- About
- Specialties & Areas of Expertise
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- Education & Research
- Accepted Insurance
- External Professional Relationships
I came to the University of Chicago more than 10 years ago. I trained in medicine many years ago. I moved to California for almost nine years. And I did leave Southern California, the sunny California, to come here to join a great team and join my wife's family. But I'm really excited about the career opportunities here and about the teamwork that we have here at the University of Chicago. I say that genuinely. I truly believe none of us is as smart as all of us. And here, we're really fortunate. I'm really fortunate to work with very skilled and intelligent people, not only in my department, but also in other specialties.
I am a lifelong learner. I continue to attend meetings on a regular basis. For many of them, I'm fortunate to be an instructor and an educator. And in fact, I'm interested in procedure-related training. As a parentheses, I just finished my term as chair of Education Committee for our national society, American College of Chest Physicians. And in my involvement with the society, I've been designing and implementing courses for physicians and other health care professionals for teaching the procedures that I do.
But I continue to learn. Every year, there is something new. And especially here at the University of Chicago, we're excited, because every time there is a newer technology that comes on the market, if it's supported by good data, we're able to acquire it and implement it in our practice. And then from patients, I continuously learn. It's a very noble experience and enriching experience in encountering patients suffering from lung problems.
Septimiu Murgu, MD, is a highly skilled interventional pulmonologist. Dr. Murgu has specific expertise in minimally invasive techniques, such as bronchoscopic and pleural procedures, to diagnose and treat patients with central airway disorders. Dr. Murgu’s specialty extends to a wide range of central airway disorders, including tracheal stenosis, tracheobronchomalacia, excessive dynamic airway collapse and airway obstruction from cancer. He also performs laser-assisted mechanical dilation of airway strictures, airway stenting and bronchoscopic treatments for benign and malignant airway lesions using photodynamic therapy, cryotherapy and electrosurgery techniques.
With Dr. Murgu’s extensive knowledge of airflow dynamics, nomenclature and classification systems of tracheal stenosis, tracheobronchomalacia (the weakening of the trachea and bronchi) and excessive dynamic airway collapse, he has the experience, knowledge and skill to deliver long-term success for his patients.
His clinical and research interests include minimally invasive diagnostic and therapeutic interventions for patients suffering from benign and malignant airway obstruction. In his research, Dr. Murgu is evaluating the safety and outcomes of multimodal bronchoscopic interventions for patients suffering from benign and malignant airway obstruction. He published articles on the role of bronchoscopy for molecular testing, diagnosis of lung nodules, and therapeutic bronchoscopy for central airway disorders. Additionally, he authored a best-selling textbook on bronchoscopy as well as written numerous book chapters and clinical guidelines pertinent to the management of patients with lung cancer.
Dr. Murgu is also actively involved in creating education projects for physicians to enhance their treatment techniques. With this new curriculum, physicians learn by using simulation technology, interactive step-by-step instructions and problem-based teaching which create an engaging and authentic learning environment. His contributions to the field of procedure-related training has been recognized by his peers and professional societies.
Specialties
- Interventional Pulmonology
- Pulmonary Medicine (Pulmonology)
Areas of Expertise
- Bronchoscopy
- Tracheal Stenosis
- Lung Cancer
- Tracheobronchomalacia
- Airway Obstruction from Cancer
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
- Asthma
Board Certifications
- Pulmonary Disease
- Critical Care Medicine
Practicing Since
- 2003
Languages Spoken
- English
- Romanian
Medical Education
- University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Carol Davila"
Residency
- AMITA Health Saint Francis Hospital Evanston
Fellowship
- University of California San Francisco Medical Center
Awards & Distinctions
- Chair, CHEST/AABIP/AIPPD panel for “The Use of Tracheostomy during COVID-19 Pandemic” Expert Panel Report
- Chair, Education Committee for the American College of Chest Physicians
- President, American Association of Bronchology and Interventional Pulmonology
- Member, Program Committees for the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer programs and CHEST
- Editor, World Association for Bronchology and Interventional Pulmonology Newsletter
- Distinguished CHEST Educator designation (top 4% of international faculty)
- Geoffrey McLennan Memorial Award for Advancements in Interventional Pulmonology
Memberships & Medical Societies
- World Association for Bronchology and Interventional Pulmonology
- International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer
- American Association for Bronchology and Interventional Pulmonology
- Society of Critical Care Medicine
- American College of Chest Physicians
News & Research
Insurance
- Aetna Better Health *see insurance page
- Aetna HMO (specialists only)
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO
- Aetna POS
- Aetna PPO
- BCBS Blue Precision HMO (specialists only)
- BCBS HMO (HMOI) (specialists only)
- BCBS Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO
- BCBS PPO
- Cigna HMO
- Cigna POS
- Cigna PPO
- CountyCare *see insurance page
- Humana Medicare Advantage Choice PPO
- Humana Medicare Advantage Gold Choice PFFS
- Humana Medicare Advantage Gold Plus HMO
- Medicare
- Multiplan PPO
- PHCS PPO
- United Choice Plus POS/PPO
- United Choice HMO (specialists only)
- United Options (PPO)
- United Select (HMO & EPO) (specialists only)
- United W500 Emergent Wrap
- University of Chicago Health Plan (UCHP)
Our list of accepted insurance providers is subject to change at any time. You should contact your insurance company to confirm UChicago Medicine participates in their network before scheduling your appointment. If you have questions regarding your insurance benefits at UChicago Medicine, please contact our financial counseling team at OPSFinancialCounseling@uchospitals.edu.
Some of our physicians and health professionals collaborate with external pharmaceutical, medical device, or other medical related entities to develop new treatments and products to improve clinical outcomes for patients. In some instances, the physician has ownership interests in the external entity and/or is compensated for advising or speaking about the entity’s products or treatments. These payments may include compensation for consulting and speaking engagements, equity, and/or royalties for products invented by our physicians. To assure objectivity and integrity in patient care, UChicago Medicine requires all physicians and health professionals to report their relationships and financial interests with external entities on an annual basis. This information is used to review relationships and transactions that might give rise to potential financial conflicts of interest, and when considered to be significant a management plan to mitigate any biases is created.
If you are a patient at UChicago Medicine and would like more information about your physician’s external relationships, please talk with your physician. You may also visit the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Open Payments website at https://openpaymentsdata.cms.gov/ . CMS Open Payments is a national disclosure program that promotes a more transparent and accountable health care system. It houses a publicly accessible database of payments that reporting entities, including drug and medical device companies, make to covered recipients like physicians and hospitals.
Information in the CMS Open Payments database could potentially contain inaccurately reported and out of date payment information. All information is open to personal interpretation, if there are questions about the data, patients and their advocates should speak directly to their health care provider for a better understanding.