Mission

The UAB Lung Transplant Program aims to provide exceptional, comprehensive lung transplant care from an experienced team of specialists, including surgeons, cardiologists, nurses, dieticians, transplant coordinators, mental health professionals, and transplant social workers.

Objectives

Through lung transplantation, we aim to benefit patients with diseases such as cystic fibrosis, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), pulmonary arterial hypertension, autoimmune-related advanced lung disease, sarcoidosis, and silicosis. We also provide our patients access to educational material and teaching sessions, including classes and supportive face-to-face discussions, during each phase of the transplant process. Receiving information and support every step of the way helps to reduce patients’ anxiety so they can look ahead to the future.

About Our Practice

The UAB Lung Transplant team consists of highly skilled and experienced surgeons and pulmonologists dedicated to providing the highest quality of care. Our patients benefit from multidisciplinary collaboration among physicians and surgeons who are recognized leaders in the treatment of lung disorders. Since UAB’s first lung transplant in 1989, the UAB Lung Transplant Program has established a national reputation for excellence as a result of the commitment and expertise of the distinguished transplant team. Currently, more than 600 patients have received lung transplantation at UAB.

Once accepted for potential transplant, patients are extensively evaluated in a clinic visit. If they qualify, patients are listed for transplant and seen in clinic every three months. Transplant surgery generally lasts 4 to 12 hours, followed by 8 to 24 hours of stabilization in an intensive care unit (ICU) in the hospital. Recovery will be in the UAB Heart and Lung Transplant ICU (HTICU). When well enough, patients are discharged to local housing for several weeks for outpatient follow-up care.

The UAB Lung Transplant Program is currently located inside the Kirklin Clinic of UAB Hospital at 2000 6th Avenue South, Birmingham, AL 35243. For more information, please visit UAB Lung Transplantation.

Contacting the UAB Lung Transplant Program

For consultations or referrals, please call UAB MIST at 800-UAB-MIST (800-822-6478) to be connected with the Lung Transplant Team. 

We also offer the UAB Ambassador Program, which allows referring physicians access to their patients' UAB records. These records include inpatient and outpatient documents, activities, and lab results through a secure web portal. To learn more about this program, please call 800-UAB-MIST and ask to be connected with UAB Physician Services or email physicianservices@uabmc.edu

 
Keith Wille, M.D., UAB Lung Transplant Program Medical Director