Interventional Pulmonology Fellowship

Northwestern Medicine Interventional Pulmonology is a collaborative group across three primary hospital sites in the greater Chicagoland area. While this affords the training program a large geographic region for referrals, the IP fellow spends their year at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in downtown Chicago. Having completed pulmonary and critical care training, the IP fellow is appointed as a faculty member at the instructor level in Pulmonary Medicine. The Pulmonary Division has two consult services, one for general pulmonology and another for interventional pulmonology, both of which have junior fellows and residents rotating on a weekly basis. The IP fellow manages the IP service and reviews all cases with the on-call IP attending. Weekend call is covered by the general pulmonary consult service, understanding that the IP fellow and on-call attending are available for central airway emergencies as needed. The IP fellow does not have a clinic. An IP physician assistant (PA) is available on weekdays to help with consults and procedures. There is administrative support from nurses and patient liaisons for scheduling and care coordination.

We believe that a successful IP training program requires a high volume of procedural learning under supervision and guidance from faculty. However, we also recognize the need to foster a fellow’s academic growth and development. During the week, the fellow has opportunity to attend and participate in two conferences: Tumor Board with Oncology, Surgery, and Radiology; and the dedicated IP Conference with faculty from all three Northwestern Medicine sites. Protected academic time is also provided within the week for the fellow to prepare for IP Boards and to participate in research. Our goal is for the fellow to participate actively in research, and there are opportunities for both translational and clinical research at Northwestern University.

Northwestern Medicine Interventional Pulmonology is the busiest IP program in the Chicagoland area. We have developed leading programs in cancer care, and we are the only IP program in the region to employ robotic bronchoscopy with live cone-beam CT localization. The fellows’ historical case volumes are as below.

• Rigid bronchoscopy
• Stent deployment
• Laser, electrocautery, and cryoablative techniques
• Robotic Bronchoscopy
• Navigational bronchoscopy, including cone beam CT technology
• Flexible bronchoscopy, including convex and radial EBUS
• Medical Thoracoscopy
• Percutaneous Tracheostomy
• Tunneled pleural catheter placement

We participate in the standard interview and match process. We are accredited by the AABIP. Our fellows have all passed the AABIP board exam.

As described above, the Northwestern Medicine Interventional Pulmonology program is integrated across all Northwestern Medicine sites, including the northern, central, and western regions of the greater Chicagoland area. The IP fellow spends their time at the downtown Northwestern Memorial Hospital, but interaction with other sites provides the fellow with an understanding of both academic and community IP practices.

Western Suburbs IP Team

Northern Suburbs IP Team