Lung Transplant Fellowship Supported by the Hertz Family

The University of Minnesota offers a one-year Lung Transplant Fellowship made possible through the generosity of the Hertz Family.

Dr. Marshall Hertz was medical director for the UMN Lung Transplant Program, one of the first programs in the country, from 1986-2021, during which the program performed more than 1,200 lung transplants, making it one of the most experienced and well-recognized centers in the United States and worldwide. As an early innovator in the field, the UMN lung transplant program was a model for many other programs and known for high quality and performance, drawing patients from around the country. We are thankful for the years of leadership and support provided by the Hertz family.

This fellowship is a one-year program focused entirely on lung transplant, with emphasis on both clinical training and research. It is a non-ACGME accredited training program for lung transplant.

Lung Transplant Fellows receive training at the University of Minnesota Medical Center, a tertiary referral hospital. The division has 48 faculty members who have a broad range of clinical and research interests. The division has expertise in all areas of advanced lung diseases such as ILD (pulmonary fibrosis care center), interventional pulmonology, cystic fibrosis, and pulmonary hypertension. Basic science and clinical research projects in the areas of interstitial lung diseases, acute lung injury, lung transplantation, alternative modes of mechanical ventilation, bacterial pneumonia, and chronic obstructive lung disease are currently ongoing among the four different hospitals associated with the division.

All Lung Transplant Fellows will engage in a structured program of clinical training, which will occur primarily when s/he/they is/are not serving on the Pulmonary Transplant service. Research activities will include, but not be limited to:

1. Design and completion of investigator initiated clinical research projects involving retrospective patient chart reviews.
2. Development of abstracts and manuscript(s) related to individual projects.
3. Presenting and networking at international/national conferences"

The primary goals for fellows completing the program are:

1. Be qualified for certification as a Lung Transplant Pulmonologist, based on the requirements of the United Network for Organ Sharing
2. Be qualified to engage in retrospective and prospective clinical research studies related to lung transplantation
3. Be qualified to engage in scholarly activity related to lung transplant medicine.

Candidates currently in the third year of their ACGME fellowship program who will be board-eligible or candidates who are board-certified in pulmonary and critical care are eligible for this fellowship.