Addressing comprehensive lung disease and transplant care needs

Written by Lee Farmer

According to data, there are more than 900 people in the United States with advanced lung disease on transplant waiting lists. Organ Procurement and Transplant Network (OPTN). That number includes about 30 Virginians at any given time. The same data shows that patients can wait more than a year to get a lung, and the need is growing. In addition to waiting time, the burden of travel and recovery are both significant.

Until now, only two hospitals in Virginia offered lung transplants. Neither is located in the heart of the Commonwealth. VCU Health recognized the need to improve access to care and stepped up support. VCU Health Hume-Lee Transplant Center now joins as the third center in Virginia to offer lung transplants, making VCU Health a go-to resource for advanced lung disease treatments.

Under the leadership of David Bruno, MD, Hume Lee has hired Vipul Patel, MD, as the program's medical director.

“Our team is strong and we are very excited to bring this program to Central Virginia,” Patel said. “As an academic medical center, we are uniquely positioned to provide state-of-the-art, comprehensive respiratory 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 to 15 transplants in its first year and grow at 20% annually.

Patel spoke to VCU Health News about his philosophy, plans for the program and how it will impact the commonwealth.

Please tell us a little about yourself. When did you become interested in lung transplantation and why?

My undergraduate studies and medical training were completed in the small city of Vadodara, India. There, hard work and resilience are 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 care medicine fellowship at the University of Southern California, I became particularly interested in lung transplantation. Witnessing the challenges and successes of this process fueled my passion to pursue a career as a transplant pulmonologist. At the time, I completed a lung transplant fellowship at St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center.

I am a determined person and actively involved in patient care. This is especially important when it comes to treating critically ill patients. The waiting time for organs to be donated can be excruciating for patients. On the clinical side, the process of prioritizing lung transplant recipients based on medical need, expected survival, and clinical characteristics is a challenging task involving complex decision-making. It takes a team of experts to evaluate each potential recipient and select the most suitable candidate. This comprehensive approach ensures that donor lungs are fairly allocated based on accepted medical, ethical, and societal perspectives. The success of this procedure depends not only on the surgical outcome but also on the quality of long-term care required for the transplant recipient.

My philosophy of care begins with the patient. We must listen to their voices to inform treatment and care. It is important to be well-informed about the disease process, treatment options, long-term care, and quality of life.

You have come to the Hume-Lee Transplant Center to begin the lung transplant program. What inspired you to start this journey?

The support from VCU Health leadership and my colleagues has been unparalleled. VCU Health is “fully committed” to supporting this program. Mr. Hume-Lee created a multidisciplinary team across many departments to support lung transplants. My vision is to develop large-scale programs with high-quality outcomes and subsequent growth that align with Hume-Lee's mission.

VCU Health is currently one of three hospitals in Virginia with a lung transplant program. How will this impact patient care in the Commonwealth?

Having the third lung transplant program in the state is critical. Typically, patients must move for months before and after their transplant to live near a lung transplant center. VCU Health is located in the heart of the state, allowing patients with end-stage lung disease to have lung transplant options close to home.

Conducting a lung transplant program at an academic medical center provides many opportunities for innovative treatments and clinical research. How will being exposed to this learning environment improve patient care and impact the next generation of healthcare professionals?

Being at an academic medical center offers unique advantages for patients and medical students. Lung transplant teams have access to the latest academic treatments and research. Another benefit for patients is our multidisciplinary approach to care, which provides the latest and most innovative treatments. This not only improves patient outcomes but also ensures that care is based on the latest scientific evidence.

The next generation of medical professionals, residents, and fellows gain hands-on experience in the dynamic, collaborative environment of the lung transplant program. This allows you to learn cutting-edge technology, gain real-world experience, and improve your clinical skills and decision-making abilities. Importantly, they are mentored by leading experts and foster a culture of continuous learning and excellence.

Academic medical centers create symbiotic environments where research and innovation enhance patient care, and where future medical leaders are trained to continually advance the care of future patients.

What do you want patients to know about your lung transplant team and this new program?

We know that the road to a lung transplant can be a difficult one for you and your family, but at Hume Leigh, you are never alone. We'll be by your side during this journey and make sure you understand every part of the process. From the initial evaluation to long-term follow-up care, our transplant team is here to help. This allows you to make better, more informed decisions.

Although our program is new, our team members are experienced and have been involved in lung transplantation for many years. Our team is dedicated to providing you with the best results after your lung transplant surgery.

Looking to the future, what are your hopes for the Hume Leigh lung transplant team as they begin treating patients?

Our multidisciplinary lung transplant team is committed to growing our program by 20% annually and achieving clinical excellence in patient care. As a team, we are focused on achieving high quality outcomes in accordance with the requirements of the Organ Procurement Transplant Network (OPTN) and the Scientific Registry for Transplant Recipients (SRTR). Our team strives to make the Hume-Lee Lung Transplant Program one of the largest in the United States delivering life-saving lung transplants with high-quality outcomes and short wait times for patients.