More than 35 million Americans live with some form of chronic lung disease—asthma, bronchitis or emphysema. Each year, nearly 342,000 Americans die of lung disease, making it the third leading cause of death (following heart disease and cancer).
In the US, there are dozens of specialized lung centers. People who are treated at one of these facilities have the best possible odds of recovering from a serious lung or breathing disorder.
The following lung centers are among the finest in the US. These centers have the greatest number of pulmonary specialists listed in America's Top Doctors (a compilation of the top 1% of US physicians, as rated by their peers) and score high in other well-regarded, independent rankings by related professional organizations and publications. All of the following lung centers also have outstanding lung transplant facilities.
Northeast
Brigham and Women's Hospital (Boston). Surgeons here performed the nation's first triple-organ (two lungs and a heart) transplant in 1995. Cutting-edge care for asthma, lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a group of disorders including chronic bronchitis and emphysema. 617-7325500, www.brighamandwomens.org.
Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia). Offers an internationally recognized center for the diagnosis and treatment of rare lung diseases. 800-789-7366, www.pennbealth.com/bup.
Johns Hopkins Hospital (Baltimore). World-renowned sleep disorders center offers comprehensive testing services for sleep-related respiratory conditions, such as narcolepsy. Also known for its aggressive approach to treating lung cancer. 410-955-5000, www.hopkins-lungs.org.
Massachusetts General Hospital (Boston). Noted for asthma diagnosis and treatment. Patients throughout the region are referred to its Pulmonary Vascular Disease Program for pulmonary hypertension (a rare blood vessel disorder of the lungs in which the pressure in the pulmonary artery rises above normal levels). 617-726-2000, www.massgeneral.org
New York-Presbyterian Hospital-Cornell/Columbia (New York City). Leader in diagnosing and treating asthma. Its Cardiopulmonary Sleep and Ventilatory Disorders Lab provides care for a wide range of sleep disorders related to respiratory conditions. 212-305-2500, www.nyp.org.
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (Pittsburgh). Noted for its state-of-the-art Center for Interstitial Lung Diseases (lung disorders caused by inflammation and scarring of the air sacs and their supporting structures) 412-802-3275, www.upmc.com.
Southeast
Duke University Medical Center (Durham, North Carolina). Known for its interventional pulmonology program, which treats lung cancer and benign airway disorders, such as asthma. 919-416-3853, bttp://pulmonary. Duke.edu.
Medical University of South Carolina Hospitals (Charleston, South Carolina). Leader in diagnosing and managing acute and chronic diseases of the chest and allergic diseas es. 843-792-3161, www.musc.edu/pulmonary.
Shands Healthcare at University of Florida (Gainesville). Pulmonary specialists offer a wide range of outpatient and inpatient services, including cutting-edge cancer treatments. 800-749-7424, www.shands.org.
University of Alabama Hospital at Birmingham (Birmingham, Alabama). Highly regarded Pediatric Pulmonary Center offers comprehensive care for children and adolescents with chronic lung disease. 205-939-9583. bttp://main.uab.edu/ppc.
University of North Carolina Hospitals (Chapel Hill, North Carolina). One of the largest clinical cystic fibrosis programs in the country, with more than 500 patients in its pediatric and adult programs. 919-966-6838, www. Med.unc.edwcystfib.
Vanderbilt University Medical Center (Nashville). Known for its specialized clinics for lung cancer, adult cystic fibrosis, allergic disorders and pulmonary hypertension. 615-3225000, www.mc vanderbilt.edu.
Midwest
Barnes-Jewish Hospital (St. Louis). Pioneered lung volume reduction surgery, which removes lung tissue damaged by emphysema. 314-867-3627, www.barnesjewish.org.
Cleveland Clinic Foundation (Cleveland). Noted for its Sarcoidosis Center of Excellence, and cutting-edge asthma care and research. 866-3204573, http://cms.clevelandclinic.org/copulmonary.
Mayo Clinic (Rochester, Minnesota). A world leader in lung transplants, and COPD and lung cancer treatment. Surgeons perform more than 1,000 lung cancer surgeries annually. Access to clinical trials of experimental therapies offered for lung cancer. 507-538-3270, www.mayoclinic.org.
University of Chicago Hospitals (Chicago). One of a handful of US centers with a dedicated interstitial lung disease program. Leader in diagnosing and treating asthma and pediatric lung disease. 888-824-0200, www.uchospitals. edu/specialties pulmonary.
University of Michigan Health System (Ann Arbor, Michigan). Leader in diagnosing and managing chronic lung disease, including COPD and asthma. 800-211-8181, www.med. Umich.edu.
University of Minnesota Medical Center (Minneapolis). Its Center for Lung Science and Health specializes in COPD, pulmonary fibrosis, pulmonary hypertension and cystic fibrosis. 612-624-0999, www.med.umn.edu/pacc.
Southwest/Rocky Mountain
National Jewish Medical and Research Center (Denver). The world's only facility dedicated exclusively to respiratory, immune and allergic disorders. 800-222-5864, www.njc.org.
University Health System-San Antonio (San Antonio, Texas). Known for excellence in caring for patients with end-stage lung disease, such as emphysema and pulmonary fibrosis. 210-358-4000, www.universitybealthsystem.com.
University of Colorado Hospital (Denver). Specializes in cancer prevention and early detection, smoking cessation programs, pulmonary rehabilitation and oxygen therapy. 800621-7621, www.uch.edu.
West
San Francisco General Hospital (San Francisco). Recognized for clinical care and research of infectious diseases (such as tuberculosis) and asthma. 415-206-8492, http://pulmo nary.ucsf.edu.
Stanford Hospital and Clinics (Stanford, California). International leader in cardiopulmonary disease, where the world's first heart-lung transplant was performed. Also has new chest clinic for treatment of adults with lung diseases. 650-725-7061, www.stanfordbospital.com.
UCLA Medical Center (Los Angeles). State-of-the-art center for asthma, chronic and acute bronchitis, interstitial lung disease, pneumonia, pulmonary vascular disease and sleep-disordered breathing, 310-825-5988, www.lung. Med.ucla.edu.
UCSD Medical Center (San Diego). Recognized worldwide as a pioneer in performing pulmonary thromboendarterectomy (PTE), a type of surgery to open an obstructed artery, Leader in treating chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (a rare outcome from blood clots in the lungs). 619-543-6222, http:// pulmonary.ucsd.edu.
UCSF Medical Center (San Francisco). Noted center of excellence for adult cystic fibrosis and pulmonary hypertension. Also a leader in treating chest-related cancer, including lung cancer and esophageal cancer. 415-476-1000, butp://pulmonary.ucsf.edu/.
University of Washington Medical Center (Seattle). Known for diagnosing and treating rare lung diseases and genetic lung diseases, including inherited interstitial lung disease. 800852-8546, www.depts.washington.edu/pulmcc.
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