Message from Dr. Imre Noth Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine
We continue to experience vibrant, exciting growth in pulmonary and critical care. There has truly been growth and success on all fronts. The procedure service continues to grow and will be adding support personnel in the near future, which should improve our response times. The reception has been phenomenal.
Last year, we added our own Dr. Nelson Mandrell as an Assistant Professor with a focus on critical care education. He’s been a terrific breath of fresh air, and we look forward to his continued growth. We continue to have a major impact on the residency, as Dr. Katie Waybill has assumed a new role as Associate Program Director.
This past year marked remarkable growth for our Interventional Pulmonology section, led by Dr. Ellen Volker. We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Cole Burks, Associate Professor, who joins us from UNC-Chapel Hill. With the addition of Dr. Burks and the continued excellence of Dr. Subodh Pandey, we now have a full complement. The response from the community has been exceptional, with a large number of referrals and an elevation in the level of care we provide. Their work is adding a new dimension to the division.
Our research portfolio also expanded significantly with several new R01s in the division, most excitingly among our junior faculty, Dr. John Kim and Dr. Jeff Sturek. They both continue to demonstrate fantastic, novel, and exciting work.
The Sleep Medicine Fellowship will be completing its first year of existence as the only program in the Commonwealth of Virginia, and we are happy to report that we continue to match well and have signed our first fellow as junior faculty to start upon completion of her fellowship. So please welcome Dr. Kiara Cerda if you run into her.
Lastly, on the education front, we are delighted to share that we had an outstanding match in the Pulmonary and Critical Care Fellowship. Many thanks go to our Program Director, Dr. Tim Scialla, and our Associate Program Director, Dr. Cathy Bonham, who do yeoman’s work and put our best foot forward.
I think you’ll find some interesting reading this year in our clinic, research, and fellowship updates. We couldn’t be prouder of the work being done and look forward to continuing the same in 2026!
Best,
Imre Noth MD
CLINICAL PROGRAM
Outpatient Pulmonary Clinics
Our outpatient pulmonary clinics remain exceptionally busy and in high demand. Our physicians continue to provide excellent, patient-centered care that is recognized both locally and nationally. The cystic fibrosis clinic is a nationally accredited Adult CF Program, and the interstitial lung disease clinic is part of the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation Care Center Network. The Joint Commission has recognized our COPD clinic for delivering exceptional care and improving patient outcomes. Our sarcoidosis clinic is designated a Sarcoidosis Center of Excellence by the World Association for Sarcoidosis and Other Granulomatous Disorders, and most recently, we have been recognized by the Bronchiectasis and NTM Care Center Network as a designated Care Center.
Outpatients are seen at the Primary Care Center and at our outreach clinics in Zion Crossroads and Fishersville. We also have subspecialty clinics at the Charles O. Strickler Transplant Center for lung transplant and at the Emily Couric Cancer Center for interventional pulmonology. Our physicians also collaborate with other specialties to provide combined, multidisciplinary care through the pulmonary–rheumatology clinic, pulmonary–allergy clinic, multidisciplinary sarcoidosis clinic, and multidisciplinary oncology clinic. In 2025, our clinics provided care for more than 12,000 patients, and we expect continued growth in patient volumes in 2026.
Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU) Updates
After the “COVID years”, the medical ICU continues strong into the future. With several expected leaves and transitions, hiring has been exceptional, and for the first time, we can say the MICU is fully staffed and will be independent of any travel nurses. Kris Blackstone, Jessica McVey, and Sarah Kaplan, our MICU nurse managers, have put their hearts into recruiting and onboarding with great success in the last few months.
From a quality perspective, the MICU has been very strong. We have just celebrated 500 CAUTI-free days, a milestone that we have never reached before. In addition, many collaborations with interventional radiology and interventional pulmonology have been established to further our care for complex patients.
Overall, the MICU remains the place where patients and families want to be when sick and often don’t want to leave after recovery. We are all proud of this unit.
EDUCATION
Fellowship
We are excited to share our incoming fellows for 2026: Drs. Ashley Bolte, Yuri Kim, Michael Patterson, and Stephen Rowley.
Fellowship
2025 was another wonderful and successful year for the Pulmonary and Critical Care Fellowship Program! Graduation 2025 was held at The Rotunda in the Dome Room.
We welcomed four amazing new fellows this year: Drs. Osman Ainte, Sadat Kasanga, Louay Zaghlol, and Mel Zemel. We are incredibly lucky to have them, and they are off to a great start!
Our Fellows love spending quality time together outside of work!
Sleep Medicine Fellowship
Our Sleep Medicine Fellowship is up and running with our first fellow, Dr. Kiara Cerda, joining us this past July. Kiara has been working with our faculty cohort across multiple departments to care for patients with sleep disorders. We are thrilled that Kiara will be joining our faculty this upcoming summer upon completion of her fellowship. Next, we will be welcoming our next fellow, Dr. Hanh Le, who has prior training in medicine/pediatrics at VCU.
We look forward to Hanh joining our team and to the ongoing growth and expansion of the sleep medicine program.
RESEARCH
Immunology Training Program/Interdisciplinary Training in Immunology T32 Grant
The Immunology Training Program, led by Dr. Anne Sperling, aims to train the next generation of leaders in basic, translational, and clinical immunology. The program is supported by the Dean’s office, the Carter Center for Immunology Research, the Department of Medicine, and a NIH training grant. Working with the Department of Medicine leadership, Drs. Noth and Sperling have developed a new Fellowship for Translational Immunology as part of the Immunology Training Program. This fellowship is specifically for MD or MD/PhD fellows in the Department of Medicine who are actively conducting translational research to provide new insights into how the immune system impacts disease. Fellows are provided with salary support to allow for concentrated research time. This year’s awardee is Dr. Samuel Konkol, a Pulmonary and Critical Care Fellow, who is studying the role of the immune system in the development of progressive pulmonary fibrosis.
Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine (PCCM) Research Updates
As we move into 2026, we celebrate our team’s curiosity, dedication, and collaborative spirit, which advance pulmonary and critical care medicine and improve patient lives.
The interstitial lung disease (ILD) research group — including Drs. Imre Noth, Shwu-Fan Ma, Yong Huang, John Kim, Cathy Bonham, Sam Konkol, Brody Receveur, Jeffrey Sturek, Tania Velez, and Anne Sperling — continues to be productive. The Sturek Lab recently received new R01 funding from the NIH for a project titled “Oxidation-Specific Epitope IgA in Pulmonary Fibrosis” and maintains strong collaborations across Grounds, including with investigators in Biomedical Engineering and Infectious Diseases.
John Kim, MD, also recently received R01 funding, published prolifically in ILD proteomic and genetic biomarkers, and co-authored an influential guideline on evaluation and management strategies for interstitial lung abnormalities. Cathy Bonham, MD, made significant contributions to sarcoidosis and fibrotic lung disease research, co-authoring an international position paper de-emphasizing first-line corticosteroid treatment in sarcoidosis. In a high-impact publication, new faculty member Tania Velez, PhD, published that active antigen-specific immune responses are shared among patients with progressive fibrotic ILD. Drs. Tessy Paul, Hannah Mannem, Numaan Malik, and Cathy Bonham led several active ILD and sarcoidosis clinical trials for our patients.
Anne Sperling, PhD, led diverse 2025 research projects spanning asthma immunology, fibrotic lung disease, and host-microbe interactions. Drs. Sperling, Mike Shim, and Jie Sun collaborated to produce groundbreaking science research revealing how macrophage peroxisomes aid alveolar regeneration after COVID-19. Mike Shim, MD, continued to pioneer advances in pulmonary imaging, exploring sex-specific differences in COPD, and implementing hyperpolarized xenon-129 MRI to evaluate COPD progression. Anny Xiaobo Zhou, PhD, directs the new Center for Translational Genomics and is an expert in ILD and COPD-associated genetic variation that may identify novel drug targets.
We were delighted to welcome Christine Nelson, PhD, to the pulmonary division last year. Dr. Nelson is an expert in the immunologic response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis (TB). Her team is actively investigating the role of Interleukin-26 in TB immunity.
Drs. Alex Kadl, Kyle Enfield, Cathy Bonham, Jeff Sturek, Eric Davis, and past and current fellows Sam Oliver, Sam Lazoff, and John Popovich published on COVID-19 sequelae, including insomnia after COVID-19 and type 1 immunity in patients who develop post-COVID pulmonary restriction.
The cystic fibrosis (CF) and non-CF bronchiectasis programs led by Drs. Dana Albon and Lindsay Somerville continue to promote CF care innovation, with recent publications on addressing social determinants of health, implementing remote screening programs, examining modulator therapy effects, and advancing telehealth models.
EVENTS
Celebrating the Retirement of Dr. Charlie Alex
On August 20, 2025, faculty and staff gathered in Pinn Hall at the University of Virginia to celebrate the retirement of Dr. Charlie Alex. A delicious luncheon was enjoyed as faculty and staff came together to honor Dr. Alex and wish him a very happy, well-earned retirement.
Dr. Alex joined the lung transplant program in December 2020 with the intention of staying “just one year.” Instead, he far exceeded that expectation, dedicating nearly five years to the program. During this time, he became a steady and reliable presence, known for keeping the lung transplant team grounded, both emotionally and medically. His calm, easy-going demeanor and dependable clinical judgment made him an invaluable member of the team.
While we will greatly miss Dr. Alex’s daily presence in the office, we have enjoyed seeing him as he provides occasional transplant clinic coverage while easing into retirement. We extend our deepest appreciation to Dr. Alex for his service, commitment, and friendship.
H. Charles Malpass III Memorial Grand Rounds
Last year’s H. Charles Malpass III Memorial Grand Rounds on June 6, 2025, featured Dr. James “Mac” Walter from Northwestern University presenting on “The Buried Wire: Connection and Communication in Medical Education” in honor of the legacy of Dr. Charles Malpass. This grand round was a joint presentation by the Department of Medicine and the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care, following the passing of our dear colleague, Charlie Malpass.
Planning is underway for the 2026 Malpass Memorial Grand Rounds. The date and speaker will be announced soon. Please stay tuned for updates as we honor the legacy of Dr. Malpass and celebrate his lasting impact on our medical community.
Loaves and Fishes Donation Drive
From November 6 through November 19, 2025, the PCCM Division held its donation drive in support of Loaves & Fishes Food Pantry. Thanks to the generosity of our faculty, fellows, and staff, we proudly collected $610 in donations, along with holiday meal supplies, to support families in our community during the holiday season.
We extend our sincere appreciation to everyone who contributed to making this effort a success.
End of Year Party
On December 3, 2025, the PCCM Division held its annual EOY Party at Kardinal Hall, welcoming faculty, fellows, and staff. The alpine-inspired beer hall was a cozy place to gather and share delicious food—special shout-out to the apple-brie-pecan crostini and the sensational crispy Brussels sprouts! This event also continued the division’s Pulmy Awards tradition, recognizing individuals for their exceptional contributions and achievements. The event provided a meaningful opportunity to reflect on the year’s accomplishments, celebrate our collective success, and usher in the holiday season together.
Pulmy 2025 Winners
• Buzz Lightyear Award – For the colleague who always thinks outside the box – Taison Bell
• Confetti Award – For the colleague who is always eager to celebrate team success – Katie Waybill
• Walking Encyclopedia Award – For the colleague who has in-depth knowledge about various subjects and has an answer for everything – Andrew Barros
• The Mary Poppins Award – For the colleague who is always reliable and organized with a never-ending supply of items in their desk or bag – Rupa Kaur
• Energizer Bunny Award – For the colleague who brings top-notch energy and keeps going and going with tireless energy – Emily Wells
• Fashion Icon Award – For the colleague who struts through the office like a runway – Hannah Mannem
• Human Megaphone Award – For the colleague who talks so loudly on the phone that everyone in the office hears it. – Cathy Brown
• White Rabbit Award – For the colleague who shows up chronically late to every meeting—even ones they scheduled – Eric Nolley & Subodh Pandey
• Most Likely to be Batman Award – For the team member who exudes a mysterious, vigilant, and heroic aura, often taking on challenges silently and effectively – Andrew Mihalek
• Playground Award – Makes work fun, creating a playful and enjoyable work environment, ensuring colleagues have fun while being productive – Kristin Miller
ILD Patient Education Day 2025
Interstitial lung disease (ILD) encompasses a broad and diverse group of conditions, including rheumatoid-associated lung disease, sarcoidosis, and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF)—a progressive and life-limiting illness with a median survival of two to five years. The UVA ILD Program remains committed to providing comprehensive, longitudinal, and multidisciplinary care to this complex patient population.
Patient education is a central component of this mission. Alongside the program’s biweekly support group, led by Drs. Tessy Paul and Catherine Bonham, the team hosted its seventh annual ILD Patient Education Day on November 1, 2025. This year’s keynote speaker, Dr. Kerri Aronson of Weill Cornell Medical College, delivered an expert presentation titled “Measuring What Matters: An Overview of Patient Centered Outcomes in Interstitial Lung Disease.”
The event featured an array of educational sessions addressing key topics in ILD, including:
• Two Types of Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis
• Partnering with Patients: ILD Clinical Trials at UVA
• A Year in the Life of a Transplant Patient
• Interstitial Lung Abnormalities: What We Know and What We Don’t
• A Patient’s Guide to PFTs
• New Drugs on the Horizon for ILD
• Oxygen Made Simple: What ILD Patients Should Know
• Breathing Easy on the Road: Lung Savvy Travel Tips
• Help along the way: Understanding Palliative Care in ILD
Offered in a hybrid format and supported by the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation, ABC, an Apria Company, and Generous Patient Donors. Patients and caregivers shared overwhelmingly positive feedback, underscoring the event’s continued value as an essential educational resource for the ILD community.
taking on challenges silently and effectively.
Read the Full March Issue of Medicine Matters
Filed Under: Basic Research, Clinical Research, DOM in the News, Education, In the Know, New Faces, New Places, News and Notes, Notable Achievements, Publications, Research, Top News