Lung Transplant Program
Meet Our Lung Transplant Team
Transplant Surgeons
A transplant surgeon will perform your lung transplant surgery and supervise your care immediately following your surgery. The transplant surgeon will also follow your progress after you are discharged from the hospital.
Transplant Pulmonologists
The pulmonologist is the doctor who possesses specialized knowledge and skill in the diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary (lung) conditions and diseases and who will perform your overall evaluation.
Transplant Infectious Diseases Physicians
Since transplant patients take medications to prevent the immune system from attacking their new organ, the transplant infectious diseases physician provides consultation for infectious diseases management in transplant recipients. They provide pre- and post-transplant vaccination and individual treatment plans for preventing infections.
Physician Assistants & Nurse Practitioners
Physician Assistants (PA) and Nurse Practitioners (NP) are members of the transplant team who practice medicine under the supervision of a licensed physician. The PA or NP may obtain your medical history, perform your physical exam and supervise your transplant evaluation. He or she will educate you about transplantation. After the transplant, the PA or NP will follow your progress in the hospital as well as in the transplant clinic.
Transplant Coordinators
A transplant coordinator is a registered nurse specially trained to care for patients before and after transplantation. Transplant coordinators work in different stages of the transplant process. One coordinator will be responsible for obtaining the results of your evaluation. This coordinator will serve as your main contact from the time of your evaluation until the time of your transplant. Additional coordinators will follow your progress in the hospital and provide follow-up care at each clinic visit after you are discharged.
Social Workers
Social workers are available for evaluation and supportive counseling for you and your family throughout the phases of the transplant. If you need information about local housing, fundraising, and other transplant resources, the transplant social worker can assist you.
Psychiatrists
A psychiatrist will meet with you during the evaluation to obtain a general mental health history. He or she can identify personal or social situations that may affect the likelihood of a successful outcome after a transplant. Psychiatric help is available for any developing needs or concerns.
Clinical Nutritionists
A clinical nutritionist will see you before and after your transplant to evaluate your diet and help you maintain a healthy weight. After your transplant, you may have difficulty maintaining your weight and controlling your cholesterol and blood sugar levels. The nutritionist will be available to see you regularly after your transplant to discuss these issues.
Pharmacists
A pharmacist will begin working with you after your transplant. It is important for you to clearly understand your medications and how each affects your body. The transplant pharmacist, along with your transplant coordinator and nurses, will explain the actions, dosages, and side effects of your medications. The pharmacist will be available to answer questions during your hospitalization and after the transplant.
Chaplains
A chaplain is on call 24 hours a day to visit with you while you are in the hospital. The chaplain can help you and your family deal with the emotional and spiritual issues that can be associated with transplantation.
Staff Nurses
Staff nurses are responsible for monitoring your daily care in the hospital. They will teach you how to check your vital signs and identify any signs of infection. They will help you learn how and when to take your new transplant medications. Staff nurses play an important role in alerting the team to any potential problems
Financial Coordinators
The financial coordinator will help you understand the cost of transplantation, explain your insurance benefits and assist you in identifying resources available to you.
Organ Placement Program
The Organ Placement Team is specially trained to review offers for all organs that match with potential recipients of the Emory Transplant Center. This nursing team is on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to review donor offers with the transplant surgeon on call. Together with numerous organ procurement organizations, this team of specially trained nurses is responsible for coordinating the transplant process from the time the initial offer is received through calling a patient in for their transplant. If and when a patient is offered a possible transplant, one of these coordinators will be in contact.
