Best hospitals in the United States for pulmonary fibrosis: A data-based guide to specialized care
People researching the best hospitals in the United States for pulmonary fibrosis are generally looking for specialized interstitial lung disease care, accurate diagnosis, coordinated treatment, and access to advanced services. Available evidence shows that pulmonary fibrosis care is usually organized through dedicated ILD programs and broader pulmonary centers rather than through one universally accepted national ranking specifically for pulmonary fibrosis. 1
How hospitals are evaluated for pulmonary fibrosis care
Pulmonary fibrosis is generally managed within the broader category of interstitial lung disease, making specialist experience with ILD an important comparison point. Relevant features include multidisciplinary evaluation, individualized treatment planning, clinical-trial access, pulmonary rehabilitation, advanced respiratory support, and affiliation with a lung-transplant program when disease severity requires that option. 2
National rankings can provide useful context, but they do not replace a review of a patient’s diagnosis and needs. Newsweek’s 2026 pulmonary-care evaluation considered clinical performance, patient outcomes, expert input, and patient-reported outcome measures. Its category covers a broad range of respiratory conditions, so a high pulmonary-care ranking should be interpreted alongside evidence of specific ILD and pulmonary-fibrosis services. 1
Hospitals appearing at the top of the 2026 pulmonary-care ranking
The available Newsweek data identifies Mayo Clinic in Rochester as rank 1, Cleveland Clinic as rank 2, UCSF Medical Center as rank 3, and Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania as rank 4 in the 2026 pulmonary-care category. The listed standout specialties include advanced pulmonary surgery, lung transplantation, asthma, COPD, pleural disease, pulmonary hypertension, and respiratory infections. 1
| 2026 rank | Hospital | Location | Listed pulmonary strengths |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mayo Clinic | Rochester, Minnesota | Advanced pulmonary surgery, lung transplant, pulmonary hypertension, COPD, and pleural disease |
| 2 | Cleveland Clinic | Cleveland, Ohio | Advanced pulmonary surgery, lung transplant, pulmonary hypertension, COPD, and pleural disease |
| 3 | UCSF Medical Center | San Francisco, California | Advanced pulmonary surgery, lung transplant, pulmonary hypertension, COPD, and pleural disease |
| 4 | Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Advanced pulmonary surgery, lung transplant, and chronic respiratory care |
Programs with dedicated interstitial lung disease expertise
Mayo Clinic’s Interstitial Lung Disease Clinic evaluates a large group of diseases involving scarring or harmful cell buildup between the lung air sacs. Its specialists work with thoracic surgeons, radiologists, pathologists, and other clinicians to develop an individualized plan after comprehensive evaluation. The clinic also describes lung-transplant programs and access to clinical trials for appropriate patients. 7
UCSF Health operates an ILD Program that treats idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, sarcoidosis, silicosis, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, autoimmune-related ILD, and familial forms of ILD. The program describes care for mild, moderate, and severe disease, as well as observational studies and clinical trials. UCSF is also connected with the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation network through a partnership involving The Queen’s Health Systems in Hawaii. 82
National referral centers and recognized pulmonary programs
National Jewish Health in Denver has a dedicated Interstitial Lung Disease Program and has been recognized as a leading pulmonology and lung-surgery institution for 30 consecutive years, according to its 2026 announcement. National Jewish Health and UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital were ranked together at number 14 in the cited 2026 to 2027 U.S. News specialty list. 5
Mass General Brigham reports that Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women’s Hospital held the number 1 and number 2 positions in New England for pulmonology and lung surgery in the cited U.S. News rankings. Its lung-care system describes specialist treatment for complex lung disease, respiratory failure, and chronic respiratory conditions, with coordinated pulmonary and critical-care services. 6
The role of the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation network
The Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation Care Center Network had expanded to 96 sites in 40 states by March 2026. The network is designed to improve access to multidisciplinary expertise for people living with pulmonary fibrosis and ILD, which means a suitable specialist may be available closer to home rather than only at a nationally ranked hospital. 2
The 2026 expansion added 11 designated centers, including Mayo Clinic in Arizona, Mayo Clinic Florida, Montefiore’s Advanced Pulmonary Failure and Lung Transplant Program, Mount Sinai Respiratory Institute, Ochsner Advanced Lung Disease Clinic, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, and the University of Mississippi Medical Center. Other additions included centers in Salt Lake City, New Orleans, Bethlehem, and Honolulu. 2
What patients should compare before selecting a center
A hospital’s suitability depends on the type of pulmonary fibrosis, disease stage, suspected cause, prior testing, and need for advanced intervention. Useful questions include whether the center has an ILD specialist, how radiology and pathology findings are reviewed, whether clinical trials match the diagnosis, and whether pulmonary rehabilitation, oxygen management, and transplant evaluation are coordinated within the same system. 7
Practical constraints also matter. Patients comparing hospitals should assess travel requirements, insurance participation, appointment logistics, transplant-program affiliation, and experience with the specific form of pulmonary fibrosis. A distant referral center may offer specialized expertise, while a designated network site may provide ongoing monitoring and multidisciplinary care nearer to home. These options can be complementary rather than mutually exclusive. 2
Risks, limitations, and maintenance realities
Hospital rankings are not guarantees of an individual outcome, and pulmonary-care rankings may measure a wider group of diseases than pulmonary fibrosis alone. Results can also depend on diagnostic accuracy, disease progression, comorbidities, treatment tolerance, and eligibility for clinical trials or transplantation. A center’s reputation therefore should be treated as one data point, not as a substitute for specialist consultation. 1
Pulmonary fibrosis care is ongoing rather than a single procedure. Patients may require repeated lung-function assessment, imaging review, medication evaluation, symptom management, rehabilitation, oxygen planning, and reassessment of transplant suitability. The most appropriate hospital is consequently one that can provide continuing care and clear coordination among pulmonology, radiology, pathology, thoracic surgery, critical care, and other relevant specialties. 78
Sources
- Newsweek, America’s Best Hospitals for Specialized Care 2026, Pulmonary Care
- Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation, Care Center Network expansion and network information
- Mayo Clinic, Pulmonary Medicine expertise and rankings
- Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation, 2026 national care-network announcement
- National Jewish Health, 2026 U.S. News pulmonology recognition
- Mass General Brigham, Lung Care
- Mayo Clinic, Interstitial Lung Disease Clinic overview
- UCSF Health, Interstitial Lung Disease Program
Authored by 24Trendz team