Department of Thoracic Surgery

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February 4, 2026

Clinical trial led by Vanderbilt Health seeks to refine lung cancer biopsy standards

The development of better biopsy approaches is driven by the fact that lung cancer kills more than 130,000 Americans annually, and survival depends on early diagnosis, which requires biopsy to be definitive.

By Jill Clendening
February 3, 2026

1,000 lungs and countless more breaths: Vanderbilt Transplant Center commemorates landmark

Vanderbilt Health’s fourth lung transplant patient is thought to be the world’s record holder for longevity following a single lung transplant.

By Matt Batcheldor
Lung transplant patient Michelle Ankele-Yamashita. (photo by Erin O. Smith)
June 18, 2025

Transplant patient’s long journey brings her from the Aloha State to the Volunteer State

She was turned down by multiple transplant centers between Honolulu and Nashville, deemed too sick, before the Vanderbilt Lung Transplant Program accepted her as a patient.

By Matt Batcheldor
A year after her lung transplant, Amanda Atkins is back to enjoying hiking, walking her dog and being with family and friends. (photo by Erin O. Smith)
April 8, 2025

Patient’s journey a beacon of hope to those facing a life-changing transplant

Amanda Atkins is sharing her story to give hope to those facing a life-changing transplant and to give thanks to her organ donor who made it all possible.

By Matt Batcheldor
Konrad Hoetzenecker, MD, PhD
November 22, 2024

Konrad Hoetzenecker named surgical director of the Vanderbilt Lung Transplant Program

Hoetzenecker comes to Vanderbilt from the Medical University of Vienna, Austria, where he has been professor of Lung Transplantation and director of the Lung Transplant Program.

By Matt Batcheldor
Heart patient Lisa Kimbrell, right, with her sister, Rebecca Bickerton.
November 14, 2024

Teams help patient survive multiple traumatic injuries

In August 2022 Lisa Kimbrell was involved in a near-fatal wreck. A year later two dogs attacked her and sent her back to the hospital.

By Matt Batcheldor
September 20, 2024

Vanderbilt researchers speaks at World Conference on Lung Cancer

Deppen spoke about biological, population and technology issues related to the discovery and implementation of biomarkers for early cancer detection.
By Tom Wilemon
April 8, 2024

Lung transplant patient, family glad they came to a place where ‘every single person cared’

Mike Boston was turned down by eight hospitals for a double lung transplant, which would be his second, because none believed he would survive the surgery. Finally, doctors at one medical center — VUMC — thought he might.
By Matt Batcheldor
December 14, 2023

VUMC performs its first combined lung and liver transplant

Connie Rankin of Memphis, Tennessee, received Vanderbilt's first combined lung and liver transplant, which involved dozens of specialists, including transplant teams for both organs.
By Matt Batcheldor
September 27, 2023

VUMC performs novel reoperative lung and kidney transplant

Vanderbilt University Medical Center has performed its first combined reoperative lung and kidney transplant.
By Matt Batcheldor
August 10, 2023

New leaders named to Vanderbilt-Ingram research programs

Seven new leaders have been appointed to guide Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center’s research programs.
By Tom Wilemon
April 13, 2023

Process rehabilitates donor livers for transplantation

Vanderbilt research demonstrated that injured human donor livers declined for transplant can be recovered by cross-circulation between the human liver and a xenogeneic host, or animal platform.
By Matt Batcheldor
April 6, 2023

System repairs donor lungs for transplantation

A Vanderbilt team has discovered that donor lungs rejected for transplant can be repaired using cross-circulation with a xenogeneic host.
By Matt Batcheldor
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