(
out of
19
reviews
)
Board Certification
|
American Board of Internal Medicine (Sub: Critical Care Medicine)
American Board of Internal Medicine (Sub: Pulmonary Disease)
American Board of Internal Medicine (Internal Medicine)
Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates
National Board of Medical Examiners
|
Patient Rating
Patients consistently praise his medical expertise and diagnostic skill, noting that he explains conditions and treatment plans clearly in plain language. Commenters emphasize his attentiveness, thoroughness, and willingness to listen and spend time with each patient. Many describe meaningful improvements in their lung health and call him caring, accessible, and life-changing.
Generated via Patient Reviews
5.0
/5
( out of
19 reviews
)
The patient rating score is an average of all responses on our patient experience survey. The rating averages scores for all questions about care from our providers. The scale on which responses are measured is 1 to 5 with 5 being the best score.
Patient comments are gathered from our patient experience survey and displayed in their entirety. For the convenience of our visitors, some patient comments have been translated from their original language into English while preserving their original meaning as accurately as possible. Patients are de-identified for confidentiality and patient privacy.
Board Certification and Academic Information
| Academic Departments |
Internal Medicine
-Assistant Professor (Clinical) |
|---|---|
| Academic Divisions |
Public Health
|
| Board Certification |
American Board of Internal Medicine (Sub: Critical Care Medicine)
American Board of Internal Medicine (Sub: Pulmonary Disease)
American Board of Internal Medicine (Internal Medicine)
Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates
National Board of Medical Examiners
|
Education history
| Postdoctoral Training | Lung biology - University of Iowa | Postdoctoral Research Fellow |
|---|---|---|
| Residency | Internal Medicine - University of Iowa Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine | Resident |
| Fellowship | Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine - University of Iowa Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine | Fellow |
Selected Publications
Journal Article
- Jacobs HA, Packer KA, Vargas Buonfiglio LG, Bhakta Z, Ulrich A, Szczesniak RD, Fisher MA, Regelmann WE, Young DC, Liou TG (2026). An Observational Cohort Study of Targeted Antibiotic Treatments of Cystic Fibrosis Exacerbations. Open forum infectious diseases,
- Awan HA, Chaudhary MFA, El-Sokkary AD, Hoffman EA, Comellas AP, Guo J, Barjaktarevic IZ, Barr RG, Bhatt SP, Bodduluri S, Bowler RP, Vargas Buonfiglio LG, Cooper CB, Fawzy A, Hastie AT, Labaki WW, Martinez FJ, Menchaca MG, O'Neal W, Paine R 3rd, Schroeder JD, Woodruff PG, Curtis JL, Reinhardt JM (2025). Association of Lung Quantitative CT Scan Textures With Systemic Inflammation and Mortality in COPD. CHEST pulmonary,
- Chaudhary MFA, Awan HA, Gerard SE, Bodduluri S, Comellas AP, Barjaktarevic I, Barr RG, Cooper CB, Galban CJ, Han M, Curtis JL, Hansel NN, Krishnan JA, Menchaca MG, Martinez FJ, Ohar J, Vargas Buonfiglio LG, Paine R 3rd, Bhatt SP, Hoffman EA, Reinhardt J (2025). Deep Learning Estimation of Small Airways Disease from Inspiratory Chest CT: Clinical Validation, Repeatability, and Associations with Adverse Clinical Outcomes in COPD. American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine,
- Vargas Buonfiglio LG, Vanegas Calderon OG, Cano M, Simmering JE, Polgreen PM, Zabner J, Gerke AK, Comellas AP (2020). Seasonal Antimicrobial Activity of the Airway: Post-Hoc Analysis of a Randomized Placebo-Controlled Double-Blind Trial. Nutrients, 12(9).
- Pezzulo AA, Tudas RA, Stewart CG, Buonfiglio LGV, Lindsay BD, Taft PJ, Gansemer ND, Zabner J (2019). HSP90 inhibitor geldanamycin reverts IL-13- and IL-17-induced airway goblet cell metaplasia. J Clin Invest, 129(2), 744-758.
- Vargas Buonfiglio LG, Borcherding JA, Frommelt M, Parker GJ, Duchman B, Vanegas Calderón OG, Fernandez-Ruiz R, Noriega JE, Stone EA, Gerke AK, Zabner J, Comellas AP (2018). Airway surface liquid from smokers promotes bacterial growth and biofilm formation via iron-lactoferrin imbalance. Respir Res, 19(1), 42.
- Li X, Vargas Buonfiglio LG, Adam RJ, Stoltz DA, Zabner J, Comellas AP (2017). Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator Potentiation as a Therapeutic Strategy for Pulmonary Edema: A Proof-of-Concept Study in Pigs. Crit Care Med, 45(12), e1240-e1246.
- Vargas Buonfiglio LG, Mudunkotuwa IA, Abou Alaiwa MH, Vanegas Calderón OG, Borcherding JA, Gerke AK, Zabner J, Grassian VH, Comellas AP (2017). Effects of Coal Fly Ash Particulate Matter on the Antimicrobial Activity of Airway Surface Liquid. Environ Health Perspect, 125(7), 077003.
- Vargas Buonfiglio LG, Cano M, Pezzulo AA, Vanegas Calderon OG, Zabner J, Gerke AK, Comellas AP (2017). Effect of vitamin D(3) on the antimicrobial activity of human airway surface liquid: preliminary results of a randomised placebo-controlled double-blind trial. BMJ Open Respir Res, 4(1), e000211.
- Buonfiglio LG, Bagegni M, Borcherding JA, Sieren JC, Caraballo JC, Reger A, Zabner J, Li X, Comellas AP (2016). Protein Kinase C¿ Inhibitor Promotes Resolution of Bleomycin-Induced Acute Lung Injury. Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol, 55(6), 869-877.
- Li X, Tang XX, Vargas Buonfiglio LG, Comellas AP, Thornell IM, Ramachandran S, Karp PH, Taft PJ, Sheets K, Abou Alaiwa MH, Welsh MJ, Meyerholz DK, Stoltz DA, Zabner J (2016). Electrolyte transport properties in distal small airways from cystic fibrosis pigs with implications for host defense. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol, 310(7), L670-9.
- Gutierrez JA, Hannoush ZC, Vargas LG, Momany A, Garcia CC, Murray JC, Dunnwald M (2013). A Novel non-sense Mutation in Keratin 10 Causes a Familial Case of Recessive Epidermolytic Ichthyosis. Mol Genet Genomic Med, 1(2), 108-112.
Editorial
- Vargas Buonfiglio LG, Comellas AP (2020). Mechanism of ambient particulate matter and respiratory infections. J Thorac Dis, 12(3), 134-136.
He was very knowledgeable and helpful and explained everything thoroughly. I'm very pleased to have him as my specialist. Finally I have someone that cares and I have someone that is caring for my illness. Thank you Dr.Vargas
I've been to a lot of doctors in my life. Dr. Lewis is very concerned about patients very helpful and totally explains everything when you leave his office. You do know what is wrong and what to do. He's very patient and knows his job very well. I do believe this man has saved my life for as long as he has and still working on it. I would recommend him to anyone.
I feel one cannot receive better care from a doctor than what I get from Dr. Vargas. My health is improving under his care. He is a definite gold star addition to the staff at the U of U Medical Center.
I've been to a lot of doctors in my day. This man is absolutely incredible. He don't beat around the bush. He tells you just like it is and explains the problem you have. He does not use big words that we cannot understand or what they mean. He's very concerned about your health And takes plenty of time to research anything that he thinks could help you this man is a god sense to me I wouldn't trade this man's for any other doctor.
This Dr has changed my life. After 2 years of constant lung infections, pheumonia after pheumonia, other Dr said lung transplant. Dr Vargas explained I had Non tuberculosis mycrobacterium lung. I had been receiving the wrong treatment for that. He changed my meds, and I started doing better. Im 10 months out, getting stronger, becoming more active, happy with life. Dr Vargas listens and make sure you understand what hes saying. I recommend him to anyone who's had continuous lung problems. He's knowledgeable, caring and empathetic. This man took me from giving up as I did not want a transplant, to happy and getting stronger every day. Winter is here but I believe my lungs are strong enough the pheumonia is in the past. If I feel an infection coming on hes accessible. God was looking down on me when he sent Dr Vargas to me in the ER, influenza A and focal pheumonia, he did the tests, I got a diagnosis, he took me on as a patient and changed my life.
First Dr in 2 yrs to know what was going on with my lungs. Slowly getting better. Before Dr Vargus they said lung transplant. This man has given me a chance at life again.
I appreciated his directness and concern.
Extremely attentive, professional, and kind. I have never had a doctor listen to me, ask questions and take the time to understand my health issues like this Dr did. He is extremely knowledgeable not just in pulmonology, but in all aspects of physical, and emotional health. Highly recommend!
Excellent pulmonologist.
i was impressed with Dr Vargas's depth of knowledge and appreciated his explanations to help me understand.
This doctor is as patient a listener and as attentive to detail as any doctor I've ever met. He is an excellent diagnostician and care planner.
Very detailed and attentive. Spent an extraordinary amount of time listening, questioning and explaining.
He is an excellent doctor