Norihisa Shigemura, MD, PhD, FCCP, Appointed Surgical Director of Lung Transplant and Co-Chief of Cardiothoracic Transplant at UPMC

UPMC is proud to welcome back Norihisa Shigemura, MD, who will serve as surgical director of the UPMC Lung Transplant Program and co-chief of Cardiothoracic Transplant beginning June 2024. Dr. Shigemura is returning to UPMC after seven years of serving as surgical director of the Lung Transplant and Lung Failure Program at Temple University where he performed more than 700 complex lung transplants, making Temple the largest transplant program in the nation. Before this position, Dr. Shigemura served as associate surgical director of the UPMC Lung Transplant Program.

Over the course of his 30-year career, Dr. Shigemura has provided life-saving care to patients with a range of lung conditions, common to complex. In addition to his clinical experience, he has extensively researched subjects relating to pulmonary medicine and lung transplantation with more than 100 peer-reviewed articles published. Dr. Shigemura’s expertise and extensive experience will contribute to the continuation of UPMC’s distinguished legacy in transplantation.

Clinical, Research, and Academic Expertise

Dr. Shigemura received his medical degree from the Osaka University School of Medicine in Osaka, Japan. Here, he also earned his PhD in Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Biology. Following this, he completed a residency in surgery at the Osaka University School of Medicine, a residency in cardiovascular surgery at Osaka Prefectural Hospital, and a residency in thoracic surgery at Osaka Prefectural Habikino Hospital. He then completed clinical fellowships in cardiothoracic surgery at Prince of Wales Hospital in Hong Kong, China and UPMC.

Dr. Shigemura is board certified in thoracic and general surgery. He has received various grants to support his research on lung transplant, ex vivo lung perfusion, and transplant organ rejection. Dr. Shigemura serves as an associate editor for the Transplant International journal and as an editorial board member for the Journal of Thoracic Disease. He is an active reviewer for more than 20 scientific publications, with the majority focused on thoracic surgery and organ transplantation.

He is a member of several professional societies, including the American College of Chest Physicians, the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation, Society of Thoracic Surgeons, and the American Society of Transplantation. Dr. Shigemura regularly attends the American College of Chest Physicians and the American Transplant Congress Annual Meetings, serving as a session moderator and presenter.

In addition to his clinical and research expertise, Dr. Shigemura is passionate about transplant education and service. Dr. Shigemura has served as a professor at various academic institutions, including the Osaka University School of Medicine, the University of Pittsburgh, and Temple University, where he taught medical students various subjects pertaining to cardiothoracic surgery and transplantation. At UPMC, he previously served as the director of the Lung Transplant Research Program, mentoring student researchers and contributing to the future of lung transplantation.

Comprehensive Cardiothoracic Transplant Care at UPMC

Dr. Shigemura will utilize his extensive experience to continue UPMC’s legacy of providing life-saving transplant care to patients with end-stage lung disease. Since 1982, experts at the UPMC Lung Transplant Program have performed more than 2,350 lung and heart-lung transplants, making UPMC one of the most experienced centers in the country in terms of volume. Our dedication to innovation and patient-centered care has allowed us to maintain outcomes that are consistent with the national average.

We have attained this level of success through our comprehensive lung care model. To best implement this model of care, it is important that we start working with you and your patients early in their disease progression. Early referral allows our team to become familiar with your patient and their specific needs before they are facing transplant. For patients who do require transplant, early referral helps us to address barriers and provide education about the transplant process to ensure they are an optimal candidate for lung transplant.

Our experts take a multidisciplinary approach to treating lung disease. Through close collaboration with the UPMC Comprehensive Lung Center, we offer the full scope of lung disease diagnosis, treatment, and management. This approach allows us to provide exceptional care to patients along the entire of spectrum of lung diseases. Our team also includes you – the referring physician. We will work with you and your team to ensure a seamless referral process and will collaborate with you to develop an individualized treatment plan that best fits the unique needs of your patient.

To refer a patient, or for more information, please call 412-648-6202 or email cttransplant@upmc.edu.