Interstitial Lung Disease Center

U.S. News & World Report ranks our pulmonology program among the top programs in the nation. Vanderbilt University Medical Center is ranked the No. 1 adult hospital in Tennessee.

Vanderbilt was one of the first medical centers — and the only one in Tennessee — to be recognized for quality care by the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation. As a national leader, we see patients with every form of interstitial lung disease and from all over the Southeast.

There are more than 200 interstitial lung diseases, and it can be challenging to tell them apart. Our specialists will review your history and tests to pinpoint your diagnosis. This is the first step in personalizing your care and determining your eligibility for innovative treatment options.

Our pulmonologists work closely with physical therapists, pharmacists, nurses, palliative care specialists and other experts — including your primary care doctor and referring pulmonologist — to develop and coordinate your personalized care plan.

At Vanderbilt, we understand that an interstitial lung disease diagnosis can be life-changing. Our team will guide you through your care plan. We can assist you with details such as scheduling pulmonary rehabilitation, getting oxygen delivered to your home, understanding your medications and informing you of financial support resources.

If it’s time to consider lung transplant, we can guide you through the process and refer you to our experienced lung transplant team. As one of the oldest lung transplant programs in the country, and the only one in Tennessee, we can provide you with expert, compassionate care close to home.

We are dedicated to developing new and better interstitial lung disease treatments through clinical trials. Vanderbilt is among the largest interstitial lung disease clinical trial programs in the country, especially for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. This means you have access to innovative approaches to care before they are widely available. To learn more about our clinical trials, call (615) 936-2298.

We continue to pioneer new approaches to care through scientific research, some funded by grants from the National Institutes of Health. In fact, our team discovered one of the genes associated with inherited idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. We also collect blood and tissue samples for patient registries so our team and researchers across the country can better understand interstitial lung disease and its genetics. Currently we are studying how telenursing and remote monitoring can help improve your quality of life.