Zeenat Safdar, MD, MS, FACP, FCCP, ATSF

Zeenat Safdar, MD,  MS,  FACP,  FCCP,  ATSF

Zeenat Safdar, MD, MS, FACP, FCCP, ATSF

Pulmonary Critical Care, Pulmonary Hypertension
Director, Houston Methodist Lung Center; Director, Pulmonary Fibrosis Center
Accepting New Patients
Video Visits Available
  • Patient Ratings
  • Publications
  • FAQ

About Dr. Zeenat Safdar

"As a health care professional, my goal is to tailor care of each patient individualized to their complex pulmonary problems in a compassionate and caring manner."

 

Dr. Zeenat Safdar is a Professor of Medicine, the Ashley Lain Barras Distinguished Chair in Pulmonology, and a board‑certified pulmonary and critical care physician. She serves as medical director of the Houston Methodist Lung Center and Pulmonary Fibrosis Center, specializing in pulmonary hypertension, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, interstitial lung disease, sarcoidosis, chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension, pulmonary AV malformations, and other complex lung conditions.

 

She is also an Adjunct Clinical Professor at Texas A&M University College of Medicine, where she teaches EnMed and Texas A&M medical students. Dr. Safdar maintains an active clinical research portfolio, including clinical trials, registries, and investigator‑initiated studies in pulmonary hypertension and interstitial lung diseases, and is committed to mentoring the next generation of pulmonologists.

 

Dr. Zeenat Safdar has an academic appointment. Learn more about their research interests.

Clinical Interests

Pulmonary arterial hypertension

Pulmonary hypertension associated with ILD

Connective tissue disease associated interstitial lung diseases

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

Interstitial lung disease 

Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension 

Pulmonary complications of lymphangiomatosis (LAM)

Pulmonary diseases associated with HHT (hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasias)

Pulmonary hypertension associated with congenital heart disease

Accepted Insurance Plans

  • (WELLMED) AARP MEDICARE ADVANTAGE ESSENTIALS FROM UHC EP-1 (PPO) **
  • (WELLMED) AARP MEDICARE ADVANTAGE EXTRA FROM UHC EP-3 (PPO) **
  • (WELLMED) AARP MEDICARE ADVANTAGE GIVEBACK FROM UHC EP-2 (PPO) **
  • (WELLMED) AARP MEDICARE ADVANTAGE CareFlex FROM UHC TX-44 (HMO-POS)**
  • (WELLMED) AARP MEDICARE ADVANTAGE CareFlex FROM UHC TX-45 (HMO-POS)**
  • (WELLMED) AARP MEDICARE ADVANTAGE ESSENTIAL FROM UHC TX-21 (HMO-POS)**
  • (WELLMED) AARP MEDICARE ADVANTAGE ESSENTIAL FROM UHC TX-22 (HMO-POS)**
  • (WELLMED) AARP MEDICARE ADVANTAGE EXTRA FROM UHC TX-27 (HMO-POS)**
  • (WELLMED) AARP MEDICARE ADVANTAGE EXTRA FROM UHC TX-28 (HMO-POS)**
  • (WELLMED) AARP MEDICARE ADVANTAGE GIVEBACK FROM UHC TX-35 (HMO-POS) **
  • (WELLMED) AARP MEDICARE ADVANTAGE GIVEBACK FROM UHC TX-38(HMO-POS) **
  • (WELLMED) AARP MEDICARE ADVANTAGE GIVEBACK FROM UHC TX-39 (HMO-POS) **
  • (WELLMED) AARP MEDICARE ADVANTAGE GIVEBACK FROM UHC TX-40 (HMO-POS) **
  • (WELLMED) AARP MEDICARE ADVANTAGE GIVEBACK FROM UHC TX-41 (HMO-POS) **
  • (WELLMED) AARP MEDICARE ADVANTAGE GIVEBACK FROM UHC TX-47 (HMO-POS) **
  • (WELLMED) MEDICARE ADVANTAGE GIVEBACK FROM UHC TX-31 (PPO)** H1278-005
  • (WELLMED) MEDICARE ADVANTAGE GIVEBACK FROM UHC TX-31 (PPO)** H1278-013
  • (WELLMED) MEDICARE ADVANTAGE GIVEBACK FROM UHC TX-31 (PPO)** H1278-014
  • (WELLMED) MEDICARE ADVANTAGE GIVEBACK FROM UHC TX-31 (PPO)** H1278-021
  • (WELLMED) MEDICARE ADVANTAGE GIVEBACK FROM UHC TX-31 (PPO)** H1278-025
  • (WELLMED) MEDICARE ADVANTAGE GIVEBACK FROM UHC TX-31 (PPO)** H1278-026
  • (WELLMED) MEDICARE ADVANTAGE GIVEBACK FROM UHC TX-32 (PPO)** H1278-022
  • (WELLMED) MEDICARE ADVANTAGE GIVEBACK FROM UHC TX-34 (PPO)** H1278-024
  • (WELLMED) SECURE HORIZON MEDICARE ADVANTAGE TX-0023 (HMO-POS)**
  • (WELLMED) SECURE HORIZON MEDICARE ADVANTAGE TX-0025 (HMO-POS)**
  • Aetna Affordable Health Choices
  • Aetna APCN Plus Multi-Tier HM Tier 2
  • Aetna Choice POS / Open Choice
  • Aetna Common Spirit Minimum Value Plan
  • Aetna CommonSpirit Health KelseyCare
  • Aetna EPO
  • Aetna Health Network
  • Aetna HMO
  • Aetna International
  • Aetna Managed Choice / Elect Choice
  • Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO
  • Aetna Medicare Advantage PPO
  • Aetna Medicare Dual Complete Plan (HMO D-SNP)
  • Aetna Medicare HMO Prime
  • Aetna Meritain Hlth/Aetna Premier Care (APCN)
  • Aetna Open Access
  • Aetna POS
  • Aetna PPO
  • Aetna Premier Care Network
  • Aetna QPOS
  • Aetna Select
  • Aetna Signature Administrators
  • Aetna Signature Administrators Allied Benefits
  • Aetna Signature Administrators CoreSource
  • Aetna Signature Administrators EBMS
  • Aetna Signature Administrators MODA
  • Aetna Student Health
  • Aetna Transplant
  • Aetna TX Pref Plus II Network
  • Aetna Workers' Comp
  • All Saver/United Healthcare
  • BCBS PPO GUIDESTONE
  • BCBS PPO Wespath
  • Best Doctors International
  • Bind Surest UHC
  • Blue Choice POS
  • Blue Choice PPO
  • Blue Cross Blue Shield EPO
  • Blue Cross Blue Shield FEP Federal Employee Plan
  • Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare Advantage Out of State
  • Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare Advantage PPO/UT Care
  • Blue Cross Blue Shield POS
  • Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO
  • Blue Edge
  • Blue Essentials
  • Blue Essentials Access
  • Cigna Allegiance Houston Methodist Employee Medical Plan
  • Cigna Allegiance OAP
  • Cigna Allegiance PPO
  • Cigna APWU
  • Cigna C-24 Network
  • Cigna Choice Fund
  • Cigna EPO
  • Cigna Global Health Benefits (International)
  • Cigna Great West
  • Cigna HMO
  • Cigna Indemnity
  • Cigna LocalPlus
  • Cigna NALC
  • Cigna Network
  • Cigna Network Open Access
  • Cigna Open Access
  • Cigna Open Access Plus (OAP)
  • Cigna POS
  • Cigna PPO
  • Cigna Qualcare
  • Cigna Shared Administration OAP
  • Cigna Shared Administration PPO
  • Cigna SureFit
  • Community Health Choice Medicare Advantage HMO DSNP
  • Community Health Choice PREMIER Gold
  • Community Health Choice PREMIER Silver
  • Coventry PPO
  • DEVOTED CORE 001 TX (HMO)
  • DEVOTED CORE 019 TX (HMO)
  • DEVOTED C-SNP Plus 031 TX (HMO C-SNP)
  • DEVOTED C-SNP Premium 030 TX (HMO C-SNP)
  • DEVOTED DUAL 010 TX (HMO D-SNP)
  • DEVOTED DUAL FULL 040 (HMO D-SNP)
  • DEVOTED GIVEBACK 006 TX (HMO)
  • DEVOTED HEALTH DUAL PLUS GREATER HOUSTON
  • DEVOTED PREMIUM 002 (HMO)
  • Entrust/90 Degree EDI Payer ID# 36878
  • First Health PPO
  • GeoBlue
  • HAA Preferred Partners (International)
  • HealthSmart Accel PPO
  • HealthSmart Payors Organization
  • HealthSmart PPO
  • Healthspring/Cigna MCR HMO
  • Healthspring/Cigna MCR PPO
  • Healthspring/Cigna MCR Total Care Dual
  • HMO Blue
  • Humana Medicare Advantage Choice PPO
  • Humana Medicare Advantage Gold Plus/Choice
  • Humana Medicare Advantage HMO
  • Humana Medicare Advantage PPO
  • Humana TRICARE 2
  • Kelsey Seybold Affiliate Network
  • Medica Choice with UnitedHealthcare Choice Plus
  • Medicare
  • MEDICARE ADVANTAGE : TEXAN PLUS
  • Medicare Railroad
  • Molina Healthcare of TX CHIP MCD
  • Molina Healthcare STAR+PLUS MCD
  • Molina Healthcare TX STAR MCD
  • Molina Marketplace Exchange
  • Molina Medicare Complete Care HMO (Dual) HIDE
  • Molina Medicare Complete Care Plus (HMO Dual-SNP) FIDE
  • MultiPlan PPO
  • Olympus Managed Care (International)
  • PHCS Healthy Directions
  • PHCS MEDI-SHARE
  • PHCS PPO
  • PHCS/Multiplan Practitioner & Ancillary Only
  • ProCare Medicare Advantage
  • Sana Benefits
  • Three Rivers Provider Network
  • TRS-ActiveCare 2 Group 385002
  • TRS-ActiveCare Fully Insured Plan-South Texas Region Group 295430
  • TRS-ActiveCare Fully Insured Plan-West Texas Region Group 295781
  • TRS-ActiveCare HD Group 385000
  • TRS-ActiveCare Primary Group 385003
  • TRS-ActiveCare Primary Plus Group 385001
  • TRS-Care Standard ALT A I Group 485002
  • TRS-Care Standard ALT A II Group 485003
  • TRS-Care Standard ALT B I Group 485005
  • TRS-Care Standard ALT B II Group 485006
  • TRS-Care Standard CMED Group 485001
  • TRS-Care Standard Group 485000
  • TX Annual Conf of UMC-UMR
  • UHC COMPLETE CARE SUPPORT TX-1A (REGIONAL PPO C-SNP)** R6801-008
  • UHC Complete Care TX-16 (HMO-POS C-SNP)** H4527-039
  • UHC Complete Care TX-17 (HMO-POS C-SNP)** H4527-040
  • UHC Complete Care TX-18 (HMO-POS C-SNP)** H4527-041
  • UHC Complete Care TX-19 (HMO-POS C-SNP)** H4527-042
  • UHC COMPLETE CARE TX-29 (REGIONAL PPO C-SNP)** R6801-009
  • UHC DUAL COMPLETE TX-S001 (REGIONAL PPO D-SNP)** R6801-011
  • UHC GR MA HALLIBURTON HMO 137 ** H0609-822-137
  • UHC GR MA LOCKHEED HMO 164 ** H0609-822-164
  • UHC GR MA RIO TINTO SERVICE
  • UHC GR MA TEACHER RETIREMENT SYSTEM HMO 199** H0609-822-207
  • UHC GR MA VERIZON HMO 207** H0609-822-207
  • UHC MEDICARE ADVANTAGE TX-0030 (REGIONAL PPO)** R6801-012
  • UMR
  • United Health Integrated Services
  • United HealthCare Community Plan Dual Complete (HMO SNP)
  • United Healthcare Nexus ACO RA or OA
  • United Healthcare Plan of the River Valley
  • UnitedHealthcare Choice
  • UnitedHealthcare ChoicePlus
  • UnitedHealthcare Core
  • UnitedHealthcare Core Plus
  • UnitedHealthcare EPO
  • UnitedHealthcare Golden Rule
  • UnitedHealthcare HMO
  • UnitedHealthcare Navigate
  • UnitedHealthcare Navigate Plus
  • UnitedHealthcare Options PPO
  • UnitedHealthcare Oxford
  • UnitedHealthcare POS
  • UnitedHealthcare PPO
  • UnitedHealthcare Student Resources
  • UnitedHealthcare West
  • UnitedHealthOne
  • US Family Health Plan
  • WellMed AARP Medicare Advantage Choice PPO
  • WellMed AARP Medicare Advantage Plan 1 & Plan 2
  • WellMed Medicare Advantage Choice PPO
  • WellMed Medicare Advantage Patriot
  • WellMed UHC Dual Complete HMO D-SNP
  • WellMed UnitedHealthCare Dual Complete Choice (Regional PPO D-SNP)
  • WellMed UnitedHealthCare Medicare Advantage Choice (Regional PPO)
  • WellMed UnitedHealthCare Medicare Gold (Regional PPO C-SNP)
  • WellMed UnitedHealthCare Medicare Silver (Regional PPO C-SNP)
  • Wellpoint Chronic Care (HMO C-SNP)
  • Wellpoint Dual Advantage (HMO D-SNP)
  • Wellpoint Dual Advantage 2 (HMO D-SNP)
  • WELLPOINT ESSENTIALS MARKETPLACE
  • Wellpoint Full Dual Advantage (HMO D-SNP)
  • Wellpoint Full Dual Advantage 2 (HMO D-SNP)
  • Wellpoint Home Care (HMO C-SNP)
  • Wellpoint Kidney Care (HMO C-SNP)
  • Wellpoint Kidney Care (HMO-POS C-SNP)
  • Wellpoint Lung Care (HMO C-SNP)
  • Wellpoint Medicare Advantage 2 (HMO)
  • Wellpoint Select (HMO)
Insurance plans may change. Please verify your plan is accepted when scheduling an appointment.

Credentials

Board Certification
  • Critical Care Medicine | American Board of Internal Medicine | 2016
  • Pulmonary Disease | American Board of Internal Medicine | 2000
Graduate
  • Clinical Investigation | Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas | 2015
Fellowship
  • Pulmonary Critical Care Medicine | Mount Sinai St. Lukes’s Hospital/Columbia University, New York, New York | 2005
Residency
  • Internal Medicine | SUNY Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, New York | 1998
Doctor of Medicine
  • Internal Medicine | Sindh Medical College, Karachi University, Karachi, Pakistan | 1991
Affiliated Hospitals
  • Houston Methodist Hospital
Center Memberships
  • Houston Methodist Lung Center
Academic Appointments
  • Ashley Lain Barras Distinguished Chair in Pulmonology, Charles W. Duncan Jr. Department of Medicine
  • Professor of Medicine, Academic Institute
  • Member, Research Institute, Academic Institute
  • Houston Methodist
  • Weill Cornell Medical College

Languages

  • English
Languages listed are spoken by doctor and/or office staff.

FAQ

Can I book an appointment with Dr. Zeenat Safdar?
Yes. Please contact the physician's office directly at 713.441.7779 to schedule an appointment or call 713.790.3333 for assistance in finding another doctor.
What insurance does Dr. Zeenat Safdar accept?
See all insurance plans that Dr. Zeenat Safdar accepts.
What practice does Dr. Zeenat Safdar work at?
Dr. Zeenat Safdar works at Houston Methodist Pulmonary & Sleep Medicine Specialists.
Where is Dr. Zeenat Safdar office located?
How do patients rate Dr. Zeenat Safdar in reviews?
276 patients have reviewed Dr. Zeenat Safdar. The overall rating for this doctor is 4.9/5. You can read individual reviews and ratings on Dr. Zeenat Safdar's profile.
What languages does Dr. Zeenat Safdar speak?
Dr. Zeenat Safdar, or the office, speaks English.
What are Dr. Zeenat Safdar's specialties?
Dr. Zeenat Safdar is a specialist in Pulmonary Critical Care, Pulmonary Hypertension.

Patient Ratings & Comments

What is a Patient Rating score?
The Patient Rating score is an average of all responses to physician related questions on our independently administered Patient Satisfaction Survey.
How are responses measured?
Responses are measured on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being the best score.
4.9 out of 5
(276 Ratings, 47 Comments)
  • 4.9
    Provider discussed treatment options
  • 4.9
    Provider showed concern
  • 4.9
    Provider explained things clearly
  • 4.9
    Provider included you in decisions
  • 5
    Likelihood of recommending this provider
Comments also are gathered from our Patient Satisfaction Survey and displayed in their entirety. Patients are de-identified for confidentiality and patient privacy.
  • Aug 28, 2026
    She is very thorough
  • Jul 9, 2026
    Dr. Safdar is very thorough, and reviewed my test results in great detail, going beyond the verbage provided by the radiologist and visually reading the CAT scan herself. All test data was addressed in depth.
  • Jun 12, 2026
    Dr. Safdar was excellent. She has brought under control a cough that I have had for over 10 years.
  • Jun 9, 2026
    Dr safdar is always very effective in improving my lung care
  • Apr 30, 2026
    Dr. Safdar answered all the questions I asked in a thorough manner. A pleasure to deal with a person who knows their business and takes time to talk to you.
  • Apr 29, 2026
    She is so smart.and truly cares about her patients
  • Apr 29, 2026
    Very professional