UC Health Pulmonary Medicine provides advanced care for a variety of lung and other pulmonary-related diseases. Our world-renowned physicians are known for their superior expertise in pulmonary diseases and critical care medicine and many have been recognized by Best Doctors in America and Top Doctors in Cincinnati. As faculty members of the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, they are dedicated to shaping the future of medicine and are also leading the way for new advancements with ground-breaking research and clinical trials.
Our specialties include:
- Interstitial lung disease
- Lymphangioelomyomatosis (LAM)
- Pulmonary hypertension
- Asthma & COPD
- Cystic fibrosis
- Sleep disorders
- Interventional pulmonology
- General pulmonary diseases
Dedicated ILD Center One of Few in US
Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD) is a difficult condition to diagnose and requires coordinated efforts between physicians of multiple specialties, including pulmonologists, pathologists and radiologists. Our fellowship trained pulmonologists work as a team to diagnose ILD and develop an individualized treatment plan for each patient through:
A comprehensive examination of your history including symptoms, occupational history, environmental exposure history and medication use
A thorough analysis of your diagnostic studies, including pulmonary function tests, CT scans and lung biopsy specimens (If you need a lung biopsy, we have experienced, dedicated thoracic surgeons available as part of UC Health.)
Further testing if necessary
As the only multidisciplinary ILD center in Ohio, our goal is not only to perform exemplary diagnostic treatment for this difficult disease, but also to act as a resource for patients and other physicians in the management of ILD. With backing from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, our physicians also strive to improve treatments for ILD through research and clinical trials.
UC Health Nationally Recognized as Treatment Center for Rare Lung Disease
Leaders in the division of Pulmonary Medicine at UC Health are known as national leaders in the treatment and research of lymphangioelomyomatosis (LAM). LAM is a rare, serious, and sometimes fatal lung disease that affects women, causing shortness of breath and recurrent lung collapses, or pneumothoraces. The disease is caused by atypical smooth muscle cells invading the lung, causing tissue destruction by creating holes or cysts.
With a team of physicians and researchers at UC Health and the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, our experts have made groundbreaking discoveries that have lead to new treatments for current LAM patients and easier diagnoses for potential LAM sufferers. There are currently several clinical trials at UC Health that are available for LAM patients, which allows our physicians to provide treatment options that are not yet widely available at other institutions.
Pulmonary Hypertension Care with a Team Approach
The UC Health Pulmonary Hypertension Program is focused on the comprehensive diagnosis and management of adults with this difficult to detect disease. Our clinicians strive to provide a team approach for caring for patients, collaborating with the UC Health pulmonary team, referring physicians and the patient.
While pulmonary hypertension has typically been a disease that affects younger women, it is becoming more commonly recognized and diagnosed in all ages, genders and even in children. The team’s years of expertise and advanced training, combined with the medical advancements that are being made with current research, are helping lead to earlier detection of the disease, which is critical to the patient’s overall quality of life. Currently, UC Health physicians are involved in multiple clinical trials for pulmonary hypertension treatments. For more information on these clinical trials, call (513) 558-7036.
Transition of Care from Pediatric Pulmonary Medicine to Adult Care
Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a serious, chronic disease that is typically diagnosed within the first two years of life. In previous years, CF meant that it was likely a child wouldn’t live into adulthood; however, with advancements in treatment for this disease, many patients are living and thriving into adulthood and beyond.
UC Health pulmonologists are pioneers in the region for transitional care of CF patients. Our physicians work closely with Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center to develop systems and programs that will successfully and safely transition CF patients from pediatric care to adult care. Each patient is unique and we strive to not only extend their care into adulthood, but improve their quality of life as they continue to live with a chronic disease.
Unique Clinic Offers Patient Support for Asthma, COPD
Asthma is a relatively common yet serious problem that affects a wide range of patients of all ages and genders. At UC Health, our asthma clinic is designed to equip patients with the skills to manage their illness while also treating them with the discovery driven medicine that defines our clinical practice.
Our fellowship trained pulmonologists specialize in the care of patients with asthma and COPD. With a heavy focus on academic medicine and a strong compassion for patients, our physicians bring a variety of treatment options to our patients, allowing them to have an active hand in the care of their disease.
Leading-Edge Patient Care in Interventional Pulmonology
UC Health’s Interventional Pulmonology (IP) team houses the region’s only fellowship-trained and board-certified physicians. With over 950 annual procedures, our world-class teams provide advanced care that is only offered in centers of excellence around the US.
We partner with regional hospitals to ensure we provide patients with state-of-the-art treatments and compassionate care for complex cases, such as diseases affecting the airways, lungs or pleural space.
At UC Health, we offer hope. We are the first in Ohio to perform bronchoscopic lung volume reduction with Spiration® valves and also provide Zephyr® valves as a treatment option for patients.
Powered by academic medicine, we are a center of excellence and the only IP service in the region to offer the following procedures:
- Rigid bronchoscopy with stent placement (silicone and metallic stents) and laser, electrocautery and argon plasma coagulation treatment of airway diseases.
- Medical thoracoscopy (to diagnose and/or treat pleural disease).
- Robotic Navigational Bronchoscopy with the Intuitive Ion Platform coupled to 3D Reconstructed CT images through CIOS Spin to offer the most accurate bronchoscopic biopsy
- Endobronchial valve placement (to treat severe emphysema and persistent air leak). We offer two FDA-approved systems: Spiration ® and Zephyr®.
- Transbronchial lung cryobiopsy (diagnosis of interstitial lung disease). We present all of our cases in our “Multidisciplinary Interstitial Lung Disease Expert Conference” to develop a comprehensive treatment plan.
- Dynamic bronchoscopy (to diagnose excessive dynamic airway collapse as a cause of chronic cough) and laser tracheobronchoplasty (to treat excessive dynamic airway collapse non-amenable for surgical repair).
- Bronchial thermoplasty (to treat severe persistent asthma).
- Photodynamic therapy (to treat superficial malignant lesions of the airways).