The lung transplant program at Vanderbilt Medical Center is one of the oldest in the country. It was started by distinguished Professor Dr. Jim Loyd and former U.S. Senator Dr. William Frist. Vanderbilt Medical Center performed the first lung transplant in Tennessee in March 1990 and performed the Southeast's first combined heart-lung transplant in 1987.

By January 1, 2009, Vanderbilt had performed more than 250 lung transplants and 20 combined heart/lung transplants. The Vanderbilt Lung Transplant Program is a Medicare-designated program for lung transplantation and is one of only two lung transplant programs in Tennessee. Our patients come from Tennessee, Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Kentucky, Georgia, North Carolina, and West Virginia. Click here to learn about what makes us special.

Experience and Outcomes

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Lung Transplant Leadership

Eric S. Lambright, M.D., Surgical Director
Ivan Robbins, MD., Interim Medical Director
Pali Shah, M.D., Associate Medical Director

Meet Our Lung Transplant Team

We have developed a dedicated team of physicians, nurses, counselors, pharmacists and staff to help our patients through each step of the transplant process. Click here to meet them.