Clinical Programs
The Comprehensive Lung Center (CLC) was formulated in 1991 to coordinate the outpatient clinical programs of the Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine. The CLC provides a resource for comprehensive pulmonary care in the tri-state region and nationally. The CLC integrates seven key clinical programs for advanced specialty care in a broad range of respiratory disorders:
Adult Cystic Fibrosis and Bronchiectasis
The adult cystic fibrosis (CF) program is co-directed by Dr. Joseph Pilewski and Dr. Joel Weinberg. This adult CF program is tightly integrated with the Antonio J. and Janet Palumbo Cystic Fibrosis Center at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh. This adult program is the only comprehensive therapy program for patients with this disorder in the tri-state area. In addition to routine adult CF care for patients, the program is active in the pre-transplant care of patients with advanced CF from throughout the country. The adult CF clinic experiences over 400 outpatient visits per year.
Asthma, Allergy, and Inflammation
The Asthma, Allergy and Inflammation clinical program provides comprehensive care for patients with complex asthma and allergic airways disorders. The program has working collaborations with the UPMC Voice Center, UPMC Sinus and Allergy Center, and the Digestive Disorders Center at UPMC to provide advanced specialty care for asthma patients with laryngeal dyskinesia, sinus and upper airway disease, and gastroesophogeal reflux. Dr. Sally Wenzel and Dr. Adrej Petrov lead a comprehensive outpatient clinical program for patients with severe asthma and or allergic disorders.
Diagnostic Pulmonary Medicine
The CLC is a multidisciplinary diagnostic center incorporating expertise in pulmonary medicine, pathology, radiology, and thoracic surgery for the initial specialty evaluation or second opinion for patients with respiratory problems. Dr. Christopher Faber directs this program with participation by Drs. Samuel Hammerman, Robert Hoffman, John Kreit, and Michael Donahoe.
Emphysema and COPD Center
Dr. Frank Sciurba directs the Emphysema and COPD Center clinical program. This program has recognized international expertise in advanced COPD management including novel drug therapy, pulmonary rehabilitation, transtracheal oxygen therapy, and lung volume reduction surgery. The investigative component of this program provides a registry for patients to participate in current new treatments for this disorder and to also be contacted in the future for emerging new management strategies.
Lung Transplantation and Advanced Lung Disease
The UPMC Lung Transplantation program is one of the oldest and largest lung transplantation programs in the country. The program continues to expand lung transplantation activity on a yearly basis and consistently performs more than 50 procedures per year. The program has one of the largest international patient cohorts followed prospectively post lung transplantation. Dr. Joseph Pilewski directs this program with participation by Drs. Maria Crespo, Bruce Johnson, and Joanne Kim.
Simmons Center for Interstitial Lung Disease
The Dorothy P. and Richard P. Simmons Center for Interstitial Lung Disease provides state-of-the-art care for patients with interstitial lung disease that is comprehensive and compassionate. The Center was founded through a generous donation of the Simmons Family to support basic and clinical research in the disorder, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Dr. Naftali Kaminski, a recognized authority in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), and an international expert in gene expression analysis in patients with IPF is the Center Director. The clinical center is under the medical leadership of Dr. Kevin Gibson, with Kathleen Lindell, RN, leading patient education and clinical program development. The investigative component of this program provides a registry for patients to participate in current new treatments for this disorder and to also be contacted in the future for emerging new management strategies.
UPMC Sleep Medicine Center
The UPMC Sleep Medicine Center is a multi-disciplinary effort incorporating respiratory medicine, psychiatry, otolaryngology, and bariatric surgery specialists. This comprehensive care program directs the only sleep laboratory in the region certified as a comprehensive care laboratory by the American Academy of Sleep Disorders. An established collaboration, both clinical and research, with the Western Psychiatric Institute Sleep Medicine Program provides comprehensive care for patients with the full range of sleep abnormalities in addition to the more traditional disorders of sleep apnea. |
