Temple University Hospital will cease Labor and Delivery services at its Main Campus on July 22, moving these services to a new location. Meanwhile, Dr. Seyedmohammad Pourshahid, known as “Omid,” is focusing on expanding access to pulmonary rehabilitation. As the Medical Director of Pulmonary Rehabilitation at Temple University Hospital’s Main Campus and an Assistant Professor at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Dr. Pourshahid emphasizes the importance of hope in treating chronic respiratory diseases.
Dr. Pourshahid was recently named to the Pennsylvania Medical Society’s 2025 Top Physicians Under 40 list. He attributes this recognition to his mentors, colleagues, patients, and his wife, who co-founded their pulmonary rehab initiative.
Dr. Pourshahid highlights that pulmonary rehab is underutilized despite its benefits in reducing mortality and improving quality of life for those with chronic respiratory conditions like COPD. “Studies show that only 5% of the people who qualify for pulmonary rehab in the US actually get it,” he notes.
Efforts by Dr. Pourshahid and Temple Health include offering services at multiple locations and minimizing wait times to improve accessibility. They are also developing a virtual pulmonary rehab platform to reach more patients.
Pulmonary rehab involves education about chronic respiratory disease, nutrition, behavioral health, and self-efficacy. Dr. Pourshahid explains that without proper intervention, patients may fall into a cycle where their condition worsens due to inactivity.
The commitment of Dr. Pourshahid and his team aims to make pulmonary rehab accessible to more patients as they continue leading efforts in this field at Temple Health.
