Kentucky has one of the nation’s highest burdens of chronic lung disease, a challenge intensified by smoking prevalence, occupational exposures and limited access to specialized care in rural communities. As UK HealthCare looks to expand its services for those with advanced lung conditions, a new leader is helping to guide that effort.
Edward Cantu, MD, recently joined the University of Kentucky as director of the UK HealthCare Lung Transplant Program and faculty in the UK College of Medicine Division of Thoracic Surgery. A surgeon whose path has taken him from Columbia University to Duke University and the University of Pennsylvania, Cantu says his goal is clear: increase access, improve outcomes and build a patient-centered system of care for lung disease across the Commonwealth.
On this episode of “Behind the Blue,” Cantu discusses the importance of advanced lung care in Kentucky, the role of early detection in conditions like solitary pulmonary nodules and the lifesaving possibilities provided by lung transplantation. He explains how surgical techniques, donor evaluation and anti-rejection medications have advanced over the past two decades — progress that has improved survival while opening the door to more patients who might benefit from transplant.
Cantu also speaks candidly about Kentucky and Appalachia’s significant health disparities. Many patients, he notes, face barriers not only in treatment but in screening, diagnosis and follow-up care. Expanding the lung transplant program means developing stronger networks with regional hospitals, improving access to diagnostic resources and ensuring patients can receive as much care as possible close to home.
As the program grows, Cantu envisions UK HealthCare becoming a regional leader in lung care — a center known for high-quality transplant outcomes, early cancer detection pathways and coordinated partnerships that reach patients where they are. Ultimately, his vision is simple: better living and better breathing for every person with lung disease in Kentucky.
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“Behind the Blue” is a joint production of the University of Kentucky and UK HealthCare. Transcripts for this or other episodes of “Behind the Blue” can be downloaded from the show’s blog page.
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