Lung transplantation Program 

Since its inception in 1992, the University of Colorado Hospital (UCHealth) Lung Transplant Program has performed over 900 lung transplants.  In recent years, this has translated to around 40 transplants per year.  The Program’s approach to lung transplantation is that of a multi-disciplinary team with dedicated lung transplant surgeons, lung transplant pulmonologists, nurse coordinators, pharmacists, social workers, financial coordinators, dieticians, rehabilitation specialists and psychologists who provide a full spectrum of support to ensure successful outcomes and a high-quality experience for patients.  This team provides life-long care to our lung transplant recipients after transplant. We believe that ongoing engagement with the lung transplant team results in better long-term survival and quality of life.

The University of Colorado Lung Transplant Program has a strong tradition of conducting research in the field of transplant.  Previous important contributions include the roles of CMV infection and respiratory viral infection post-lung transplant and their treatments, the role of gastroesophageal reflux in chronic rejection and its surgical treatment in order to preserve lung function,  strong consideration for bilateral over single lung transplant when feasible, and extending transplant age for recipients over 65 years.  Ongoing research projects include Ex-vivo lung perfusion to expand the donor lung pool,  the identification of blood-based biomarkers to diagnose lung rejection or lung dysfunction, and harvesting the explanted, diseased native lung for detailed cellular and molecular analysis by a wide range of collaborating investigators to better understand the causes of end-stage lung disease.

Our Providers

Alice Gray MD, Program Director

Mark Steele MD

Joshua Smith MD