The Advanced Fellowship in Lung Transplantation is a one-year nonaccredited clinical training program offered by NYU Grossman School of Medicine through the NYU Langone Transplant Institute and the Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine under the Department of Medicine.

Our Lung Transplant Program, which performs more than 70 lung transplants each year, ranks among the highest in survival and transplant rates in New York State, according to the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients (SRTR). Fellows train within a rapidly expanding, high-volume program that cares for a diverse and medically complex patient population across the tristate area and beyond. This program also provides immersive clinical training in all phases of lung transplant care, from evaluation through long-term posttransplant management.

NYU Langone serves as a major referral center for advanced lung disease and has a strong commitment to equitable care, health literacy, and support for underserved communities. NYU Langone is also a designated organ donor center, and during their training, fellows learn evidence-based strategies to manage organ donors and optimize their lung function. As part of the NYU Langone Transplant Institute, fellows also gain exposure to complex multiorgan procedures, including lung–liver, lung–kidney, and heart–lung transplantation.

During the fellowship, trainees work with expert lung transplant pulmonologists, thoracic surgeons, advanced practice providers, and a comprehensive multidisciplinary care team. Fellows also have opportunities to engage in clinical research and quality improvement initiatives and attend national and international conferences to present their work.

Program Leadership

Our program leadership includes the following individuals:

• Melissa B. Lesko, DO, program director, Advanced Fellowship in Lung Transplantation
• Luis F. Angel, MD, medical director, Lung Transplant Program
• Patricia Jurgeleit, MHA, fellowship program coordinator

Inpatient and Outpatient Rotations

Fellows spend six months on the inpatient lung transplant service, managing pre- and posttransplant patients alongside transplant pulmonologists and cardiothoracic surgeons. Responsibilities include evaluating emergent transfers for transplant, complex intensive care unit (ICU) care of postoperative patients, immunosuppression management, treatment of acute and chronic rejection, and evaluation of infectious and noninfectious complications.

During six months of outpatient rotations, fellows participate in advanced lung disease and lung transplant clinics, including pretransplant evaluation, posttransplant continuity clinics, donor evaluations, and multidisciplinary care planning. During both inpatient and outpatient rotations, trainees can perform bronchoscopies, chest tube placements, and thoracenteses. Fellows regularly interact with experts in thoracic surgery, infectious diseases, radiology, and pathology to develop comprehensive skills in transplant management. As part of outpatient rotations, four weeks of elective time can be tailored to each fellow's interests.

Educational Curriculum and Conferences

Fellows participate in a structured didactic schedule incorporating events like these:

• weekly lung transplant selection committee meetings
• journal club, morbidity and mortality (M&M) conference, and core curriculum sessions
• grand rounds and internal transplant pathology conferences
• Transplant Institute fellow-wide conferences
• clinical trial meetings and research presentations
• access to academic conferences within the Department of Medicine and the Transplant Institute

Surgical Observation and Procurement Experience

Fellows observe lung transplant surgeries and organ procurements, gaining valuable insight into operative techniques, donor assessment, and perioperative management. These experiences deepen fellows’ understanding of the full transplant continuum and its technical complexities.

Research and scholarly work are supported throughout the year, with opportunities to participate in ongoing clinical and translational projects led by transplant faculty.

How to Apply

This fellowship accepts one fellow per year. Applications to the Advanced Fellowship in Lung Transplantation should be submitted directly to the NYU Langone Transplant Institute.

These are some of the eligibility requirements:

• completion of a pulmonary and critical care medicine fellowship
• completion of an internal medicine residency
• postgraduate transcripts
• Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) certification (if applicable)
• personal statement
• current CV
• three letters of recommendation, including one from your fellowship program director

We have closed out the application process for the 2026–27 academic year. Application dates for the 2027–28 academic year will be posted once available.

Contact Us

For questions about the Advanced Fellowship in Lung Transplantation, please email Melissa B. Lesko, DO, at Melissa.Lesko@NYULangone.org

Related Fellowships

NYU Langone offers the following related training opportunities:

• Transplant Surgery Fellowship
• Transplant Nephrology Fellowship
• Transplant Infectious Disease Fellowship