- Oscar Lopez, a 66-year-old patient with end-stage lung failure, turned to Abu Dhabi after exhausting treatment options across four continents.
- Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi is home to one of the world’s most advanced and comprehensive lung transplant programs.
- In 2024, the hospital recorded a 35% increase in international patient volume, with more than 10,000 international patient visits.
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates: Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi has cemented its position as a global leader in complex medical care with the successful double lung transplant of a 66-year-old patient from Guatemala. Performed by a multidisciplinary team from the hospital’s Heart, Vascular & Thoracic Institute and Integrated Hospital Institute, the life-saving procedure is a powerful testament to the hospital’s commitment and track record of delivering world-class care across borders. This milestone underlines Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi’s dedication to expanding access to advanced, high-quality care accessible on a global scale.
Oscar Romero López Guillén, who had been battling end-stage pulmonary fibrosis, arrived in Abu Dhabi after exhausting medical options in South Asia, Latin America, Europe, and the United States. Dependent on oxygen 24 hours a day and struggling with even the simplest physical tasks, Oscar faced an uncertain future until he discovered Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi’s transplant program.
Diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis in 2016 in Guatemala after a prolonged cough, his condition progressively worsened over nearly a decade. Despite consultations in multiple countries and facing challenging issues like citizenship requirements and limited transplant capabilities and facilities, Oscar remained hopeful. Finally, in late 2024, the Cleveland Clinic global referral system connected him to Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, offering him a new lease on life through the hospital’s renowned Lung Transplant Program.
Dr. Georges-Pascal Haber, Chief Executive Officer at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, said: “Oscar’s journey is a powerful reminder of what Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi stands for, providing world-class care to patients across the globe. Our multi-organ transplant program, one of the first in the region, is more than just advanced medical excellence; it’s about expertise, compassionate care, and the extraordinary impact of the UAE’s Hayat organ donation program. We are honored to be a place where both local and international patients can find hope and a second chance. At Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, we are committed to ensuring that access to life-saving treatments knows no borders.”
Dr. Usman Ahmad, Chair of Thoracic Surgery and Lung Transplantation, Heart, Vascular & Thoracic Institute at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi said: “Upon arrival at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, Oscar’s lungs were barely functioning. Remarkably, he had endured such severe limitations for nearly a decade. After a thorough evaluation by our multidisciplinary lung transplant team, he was listed and underwent a double lung transplant a few weeks later. Today, just weeks after the surgery, Oscar has regained full function, with normal oxygen levels, excellent exercise capacity, and a normal quality of life. His recovery is a testament to the expertise of our team and our ability to provide life-changing care.”
Upon receiving Oscar’s medical records, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi’s multidisciplinary team, comprising of surgical lung transplant specialists and other critical care experts, immediately studied his case in detail. The family was swiftly enrolled in the lung transplant program, and within weeks, they received the life-changing news that a matching donor organ had become available. Less than a week later, Oscar was admitted to the hospital and began preparations for his transplant.
In early 2025, after ensuring there were no complications, Oscar underwent a successful double lung transplant surgery. His recovery was swift and remarkable. Just 10 days after his admission, Oscar was discharged, breathing on his own, and ready to begin the next chapter of his life.
Explaining his condition, Dr. Andres Obeso, Staff Physician, Thoracic Surgery at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, said: “Oscar arrived at our doors speaking a different language, from a different continent, but the language of healing and helping is human and universal. When we reviewed his case, we found severely impaired lung function, yet no other major comorbidities. That combination, along with his resilience, made him a strong candidate for transplant. A successful lung transplant can add years to a patient’s life. In Oscar’s case, the surgery, intensive care, and post-transplant rehabilitation were all coordinated seamlessly by our multidisciplinary team. His journey is a testament to what’s possible when world-class expertise meets an unshakable human spirit. These are the stories that inspire our mission to provide the best care, no matter where a patient comes from.”
Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi is home to one of the region’s first and most comprehensive lung transplant programs, and one of the few worldwide that consistently welcomes international patients. Backed by an expert multidisciplinary team, the program delivers end-to-end care, from in-depth pre-transplant evaluations to surgery and long-term recovery support.
For patients like Oscar, the hospital’s dedicated International Patient Services team plays an essential role, seamlessly managing everything from travel and visa arrangements to accommodation and care coordination. This integrated approach ensures every patient’s journey, from diagnosis to recovery, is as smooth and stress-free as possible.
The hospital recently reported a 35% increase in international patient volume in 2024, with more than 10,000 international patient visits. Renowned for its excellence in complex care, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi saw increased interest in its advanced services, mainly in the areas of cardiology, ophthalmology, neurology, and urology. Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Bahrain, and the USA are the top five countries from which international patients are traveling to Abu Dhabi in 2024.
Oscar, who now lives in the UAE for follow-up care, expressed his gratitude for the treatment that gave him a second chance: “When I arrived at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, I felt like I had come to Heaven on Earth. The level of care, the kindness of the nurses, the professionalism, it was something I had never experienced before.”
“For years, I lived attached to an oxygen tank 24 hours a day. It wasn’t just physically exhausting; it was a constant reminder that I could stop breathing at any moment. It was frightening, isolating, and incredibly expensive.
What amazed me most was how quickly everything happened. Throughout my long journey, no other hospital could provide an organ in time, but within weeks of arriving here, I was already preparing for surgery. Today, I can breathe, walk, and live again. I thank God, and I thank the incredible team at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi who made this miracle possible,” Oscar added.
Oscar’s story is a reflection of Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi’s expanding role in shaping the UAE’s future as a global hub for complex care. As a center of excellence in specialties such as adult cardiac surgery and stroke, the hospital continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible in medicine. Powered by its collaboration with the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH), M42, the broader Cleveland Clinic network, and international partners, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi is delivering world-class outcomes and advancing the nation’s vision of becoming a destination for medical innovation, excellence, and deeply human-centered care.
