By Leigh Farmer

There are more than 900 people whose lung disease is advanced enough to be on a wait list for a transplant in the United States, according to data from the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN). That number includes roughly 30 Virginians at any given time. The same data shows that patients can wait more than a year for a lung and the need is growing. Beyond the wait time, the burden of travel and recovery are both huge.

Up until now, there were only two hospitals that offered lung transplantation in Virginia. Neither one is centrally located in the commonwealth. VCU Health saw the need to improve access to care and stepped up to help. VCU Health Hume-Lee Transplant Center is now on board as the third center in Virginia to offer lung transplant, making VCU Health the go-to resource for advanced lung disease treatment.

Under the leadership of David Bruno, MD, Hume-Lee has recruited Vipul Patel, M.D., as the medical director for this program.

“Our team is strong and very excited about bringing this program to Central Virginia,” Patel said. “As an academic medical center, we are uniquely positioned to provide state-of-the-art, comprehensive pulmonology care to our patients.”

His team treats patients with end stage lung disease, including cystic fibrosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), pulmonary hypertension, sarcoidosis and other conditions. Under Patel, the lung transplant program is expected to perform 10 to15 transplants in the first year, with an anticipated growth rate of 20% annually.

Patel spoke with VCU Health News about his philosophy, plans for the program, and the impact it will have on the commonwealth.

Tell us a bit about yourself.  When did you first become interested in lung transplantation and why? 

My undergraduate studies and medical training were completed in Vadodara, a small city in India, where hard work and resilience were ingrained in my blood. Since moving to the United States, I have trained in New York, California, Florida, Arizona, and Maryland. During my pulmonary and critical medicine fellowship at the University of Southern California, I took a specific interest in lung transplantation. Witnessing the challenges and triumphs of the process reinforced my passion and pushed me to pursue a career as a transplant pulmonologist. At that time, I went on to complete a lung transplant fellowship at St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center.

As a decisive person, I’m proactive in my patients’ care. This is especially important when it comes to treating the critically ill. The wait for an organ can be tough for patients to bear. On the clinical side, the process of prioritizing lung transplant recipients based on medical needs, expected survival rates, and clinical characteristics is challenging work filled with complex decisions. It takes a team of professionals to evaluate each potential recipient and select the most suitable candidate. Taking this comprehensive approach ensures that donor lungs are allocated fairly based on accepted medical, ethical, and social perspectives. The success of this procedure depends not only on the surgical outcome but also on the quality of long-term care required for transplant recipients.

My philosophy of care begins with the patient. We must listen to them in order to inform our treatment and care. It’s critical that they are well informed about their disease process and treatment options, long-term care, and quality of life.   

You came to Hume-Lee Transplant Center to start the lung transplant program. What motivated you to begin this journey?

The support from the VCU Health leadership and my colleagues has been unmatched. VCU Health is “all in” with their support of this program. Hume-Lee created a multidisciplinary team across many departments to support lung transplantation. My vision is to develop a high-volume program with high-quality outcomes and subsequent growth, which aligns with the mission of Hume-Lee.  

VCU Health is now one of three hospitals with lung transplant programs in Virginia. How will this affect patient care in the commonwealth?  

It is extremely important to have a third lung transplant program in the state. Typically, patients must relocate for months to be close to the lung transplant center – pre- and post-transplantation. VCU Health is placed centrally in the state, allowing patients with end stage lung disease to have an option for lung transplant close to home.

Having the lung transplant program located at an academic medical center provides many opportunities for innovative treatments and clinical research. How does being in a learning environment like this improve patient care and impact the next generation of medical professionals?  

Being at an academic medical center provides unique advantages for patients and medical students. The lung transplant team has access to the newest therapies and research performed on the academic side. Another benefit to patients is the multidisciplinary approach to care that provides exposure to the newest, most innovative treatments. This not only improves patient outcomes, but it also ensures that care is based on the most up-to-date scientific evidence. 

The next generation of medical professionals, residents, and fellows gain hands-on experience in a dynamic and supportive environment of the lung transplant program. This allows them to learn the most advanced techniques and gain real-world experience, improving their clinical skills and decision-making abilities. Importantly, they are mentored by leading experts, which fosters a culture of continuous learning and excellence.

An academic medical center creates a symbiotic environment where patient care is enriched by research and innovation, and tomorrow’s medical leaders are trained to continue advancing care for future patients.  

What is something you would like patients to know about the lung transplant team and this new program? 

We know the road to lung transplantation can be overwhelming for you and your family, but you’re never alone at Hume-Lee. We will walk by your side during this journey, making sure you understand every part of the process. From your initial evaluation to long-term follow-up care, our transplant team will provide you with support. This will allow you to make appropriate, informed, decisions.

While our program is new, our team members are very experienced and have been involved in lung transplant for many years. Our team is committed to producing the best outcomes after lung transplant surgery.  

Looking to the future, what are your hopes for Hume-Lee's lung transplant team as they begin to treat patients?

Our multidisciplinary lung transplant team strives to achieve clinical excellence in patient care along with growing the program by 20% annually. As a team, our focus is to achieve high quality outcomes in accordance with requirements of the Organ Procurement Transplant Network (OPTN)and the Scientific Registry for Transplant Recipients (SRTR). Our team endeavors to make the Hume-Lee lung transplant program one of the highest volume programs in the United States with high-quality outcomes and short patient wait times for a lifesaving lung transplant.