Lung and Heart-Lung Transplant Program

Lung transplantation is a therapeutic option for select lung diseases but due it complexities, it is available at only specialized centers. The Duke Lung Transplant Program has a long history of performing complicated transplants with outstanding success. 

The team seeks to improve the health and longevity of patients with many different advanced pulmonary disorders through transplant. In 2014, we performed more transplants than any other center. Half of our patients receive their transplant within two weeks of being wait listed, which is significantly better than the national average. Our one-year survival rate is among the best in the country.

Clinical Care

The Duke Lung Transplant Program accepts patients with a wide range of pulmonary disease, including patients whom other lung transplant centers have chosen not to transplant due to their complex medical conditions. Our outstanding post-transplant survival rates consistently exceed national averages despite the fact that we perform transplant in increasingly complex and high-risk recipients.

Our program is led by John Reynolds, MD, Medical Director; Scott Palmer, MD, MHS, Scientific Director; John Haney, MD, Surgical Director; and Laurie D. Snyder, MD, MHS, Associate Medical Directors. The team includes transplant pulmonologists Azfar Ali, MDCarrie Johnson, MDOmar H. Mohamedaly, MDLake Morrison, MDMatthew Pipeling, MDJordon Whitson, MD; and Lorenzo Zaffiri, MD, PhD.

Education

The Duke Lung Transplant Program offers a one year fellowship in advanced lung disease and transplant. Applicants have completed a pulmonary and critical care fellowship training program and seek additional training in transplantation. The transplant fellowship includes inpatient and outpatient evaluation and management of transplant candidates and recipients. At the completion of the fellowship, the trainee will meet the requirements of UNOS for a pulmonary transplant medical director. Clinical research projects can be incorporated into the fellowship year if desired. Interested applicants should contact Dr. Azfar Ali, hakim.azfarali@duke.edu, for further information. Applications are accepted through November with the fellowship starting the following July.

Research

In parallel with our clinical success, our program also seeks to advance our understanding of lung transplant biology and rapidly translate our research observations directly into improved patient care. Progress in integrating both basic and clinical research with patient care is highly evident at Duke.

Learn more about current and historically relevant research endeavors.