Pulmonary Subspecialty Care
We care for a broad range of patients with a wide spectrum of pulmonary diseases at multiple clinic locations. Many of our clinics utilize multidisciplinary expertise such as respiratory therapy, pharmacy, nutrition, social work, and psychology. We also collaborate with other medical subspecialists in rheumatology, allergy, infectious diseases, palliative care, and radiology to care for our patients.
Additionally, we care for critically ill patients at our state-of-the-art 30-bed medical intensive care unit (MICU).
We Focus On Caring for Adults with the Following Conditions
Given the high demand for pulmonary services, we focus on serving adults with complex conditions who benefit most from our team’s expertise, collaborative care, and clinical trials. To refer patients with these conditions, please follow the instructions here. Please contact us at 984-974-5703 if you need help.
Asthma- Moderate to severe asthma with persistent daily symptoms despite at least two maintenance inhaler therapy
- Asthma with hospitalizations or recurrent exacerbations requiring systemic steroids despite at least two maintenance inhaler therapy
- Severe asthma needing evaluation for biologic therapy
- Please review our asthma referral criteria
- Patients with confirmed or suspected bronchiectasis
- Non-tuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) lung infections, including Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) and Mycobacterium abscessus
- Primary ciliary dyskinesia
- Moderate to severe COPD with persistent daily symptoms despite maintenance inhaler therapy
- Patients with abnormal alpha-1 antitrypsin blood levels, genotype, family history, or suspected alpha-1 antitrypsin pulmonary disease
- COPD with a history of hospitalizations for exacerbations
- Patients requiring consideration of lung transplant, non-invasive ventilation, lung volume reduction procedures
- Patients interested in participating in COPD or alpha-1 antitrypsin clinical trials
- Confirmed cystic fibrosis by genetic testing or sweat chloride testing
- Suspected cystic fibrosis needing further evaluation
- Patients with confirmed or suspected CF-related disorders
- Patients with persistent dyspnea that is not clearly cardiac in etiology
- Dyspnea in the setting of multi-morbid conditions (obesity, heart disease, lung disease)
- Confirmed or suspected interstitial lung diseases (complete list here)
- Patients with connective tissue disease-associated lung disease can be seen in a multidisciplinary clinic with UNC Rheumatology
- Patients with suspected or confirmed lung cancer are seen by a team or specialists in the Multidisciplinary Thoracic Oncology Program (MTOP) in conjunction with thoracic surgeons, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, radiologists, pathologists and nurses
- Malignant and benign diseases of the airways, lung tissue and pleura
- Lung nodules/masses and/or thoracic lymphadenopathy
- Suspected or confirmed complex upper and lower airway obstruction
- Patients requiring tracheostomy
Learn More About Interventional Pulmonology Learn More About Lung Cancer
- Patients with all types of severe lung disease including cystic fibrosis, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, interstitial lung disease, emphysema, bronchiectasis, pulmonary hypertension, sarcoidosis, lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM), and alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency needing evaluation for lung transplant
- Patients needing evaluation for dual-organ transplantation including heart-lung and lung-kidney
- Diagnosis, treatment, long-term management and follow-up of patients with all forms of pulmonary hypertension, including pulmonary thromboembolic disease
- Confirmed or suspected sarcoidosis with or without pulmonary involvement
We Are Unable To Routinely See Adults with the Following Conditions
To ensure access for people with high-priority conditions, UNC Faculty Practice pulmonologists cannot routinely see adults with the following conditions. These problems are usually well-managed by a primary care provider such as a family practitioner, internist or a different specialty.
- Mild asthma: suggested initial treatment prior to referral
- Chronic cough without empiric treatment: suggested initial treatment prior to referral
- Obstructive sleep apnea: referrals should be sent to UNC Neurology- Sleep Disorders Clinic
- DVT/PE for questions unrelated to pulmonary hypertension: questions regarding anticoagulation management can be referred to UNC Hematology
- Pulmonary tuberculosis treatment: should be referred to UNC Infectious Diseases or the local health department
- Pulmonary rehabilitation: please send referral to Physical Therapy or see here for a list of pulmonary rehabilitation centers across the state.
E-Consults
If you are a provider in the UNC Health System and have a simple question about one of the above conditions, you may place an e-consult.
Procedures and Ancillary Services
Additional services offered by our division include:
- Pulmonary function testing (Eastowne clinic, Main Hospital, Hillsborough Hospital, Panther Creek, Pittsboro)
- 6-minute walk test (Eastowne clinic, Main Hospital, Hillsborough Hospital, Panther Creek, Pittsboro)
- Oxygen titration test (Main Hospital)
- High altitude simulation testing (Main Hospital)
- Methacholine bronchoprovocation testing (Main Hospital)
- Level 1 and 2 cardiopulmonary exercise testing (Hillsborough Hospital)
- Right heart catheterization (Hillsborough Hospital)
- Sweat chloride testing
Listen to Pulmonary Podcasts
- Hear from the Chief of the Pulmonary division, Dr. Shannon Carson, on UNC’s Pulmonary and Critical Care division on the Chairs Corner Podcast.
- Learn more about COPD with Dr. Brad Drummond, director of the UNC Obstructive Lung Diseases Clinical and Translational Research Center.
- Dr. Scott Donaldson talks about cystic fibrosis, the testing and treatment for CF, and how people are living longer with the disease today.
- Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome, ARDS, is a condition that occurs when fluid fills the lungs and often requires a patient to be placed on a ventilator. Dr. Jason Mock explains.
- Andy Nelson is a person who has idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and received a double lung transplant. He shares his story here.
