The Joint IP fellowship at the University of Colorado (CU) and National Jewish Health (NJH) offers a unique learning experience under multiple board-certified IP specialists in two very different environments.

Fellows will spend approximately 50% of their IP fellowship training at NJH. At NJH, fellows will rotate with two board-certified IP physicians in clinics, dedicated IP suite, operating rooms and in-patient service.  The CU program is based at a 678-bed academic/university hospital with 24-hour in house surgical and medical subspecialty support. A dedicated hybrid (bronchoscopy suite and an operating room) IP suite at the CU provides a unique opportunity to perform wide range of bronchoscopic and minimally invasive surgical procedures in the same room. Currently our IP program accepts one fellow per year. We participate in IPFAS and NRMP for the IP fellowship application process and our IP fellowship is accredited by AABIP/AIPPD.

The primary goal of the fellowship training program in Interventional Pulmonology (IP) is to provide our trainees with a one-year, comprehensive graduate medical education experience in a learning environment which offers the knowledge, skills and professionalism required to develop into a proficient specialist in interventional pulmonology. IP fellows are assigned responsibilities that are commensurate with their level of training, and receive appropriate supervision from faculty attending physicians in all aspects of patient care.

The fellowship training focuses on closely supervised patient evaluation and management, largely based on inpatient, outpatient and procedural experience. The year consists of two to three half day clinics, two to three half days of bronchoscopy and pleural procedures and daily rounds. Call is home call, defined as a call taken from outside the assigned institution.

• The fellow will achieve the ability to evaluate patients independently from an Interventional Pulmonology perspective by means of comprehensive history & physical examination along with supervised ordering of diagnostic tests.
• The fellow will demonstrate the ability to formulate a clinical assessment and treatment plan under the close supervision of an attending physician.
• The fellow is expected to complete all medical records in a timely fashion, and is expected to comply with all necessary documentation that is designed to track the activities of the program, including procedure documentation.
• The fellow will learn and develop, with supervision, clinical and procedural skills that are essential for the practice of interventional pulmonology:
  • Diagnostic bronchoscopy
    • Lung cancer diagnosis and staging
    • Mediastinal lymph node biopsy
    • Lung biopsy
    • Lung lavage
    • Navigational bronchoscopy
      • Electromagnetic navigation
      • Radial ultrasound
  • Therapeutic bronchoscopy
    • Rigid bronchoscopy
    • Advanced flexible bronchoscopy
    • Difficult airway management
    • Management of massive hemoptysis
    • Management of obstructed airway
    • Tumor ablation with modalities
      • Cryotherapy
      • Laser
      • Electrocautery
      • Argon Plasma Cautery (APC)
      • Endobronchial valve placement
    • Airway stent placement/removal
    • Foreign body removal
    • Bronchial Thermoplasty
    • Fistula management
  • Pleural disease management
    • Management of simple and complex pleural effusions
    • Management of pneumothorax
      • Needle insertion and drainage systems
      • Chest tubes and drainage systems
    • In-dwelling pleural catheter placement
    • Pleurodesis
    • Medical Pleuroscopy
  • Other procedures
    • Percutaneous tracheostomy
    • Lung ultrasound

The fellow will teach medical residents and pulmonary-critical care fellows clinical medicine relevant to their patients.

The fellow will provide comprehensive patient care in the outpatient setting through 2-3 half days a week of continuity clinic supervised by an attending physicians.

The fellow will actively participate in the all required core conference series lectures: Thoracic Oncology Tumor Board, Thoracic Oncology Multidisciplinary Clinic, Emphysema Advanced Therapy conference. IP research meetings, IP educational conference.

At the conclusion of training, the fellow must be able to evaluate, propose treatment plans, and perform procedures for patients with a broad range of problems in Interventional Pulmonary independently.

At the UCH (University of Colorado Hospital), the fellows will rotate with the IP fellowship program director as well as with cardiothoracic surgery, medical oncology, trauma surgery, interventional radiology, and ENT surgery.

The IP fellow is expected to demonstrate effective oral and written communication skills in all interactions with colleagues, ancillary personnel, and patients.

CU must provide an opportunity for fellows to participate in research or other scholarly activities, including:

• A research project (with faculty mentorship); or,
• Participation with the faculty in the initiation or conduct of clinical trials within the department; or,
• Participation in quality assurance/quality improvement or process improvement projects; or,
• Submit and present original investigation or case reports at regional, national, or international meetings; or,
• Submit original investigation in the field of IP for publication in a peer-reviewed journal

July 1-7: Orientation with PCCM fellows

July: AIPPD IP Fellow’s Boot Camp

Dec: AIPPD IP Fellow’s Career Symposium

 

Weekly and Daily Schedule:

 

 

 

Didactic / Conference Schedule:

• First Monday of every month
  • 8 AM: IP Research meeting at CU
• Second Wednesday of every month
  • 7 AM: Emphysema Advanced Therapy conference at CU
• Last Monday of every month
  • 8 AM: IP Fellows Case conference/Journal club/didactic lecture by faculty
    • Alternating between CU and NJH
• Every Thursday
  • 7:30 AM-8:30 AM: Pulmonary-Critical Care Grand Rounds

Dr. Niral Patel (2019-2020)

Niral Patel completed his undergraduate and medical school training at Saint Louis University School of Medicine where he graduated with a Bachelors of Science in Biology and then Doctor of Medicine with distinction in research. He then trained in Internal Medicine at Henry Ford Hospital followed by a Pulmonary Fellowship at the Norwalk Hospital-Yale University program before completing his Critical Care Fellowship at Yale New Haven Hospital.

After completing his training, he joined the faculty at the University of California, Irvine

Dr. Jared Lee

 

Jared is a proud Texas A&M Aggie. He graduated from Texas A&M University with a Bachelor of Science in Molecular and Cell Biology. He trained at Baylor College Medicine for medical school and internal medicine residency where he graduated with Resident Distinguished Educator Certificate.  Jared was trained at Houston Methodist Hospital for Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine where he developed passion for interventional pulmonology.  

Jared came to CU/NJH to learn not only from leaders in IP but also from working alongside a world class pulmonary department and be exposed to a breadth of pulmonary diseases. His particular interest is in medical education and hopes to be involved in teaching appointment once finished with IP training. 

Outside of work, Jared enjoys spending time with his wife and children. He enjoys outdoor activities and sports. Jared and his family are looking forward to exploring Colorado this year.

2018-2019 Dr. Cristopher Kniese; Indiana University; Indianapolis, IN; Director of Interventional Pulmonary,

2016-2017 Aki Al-Zubaidi; National Jewish Health, Eon Health

2015-2016 Kendra Hammond; West Virginia University

2012-2013 Justin Thomas; Eisenhower Medical Center; Palm Springs, CA; Director of Interventional Pulmonary,

2011-2012 Joesph Seaman; Sarasota Memorial Health Care; Sarasota, FL; Director of Interventional Pulmonary,

2010-2011 David Hsia; UCLA-Harbor; St. Torrance, CA; Pulmonary-Critical Care Fellowship Program Director and Director of Interventional Pulmonary

2009-2010 Kurt Jensen; Tacoma Pulmonary Associates; Tacoma, WA; Director of Interventional Pulmonary, Picture

Weekly & Daily Schedule:
	8am - 12pm	12pm - 1pm	1pm - 5pm
Monday	Clinic - NJH	Tumor Board & Thoracic Oncology Multidisciplinary Clinic (12-2) - UCH	Procedures-NJH
Tuesday	IP Clinic - UCH		Procedures-UCH
Wednesday	Procedures NJH		Nodule Clinic-UCH
Thursday	Procedures - SJH/NJH		Procedures-UCH
Friday	Procedures - UCH		Procedures-UCH

 

Didactic/Conference Schedule

Mondays: 8-9 am
First Monday of the month: Case conference/didactic lecture by faculty
Second Monday of the month: M&M - TBD
Third Monday of the month: Journal Club - TBD
Fourth Monday of the month: Didactic lecture by faculty

Wednesday: 12-1 pm Medical Grand Rounds - UCD
Thursday: 7:30 - 8:30 am PCCM Grand Rounds - NJH