Pulmonary Division Heads to Hawaii for CHEST Conference
Tuesday, October 24, 2023
The annual meeting of the American College of Chest Physicians (CHEST) took place October 8 to 11 in beautiful Hawaii. This organization includes more than 22,000 pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine professionals. The department of Medicine was well represented by several faculty, a fellow, and a resident, who shared their research through presentations and posters. From cutting-edge research to transformative clinical interventions, they left an indelible mark on the conference.
One standout moment was Pulmonary division chief, M. Patricia Rivera, MD, taking the stage for the Women as Leaders in Chest Medicine panel. Rivera, a powerhouse in her field, not only leads the division at URMC, she also holds the prestigious title of president of the American Thoracic Society, which testifies to her reputation as a trailblazer in medicine. The panel also included the women presidents of CHEST and the European Respiratory Society. In 2023, more than seven global respiratory societies are led by women. The themes of this panel were courage, finding a voice, and what leaders can do to amplify and promote women in their field.
Sandhya Khurana, MD, FCCP, professor of Medicine, who also presented at the conference, reflects on the whole event. “It was a pleasure to speak at some of the key asthma sessions at CHEST. It is always great to share the podium with expert colleagues from other institutions, and to hear each other’s unique perspective.”
Additional highlights include Khurana and Rivera receiving the Distinguished CHEST Educator Award, and David Nagel, MD, PhD, receiving a CHEST Research Grant in Pulmonary Fibrosis for his project “Elastin Remodeling Promotes Pulmonary Fibrosis.”
Presentations in alphabetical order
Fernando Camacho, MD, MS – Internal Medicine Resident
- Diffuse Lung Disease Case Report Posters: A Diagnostic Dilemma: A Case of Diffuse Cystic Lung Disease-Is it Birt-Hogg-Dub Syndrome?
- Lung Pathology Case Report Posters: A Case of Extranodal Marginal Zone Lymphoma with Concomitant Pulmonary and Cutaneous Manifestations
- Unusual Manifestations of Unusual Diseases: Multiple Pulmonary Arteriovenous Malformations in A Patient with Diffuse Cystic Lung Disease: A Case Report
- Imaging Case Report Posters: Evolution of Sars-Cov-2 Related Pneumatoceles: A Case Report
Patrick Donohue, MD – Assistant Professor
- Updates to the Asthma Diagnostic Toolbox: Bronchodilator Reversibility, FENO, and Oscillometry
- Chair: Oscillometry
Sandhya Khurana, MD, FCCP – Professor
- All That Wheezes Is Not Asthma: A Case-Based Approach
- Presenter: Inducible Laryngeal Obstruction
- Asthma 2023: A Multidisciplinary Update
- Presenter: Update in Management of T2 Asthma
- Pardon the Disruption 2023: Controversies in Asthma
- Presenter: Color Commentary and Debrief
Daniel Lachant, DO – Assistant Professor
- Pulmonary Vascular and Cardiovascular Network Session
- Presenter: Research Grant Presentation
- Novel Insights into Diagnosis of PH
Caroline Quill, MD – Associate Professor
- Personalized Approach to Managing COPD: A 2023 Update
- Chair: Gender Variations in COPD
M. Patricia Rivera, MD – Division Chief
- Women as Leaders in Chest Medicine: Journeys and Stories Along the Way
- Panelist: American Thoracic Society President
- Women in Chest Medicine Luncheon – A sold out, ticketed event
- Presenter
- Team up on Tumor Board
- Presenter: Expert Case 1
- The Peripheral Lung Nodule: Where Are We Now?
- Presenter: Lung Cancer Screening: Tackling Barriers to Broad, Equitable Access
Melinda Tonelli, MD – Critical Care Fellow
- Stumped! Rare and Unusual Diagnoses in the ICU
- Critical Care Case Report Posters 65
James White, MD, PhD – Professor
- Pulmonary Vascular Disease Posters 10
Pulmonary Division Presents at ATS Conference as Rivera Steps into Presidential Role
Wednesday, June 7, 2023
In May, thousands of pulmonary, critical care, and sleep specialists gathered in Washington, DC for the annual conference of the American Thoracic Society. Faculty and fellows from the URMC division of Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine had a strong presence as they led sessions and presentations of their work, and held other roles such as chair, moderator, and facilitator.
One major highlight was on May 23, division chief Patricia Rivera, MD, gave her incoming Presidential address to the ATS, officially starting her one-year term. She is making history as the first Latina woman to take on this role. Her moving speech gave insight into her personal journey as the daughter of Cuban immigrants, and how life lessons from that were applied to her professional journey. Today, she is not only a nationally renowned lung cancer specialist, she is also a champion of DEI work, for both health care professionals and delivering equitable care to patients.
Pulmonologist Jim White, MD, PhD, attended the conference and was in the audience for Rivera’s speech. “I was so proud to call myself a U of R faculty member after this address,” he said, in an email to department of Medicine colleagues. “I’m sure there were many in the audience motivated and inspired to be better humans and citizens of a global community after listening to her.”