Interventional Pulmonology Fellowship Program at The Mount Sinai Hospital

The Interventional Pulmonology Fellowship Program at the Mount Sinai Hospital of the Icahn School of Medicine is designed to train a qualified applicant in all aspects of interventional pulmonology (IP). This unique fellowship allows our fellow to begin their career with the skills needed for career success. Starting in July 2022, we will train one IP fellow per year in a one-year fellowship.

The role of the Interventional Pulmonology Fellowship Program in the diagnosis and management of pulmonary malignancies has been essential to the success of the multidisciplinary Thoracic Oncology Program. Under the direction of Timothy Harkin, MD, the Department of Pulmonology introduced a wide complement of advanced diagnostic and therapeutic procedures in the past several years. These include endobronchial ultrasound, navigational bronchoscopy, ablative technologies (argon plasma coagulation, electrocautery, and cryotherapy) and airway stenting.

The addition of a second IP board-certified faculty member Udit Chaddha, MD, brought us the new skills of thoracoscopy and rigid bronchoscopy, key tools in the management of advanced pleural disease and complex airways. It also allowed us to expand our program to a second procedure site at Mount Sinai West. Our complement of advanced procedures was enhanced by the addition of robotic bronchoscopy in 2021, which is fully integrated within the Thoracic Oncology Program.

There is strong clinical support for the IP program outside our division as we closely collaborate with key faculty in the Departments of Thoracic Surgery, Otolaryngology and Anesthesia, and as exemplified by the academic appointments of both IP faculty members in the Department of Thoracic Surgery. In 2021, Mount Sinai has added two new programs: the Lung Transplant program and the novel Tracheal Transplant program. The patients attracted by these two programs require routine consultation and frequent procedures by the IP team.

Why Choose Our Program

Mount Sinai has a long history of excellence at the forefront of clinical pulmonary medicine. The Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine has recently added to its strengths through the creation of the Respiratory Institute in alliance with National Jewish Health of Denver, CO, creating a highly regarded regional and national referral system. 

We believe that Mount Sinai is perfectly poised to provide a uniquely rounded experience to train fellows in IP, offering a diverse mix of patients, clinical problems, and multidisciplinary exposure. In recognition of the success of the Mount Sinai IP Program, the Association of Interventional Pulmonology Program Directors recently granted accreditation for an Interventional Pulmonology Fellowship.

The Mount Sinai IP fellow will have the opportunity to train in an enriched environment at a leading academic center with an excellent national reputation.

Flexible bronchoscopy diagnostic techniques

  • Endobronchial and transbronchial biopsy
  • Endobronchial Ultrasound (EBUS) sampling of mediastinal and hilar lymph nodes
  • Navigational bronchoscopy – Robotic bronchoscopy (Ion platform) and radial EBUS

Flexible bronchoscopy therapeutic techniques

  • Foreign body removal
  • Argon plasma coagulation (APC)
  • Electrocautery 
  • Cryotherapy 
  • Self-expanding metal stent (SEM) insertion and removal
  • Endobronchial valves for treatment of persistent air leak and severe emphysema
  • Bronchial thermoplasty
  • Balloon catheter placement for massive hemoptysis

Rigid bronchoscopy therapeutic techniques

  • Rigid core and mechanical debulking
  • Placement and removal of endobronchial stents (silicone, hybrid, dynamic)
  • Rigid sequential dilation
  • Foreign body removal
  • Management of massive hemoptysis

Pleural procedures

  • Ultrasound-guided thoracentesis
  • Ultrasound-guided thoracostomy tube placement and management
  • Tunneled indwelling pleural catheter placement
  • Thoracoscopy - pleural biopsy, pleurodesis

Percutaneous tracheostomy

Applications are accepted via Interventional Pulmonary Fellowship Application Service (IPFAS) at www.aippd.org. We will be accepting applications for positions starting July 1, 2023. For details, contact Ava Gerardo via email at ava.gerardo@mssm.edu. We choose one fellow per academic year.