Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) is recognized for its extensive Pediatric Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine program, which handles over 22,000 outpatient visits and 14,000 inpatient encounters annually. The division treats a wide range of conditions from common respiratory issues to rare lung diseases.
The Division of Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine at CHOP recently highlighted its comprehensive approach to pediatric respiratory care. This includes specialized treatment for bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), innovations in managing technology-dependent patients, advanced bronchoscopy techniques, and fellowship training opportunities.
Dr. Lisa R. Young, Chief of the Division, emphasized the expansion in pediatric pulmonary medicine. “The scope of pediatric pulmonary medicine has dramatically expanded in recent years,” she stated. Dr. Young noted advancements in treating conditions like cystic fibrosis, asthma, autoimmune disorders, and neuromuscular diseases. She also mentioned collaborations with other specialists to address complex cases.
Dr. Julie L. Fierro explained that CHOP’s approach to BPD involves long-term patient follow-up by a dedicated team from the NICU through outpatient care. “Our patients with BPD are followed long-term by a dedicated team specializing in BPD management,” she said.
Dr. Sharon Mcgrath-Morrow discussed improvements in health outcomes for preterm children due to advances in care through collaborations like the BPD Collaborative. “Health outcomes in extremely preterm children have improved in recent years thanks to advances in care,” she remarked.
Dr. Danna Tauber described how the Technology Dependence Center (TDC) supports medically complex children transitioning from hospital to home care with a multidisciplinary team approach. “The TDC brings together a multidisciplinary team…to support pulmonary patients who need ongoing technological care,” she noted.
Pelton A. Phinizy highlighted CHOP’s advanced bronchoscopy program as pioneering within pediatric centers nationwide. “The Pulmonary Advanced Diagnostic and Interventional Bronchoscopy Center is the country’s first pediatric advanced diagnostic bronchoscopy program,” he stated.
CHOP offers an ACGME-accredited pediatric pulmonology fellowship providing hands-on training across various subspecialty programs under close mentorship from faculty members.
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