Lung Transplant Program

The UK Lung Transplant Program was established in 1991 and has completed nearly 300 transplants over the past two decades.

Read more about our program.

View lung transplant patient stories at the links below:

Ernie Gillispie's story: Breathing easier after a double lung transplant

When Ernie Gillispie arrived at UK HealthCare, his black lung disease had made him too weak for a transplant. To build his strength for surgery, UK’s transplant team used an artificial lung that UK physicians helped pioneer.

Three hours after that, Ernie was strong enough to walk down the hallway – farther than he had in years. View Ernie's story and get more details >

UK HealthCare Surgeons are First to Perform Novel Procedures Prior to Transplant

Surgeons at UK HealthCare recently became the first ever to perform two specific procedures together as a bridge to lung transplantation. Wanda Craig, of Lexington, Ky., is the first patient in history to receive these procedures, and at the age of 68, she is also the oldest living human to be bridged to transplant using an artificial lung device, also known as an extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Read Wanda Craig's story >  

 Sid Vahal's Lung Transplant Story

View the video about Sid Vahal made by the America Lung Association >

Request an appointment online, or if you would like help choosing a physician or scheduling an appointment, please call 859-257-1000 or toll free 1-800-333-8874 Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. - 6 p.m.