On This Page

Treating Lung Disease With Lung Transplant Surgery

At University of Utah Health, our experienced lung transplant team provides exceptional care for patients in the Mountain West—from evaluation through transplant surgery and recovery. Our program is the only one in the region that serves adult patients with advanced lung disease.

Our team will be by your side to help you navigate the complex process of:

  • being listed for a transplant,
  • receiving a donor lung, and
  • recovering from surgery.

Contact Us

Phone: 801-585-3697
Toll-free: 800-456-8341
Fax: 801-213-3969

Email: lungtransplant@hsc.utah.edu

What Is a Lung Transplant?

A lung transplant is an operation in which the surgeon replaces a diseased, failing lung with a healthy lung from a deceased donor. Some people receive one lung, and others need two. In some situations, patients receive two lungs and a new heart.

People who are on a lung transplant waiting list have advanced lung disease that is not responding to therapy. Poor health prevents them from enjoying everyday activities. 

Types of Lung Disease and Transplant Surgery

Our surgeons perform lung transplant surgery for patients with the following conditions:

  • chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or emphysema, including emphysema resulting from Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (AATD);
  • interstitial lung diseases (ILD), such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis or IPF, and other forms of ILD caused by conditions like scleroderma, rheumatoid disease, or systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE);
  • cystic fibrosis (CF) and other forms of bronchiectasis not related to CF;
  • occupational or work-related lung diseases like silicosis, pneumoconiosis, or asbestosis;
  • pulmonary hypertension, including idiopathic pulmonary hypertension (previously called primary pulmonary hypertension) and secondary pulmonary hypertension;
  • sarcoidosis.

couple walking together
US News & World Report recognition for top hospital in pulmonology and lung surgery

Expert Care From Our Team

At U of U Health, our caring team of lung transplant providers knows what it’s like for patients dealing with advanced lung disease. We are here to provide empathy, support and hope. Our team includes:

  • pulmonary medicine doctors,
  • transplant surgeons,
  • transplant coordinators and other nurses,
  • pharmacists,
  • social workers,
  • registered dietitians,
  • financial specialists, and
  • pulmonary rehabilitation therapists.

More About Our Lung Transplant Team

Find a Lung Transplant Doctor

Lung Transplant Cost

Our financial coordinator will contact your insurance company to make sure your policy will cover a lung transplant. The insurance company will review your records to confirm that you meet all their criteria for a lung transplant.

It is not uncommon for the financial coordinator to recommend patients and families consider fundraising to help with transplant related costs. Our financial coordinators are experts at what kind of fundraising is best to do related to lung transplant.

To contact the transplant financial coordinators, please email txfinancial@hsc.utah.edu.

"It’s the most amazing feeling in the world to be able to breathe. People take it for granted, but it is a miracle. I really liked the transplant team at the University of Utah, they were great with my dad and treated him really well."

—Maylee Lemon
Lung Transplant Patient

Lung Evaluation & Lung Transplant Waiting List

Lung Transplant Evaluation

Before we place you on a waiting list, our team will do an evaluation. Learn more about lung transplant evaluation.

Lung Transplant Waiting List

When all of your test results are available and other appointments have taken place, members of our transplant team will have a selection meeting to review your results.

People are placed on the lung transplant waiting list if:

  • the team agrees that a transplant is medically safe and appropriate for the patient’s specific case and
  • the patient’s insurance company and the hospital’s financial department have provided authorization.

After the team reaches a decision, you will be contacted to meet with one of the doctors and a transplant coordinator to discuss the next steps.

Making an Appointment

To make an appointment with one of our transplant pulmonologists, call 801-585-3697 or 800-456-8341 or request an appointment online. Depending on your insurance plan, you may need a referral from your doctor. Before scheduling your appointment, our team will request medical records from your pulmonologist or your primary care physician to help plan your .

In addition, we offer “Before a Transplant: What to Expect,” an in-depth guide that can help you understand the transplant evaluation process. To receive a printed copy of the guide in the mail, please contact us. 

Hear From Our Patients

Double Lung Transplant Saves Utah Veteran's Life

For Joe Rands, breathing hasn’t always been easy. After living with pulmonary fibrosis for more than 15 years, breathing became more and more difficult in the early months of 2020. Unfortunately for Rands, a 59-year-old veteran and Utah native, the decline came hard and fast.

“I thought I was out of shape, and everyone else just thought I was lazy,” said Rands. “That is, until I started getting extreme headaches, feeling lightheaded, and sluggish.”

Previous Smoker Gets New Lease on Life

A heavy smoker for 40 years, Curtis finally managed to quit in 2001 at age 58 thanks to his wife’s, Linda's, encouragement, his own determination, and a generous supply of nicotine gum and patches. “But it caught up with me,” said Curtis, who had developed chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) that led to end-stage lung disease.

Curtis found help at University of Utah Health's Lung Transplant Program.

Respiratory Issues From Unknown Cause Leads to Lung Transplant

In her big, blended family of nine, Maylee Lemon is an optimist who loves to keep everyone laughing. It was during her pregnancy with her youngest daughter in 2005 that she first noticed some respiratory issues, but at the time she thought it was pregnancy-related. 

Later after her pregnancy, Maylee went to see a pulmonologist who started monitoring her condition. Eventually she was referred to the Lung Transplant Team at University of Utah Health.

Health Insurance & Center of Excellence

Health insurance coverage, contracts, and payment may be subject to changes beyond the control of University of Utah Health. The University of Utah Transplant Department will contact your insurance and verify that your insurance is contracted with our facility and providers.

If your insurance is not contracted, we will attempt a single-case-agreement for transplant services to be performed at the University of Utah. Ultimately the patient is responsible for payment related to all services.

Please reach out to our transplant financial coordinators with any questions related to transplant finances: txfinancial@hsc.utah.edu.

Hear From Our Specialists

Dec 07, 2021

Robotic Surgery for Organ Transplant: Donor Perspective

Robot-assisted endoscopic surgery has the potential to revolutionize the methods and outcomes of many surgical procedures. For organ transplant surgeon Dr. George Rofaiel, University of Utah Health's advanced surgical m...

Sep 09, 2021

Lung transplant: Is it for you?

Undergoing lung transplant surgery is a highly complex and life-changing experience — affecting a patient's quality of life. That’s what drives Dr. Matthew Morrell, a pulmonologist and Medical Director of the Lung Tr...

Jun 14, 2021

Child Organ Donation

Most parents have never thought about the difficult decision of whether or not you should donate your child’s organs when the unthinkable happens. Pediatrician Dr. Cindy Gellner discusses the potential benefits of pedi...

View More in Health Feed