Irina Timofte

Irina Timofte, M.D., M.S., is an Associate Professor in the Department of Internal Medicine at UT Southwestern Medical Center and a member of the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine. She specializes in pre- and post-transplant care for lung transplant patients. Dr. Timofte received her medical degree from Carol Davila University of Medicine in Romania, followed by residency training at the Cleveland Clinic and fellowships in pulmonary/critical care medicine (University of Florida) and lung transplantation (University of Pittsburgh). She joined UT Southwestern in 2021 after contributing significantly to the University of Maryland's Lung Transplant Program, where she improved clinical workflows and expanded transplant volumes.

Her research focuses on noninvasive diagnostics for lung transplant rejection, including cell-free DNA and microbiome analyses, and developing safer immunosuppressive strategies using drugs like belatacept. She has led multiple NIH-sponsored clinical trials. Dr. Timofte serves as Program Director for UT Southwestern’s Lung Transplant Fellowship, mentoring medical students, residents, and fellows. She is an active member of the International Society of Heart and Lung Transplantation.

Dr. Timofte’s work spans clinical care, research, and education. Her articles highlight advancements in transplant outcomes, immunosuppression optimization, and biomarker discovery. She emphasizes improving patient quality of life through innovative treatments and protocols.