At the start of November, William Weir, MD, became the 11th new faculty member to join the UK College of Medicine Department of Surgery in 2025. Dr. Weir joins the division of thoracic surgery, bringing with him considerable experience in lung transplantation, mechanical circulatory support, and critical care.
Prior to joining UK HealthCare, Dr. Weir was an assistant professor of thoracic surgery at the University of Florida with responsibility for broad treatment of severe end-stage lung disease, lung transplantation, and growth of the thoracic oncology program.
After earning his medical degree at the University of Michigan, Dr. Weir matched into Michigan’s prestigious integrated thoracic surgery residency program. He completed a research fellowship at the University of Michigan Extracorporeal Life Support Laboratory, where he spent dedicated time mastering Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) and leading research teams in transplantation and ex-vivo organ perfusion.
Following this, he completed a fellowship in surgical critical care at the University of Michigan, solidifying mastery of the advanced management of respiratory and multi-system organ failure. During his final year of training, he served as chief thoracic surgery resident at the University of Michigan.
Additionally, Dr. Weir completed a fellowship in robotic thoracic surgery through the American Association for Thoracic Surgery. Dr. Weir specializes in all aspects of advanced thoracic care, including minimally invasive thoracic surgery, lung and esophageal cancer, benign esophageal disease, lung transplantation for end-stage lung disease, ECMO, and surgical critical care.
His primary research interests include quality improvement, lung transplantation, and extracorporeal support.
Dr. Weir is currently a member of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons, the Society of Critical Care Medicine, International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation, and the American Society for Artificial Internal Organs.
Aware of the need in Kentucky for experienced lung transplant physicians, Dr. Weir is greatly anticipating the growth of his surgical practice, teaching future surgeons, and is excited to join a premier group of specialists dedicated to treating lung disease at the University of Kentucky.