Center for Advanced Lung Disease and Transplantation

Who We Treat  |  Highlights  |  Our Team  |  Locations  |  Appointments  |  Resources

The Center for Advanced Lung Disease and Transplantation at Columbia was created to give those in need access to the highest-quality care from the leaders in the field of advanced lung disease. We offer:

  • Experience: We have more transplant experience than other programs, better results than the national average, and access to all the resources of NewYork-Presbyterian, one of the nation's top hospital systems. When other programs can't handle the complexity of a case, they send them to us.
  • Innovation: We are constantly working on new advances to improve your care, including less-invasive surgeries, more effective medications to prevent rejection, and organ-preserving techniques that will allow us to offer even better results and treat more people in need.
  • A Team You Can Trust: if you need a lung transplant, you don't just need doctors; you need people you can trust and rely on, who can answer your questions any time, and who can offer you support in any form you need it. We're confident we can earn your trust with our commitment to respect, communication, and transparency.

Whether it's an initial evaluation, diagnosis, treatment, or a second opinion, our center is here for you. Call (212) 305-7771 or complete our online application form to get started today.

Who We Treat

We diagnose and treat patients with all forms of advanced lung disease, from the most common causes to the most rare and complex. We also care for patients in need of multiorgan transplants, redo lung transplants, and double lung transplants.

Our multidisciplinary team also provides treatment for patients with acute respiratory failure. We pioneered the use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO)—temporary support of the lungs using a bypass machine—to help patients in crisis. ECMO may be used to stabilize patients with ARDS (Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome) and as a bridge to lung transplant.

We are also the only ECMO center in the region to provide ECMO transport, allowing us to stabilize and transport the sickest patients to our facility for critical care management and surgery. And our center is one of a handful of ECMO Platinum Centers of Excellence in the nation.

Conditions We Treat

Treatments We Offer

Program Highlights

Exceptional Care From a National Leader in Transplantation

For people with advanced lung diseases like cystic fibrosis, emphysema, and interstitial lung disease, highly skilled care is a necessity. Columbia is the premier center in the northeast for lung failure treatment and lung transplantation. 

Outstanding Outcomes

The three-year survival rate for our transplant patients is 81%–well above the national average of 69%–all while providing care for the most complex cases.

Expanding Access to Transplant Through Innovation

We are constantly developing new methods to replenish and repair lungs previously considered unsuitable for transplant. These discoveries have the potential to greatly increase the number of donor organs available in the future. 

Improved Organ Preservation

We are pioneering the use of 10-degree cold static perfusion to preserve lungs for transplantation, allowing us to schedule and optimize transplant surgeries for the best results.

A Platinum Center of Excellence for ECMO 

Our Extracorporeal Life Support program has received the Platinum Level ELSO Award for Excellence, recognizing distinguished programs worldwide that provide exceptional care.

Stories & Perspectives

Our Team

Our team is made of experts in a variety of areas, including surgery, medicine, physical therapy, social work and more, coming together to cover every aspect of your care. Call (212) 305-7771 or fill out our online form to meet our team and learn more.

Lung Transplant Pulmonologists

Dr Selim Arcasoy
Selim Arcasoy, MD, MPH | Medical Program Director

Dr Luke Benvenuto

Luke J. Benvenuto, MD

Dr Harpreet Grewal
Harpreet Grewal, MD

Dr Kem Laothamatas

Kem Laothamatas, MD

Dr Gabriela Magda
Gabriela Magda, MD

Dr Hilary Robbins
Hilary Robbins, MD

Dr Lori Shah
Lori Shah, MD

Lung Transplant Surgery Team

Dr Philippe LeMaitre

Philippe LeMaitre, MD, PhD | Surgical Program Director

Dr Frank D'Ovidio
Frank D'Ovidio, MD, PhD

Dr Joshua Sonett
Joshua Sonett, MD

Dr Bryan Stanifer
Bryan P. Stanifer, MD, MPH

Joseph Costa, DHSc, PA-C
Joseph Costa, PA-C, PhD | Lung transplant procurement team

Infectious Disease Team

Justin Aaron, MD
Benjamin Miko, MD
Marcus Pereira, MD

Lung Transplant Immunology

Elena-Rodica M Vasilescu, MD

Lung Transplant Coordinators

Genevieve Reilly, FNPC, DNP | Chief, Transplant Coordinator
Flora Kim, AGACNP-BC
Carlo Balthazar, RN, MSN
Tamar Garner, RN, BSN
Jaime Hum, FNP-BC, DNP
Hanyoung P. Kim, MSN, RN, CCTC | Senior Transplant Coordinator
Angela Mazzocchi, MS, PA-C
Jennifer Moses, MSN, RN
Margaret R. Nolan, GPN-BC, ACHPN, DNP
Julia Sze, RN, MS, CLNC
Altagracia Taveras, RN, BSN
Inna Yampolsky, RPA-C

Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation & Physical Therapists

Nicole Pieszchata, DPT, CCS
Kim Stavrolakes, MSPT, CCS

Transplant Social Workers

Melinda Greene, LCSW
Jackson Hathorn, LMSW

Nutritionist/Registered Dietician

Brenda Klein, CND, CDCES

Lung Transplant Financial Coordinator

Stemmiejoi C. Haynes, BA

Lung Transplant Pharmacist

Jenna Scheffert, PharmD, BCPS

Stories & Perspectives

Our Locations

We are located on the campus of the Columbia University Irving Medical Center in the Washington Heights area of Manhattan. We also offer evaluations and follow up care at our New Jersey office in Glen Rock.

Center for Advanced Lung Disease and Lung Transplantation Program
NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center
Presbyterian Hospital Building, 14th Floor
622 West 168th Street
New York, NY 10032
Get Maps & Directions »

Columbia Lung and Esophageal Center of New Jersey
85 Harristown Road, #101
Glen Rock, NJ 07452
Get Maps & Directions »

Make an Appointment

To make an appointment with the Center for Advanced Lung Disease and Transplantation, please call us at (212) 305-7771 or complete our online application form. We accept a number of insurance plans, and our team can help confirm your coverage.

  • Provider Referral Letter for Lung Transplant »
  • Medical Record Fax | (212) 342-5382
  • Pulmonary Function Office | (212) 305-3357
  • Pulmonary Rehabilitation Office | (212) 305-0483
  • Lung Failure Office | (212) 305-5501
  • Emergency transfers by referring physicians | 1-800-NYP-STAT

Resources & Guides

We’ve put together the following guides to help you and your family prepare for what to expect regarding follow-up visits, medications, and other lifestyle issues after receiving your lung transplant. Whether you still have questions or you’re ready to make an appointment, call us at (212) 305-7771 or fill out our online form for anything else you need.

For even more information and to meet others who have been through our program, learn about our Lung Transplant Patient Education Seminars.