process. We also offer a unique return-to-work program to help you resume employment and restore your emotional and financial well-being.
- Innovation
Our researchers are dedicated to developing new and more effective approaches to care. We not only apply the latest research, but also pioneer some of the latest innovations. You may have access to treatments before they are widely available.
Tests, Treatments and Services
- Dual-organ transplant