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Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care

Clinical Services in the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine


UMMC's Pulmonary Program ranked as one of the nation's 50 best by U.S. News & World Report's 2010 "Best Hospitals" survey.

The Division provides a wide variety of patient related clinical services. These are varied and an important part of the function of the division. These include both in-patient and out-patient services.

In-patient Clinical Services

  1. The Medical Intensive Care Unit (Dr. Shanholtz, director) provides the highest level of care for the sickest patients on the medical service at University Hospital.

    This unit is a state-of-the-art facility that includes not only the intensive care area, but a step-down or intermediate unit as well. Diseases commonly treated in the MICU include sepsis, acute lung injury, oncologic emergencies, respiratory failure, and liver and renal failure.

    In addition to state-of-the-art therapy, the MICU also has active clinical trials of new treatments into many of these disorders. The MICU receives patients from the local area, statewide, and from the Mid-Atlantic region. Physicians wishing to transfer patients to the MICU can do so through Maryland ExpressCare. Call 410-328-1234 or 1-800-373-4111.

  2. The In-patient Consultation Service is an important function of the Division that provides consultation services to the rest of the adult medical and surgical services, including solid organ and bone marrow transplant services.

    In addition, the consultation services is responsible for managing the bronchoscopy service which performs diagnostic and therapeutic bronchoscopy as well as other clinical procedures.

  3. VA Medical Center - The Division also is responsible for the running the ICU and consultation services at the VA medical center.

  4. University Specialty Hospital - Chronic Ventilator Unit and Weaning Program - this unit expedites discharge of patients from intensive care units to a facility that is specialized in aggressive ventilator weaning and airway management as well as high quality care for those patients that require ongoing mechanical ventilator support.


  5. University Specialty Hospital - Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program - this program offers a variety of inpatient and outpatient treatment services. The primary goal of this program is to improve the quality of life for each patient. Expert staff works with every patient and their family to develop a tailored treatment plan. The program emphasizes patients taking an active role in their health care.

Out-patient Clinical Services

  1. Sleep Disorders Center: This is a multidisciplinary center for the evaluation and management of sleep disorders including sleep apnea, insomnia, restless leg syndrome, poor sleep habits, narcolepsy and many more. The center is under the direction of Dr. Scharf.

    Click here     for more information about the center. To contact the Sleep Disorders Center center, call 410-706-4771.

  2. Lung Transplantation Service: The University of Maryland Medical Center's Lung Transplantation Program is nationally preeminent, with a tradition of excellence dating back to 1992 when it performed the first single lung transplant in Maryland. In 1995, the program performed the state's first bilateral lung transplant.

    Today, with a one-year survival rate of 75 percent -- well above the national average -- the program continues to gain international prominence. The lung transplant program is headed by Drs. Bart Griffith and Aldo Iacono. Dr. Griffith is a world-renowned cardiac and pulmonary transplant surgeon. Dr. Iacono is the Medical Director of the Lung Transplantation program. Drs. Griffith and Iacono have a long history of working together in evaluating and managing patients with end-stage lung disease for lung transplant. Dr. Iacono is an expert all aspects of lung transplantation and has pioneered new techniques in anti-rejection therapy. Dr. E. James Britt, a dedicated clinical pulmonologist and Dr. Robin Pierson, a transplant surgeon and physician/scientist, are studying mechanisms of rejection, and Dorothy Eddington, the transplant coordinator, round out the core faculty of the lung transplant program.

    Click here for more information about the Lung Transplant Center, or to call for an appointment, call 1-800-492-5538.

  3. Interstitial Lung Disease: Interstitial lung diseases lead to deposition of scar tissue within the lung as well as inflammation in the lung substance. This group of diseases includes idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, and interstitial pneumonitis. Some of these diseases are associated with other diseases such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis and similar diseases. Evaluation and Treatment involves physicians from many different specialties.

    The University of Maryland Interstitial Lung Disease Program includes the ILD Clinic, directed by Drs. Jeffrey Hasday and E. James Britt, and Dr. Jeffrey Galvin, a world-renowned expert in interstitial lung diseases, rheumatologists with special expertise in lung diseases, and dedicated pulmonary pathologists. The ILD takes an aggressive approach to arresting and reversing interstitial lung diseases based on close patient monitoring and frequent medication adjustment. The ILD and lung transplantation programs are closely coordinated ensuring that the transplant option is available to patients with ILD.

    To arrange for an appointment, contact Drs. Britt, Todd, Hasday or Shah at (410) 328-8141.

  4. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD): This terms refers to the smoking related diseases such as chronic bronchitis or emphysema. These diseases which attack the airways of the lung and lung substance itself are common causes of shortness of breath, chronic coughing, pulmonary infections and need for frequent medical care.

    Modern day medicine has more to offer patients with COPD than ever before. In addition to traditional treatment with inhaled medicines and oxygen, we can now offer appropriate patients pulmonary rehabilitation, and in select cases lung volume reduction surgery and even lung transplantation.

    To arrange for a consultation, call Drs. Britt, Todd, Hasday or Shah at (410) 328-8141.

  5. Asthma treatment center: Asthma is a common and distressing disease leading to wheezing, shortness of breath and cough. Asthma is caused by inflammation of the airways of the lung. The many advances in asthma care mean that there are more treatment options than ever.

    If you think you have asthma or would like a consultation, please call (410) 328-8141.

  6. Bronchoscopy: The Pulmonary and Critical Care Division runs one of the busiest bronchoscopy services in the area performing over 500 procedures each year. Patients with a wide range of disorders including interstitial lung disease, infectious lung disease and primary and metastatic cancer are referred to our center.

    The following procedures are available:

    • Transbronchial and Endobronchial forceps biopsy
    • Transbronchial Needle Aspiration of mediastinal and hilar lymph nodes
    • Transbronchial Needle Aspiration of solitary pulmonary nodules
    • CT-guided bronchoscopy
    • Foreign body removal
    • Hemoptysis management
    • Endobronchial Brachytherapy
    • Endobronchial Ultrasound Examination and Biopsy

Bronchoscopies are scheduled by one of the pulmonary physicians following proper consultation. To arrange for a consultation call:

Dr. Britt 1-800-492-5538
Dr. Shah 1-800-492-5538
Dr. Todd 410-328-8141
Dr. Hasday 410-328-8141


This page was last updated on: August 3, 2010.

For patient inquiries, call 1-800-492-5538 or click here to make an appointment.