Interventional Pulmonology Fellowship
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine offers a one-year fellowship in interventional pulmonology that is accredited by the American Association for Bronchology and Interventional Pulmonology (AABIP). Our goal is to train interventional pulmonologists with leading technologies in a busy urban, academic program with high volumes of lung cancer, central airway obstruction and pleural disease. The program prepares the fellow to become a well-rounded practitioner in our multidisciplinary field with both clinical and academic productivity. Our program is uniquely incorporated into the Divisions of Thoracic Surgery and Pulmonary Medicine, which ensures that trainees are exposed to the full spectrum of benign and malignant thoracic disease.
About the Fellowship
Fellow Expectations & Roles
Northwestern Medicine Interventional Pulmonology (IP) is a collaborative group serving three primary hospital sites in the greater Chicagoland area. While the program benefits from a broad referral network, the IP fellow completes their training year at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in downtown Chicago. After finishing 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: general pulmonology and interventional pulmonology. Both services include junior fellows and residents rotating on a weekly basis. The IP fellow manages the interventional pulmonology service and reviews all cases with the on-call IP attending. Weekend call is covered by the general pulmonary consult service, with the IP fellow and on-call attending available for central airway emergencies as needed. The IP fellow does not have a dedicated clinic.
An interventional pulmonology physician assistant is available on weekdays to assist with consults and procedures. Administrative support from nurses and patient liaisons is provided for scheduling and care coordination.
Service & Education
We believe a successful interventional pulmonology training program requires a high volume of procedural learning under close faculty supervision. However, we also prioritize the fellow’s academic growth and development. Fellows have the opportunity to attend and participate in two weekly conferences: the Tumor Board, which includes oncology, surgery and radiology teams, and the dedicated IP Conference with faculty from all three Northwestern Medicine sites.
The program provides protected academic time for the fellow to prepare for IP Boards and engage in research. Our goal is for fellows to actively contribute to research, with opportunities available in both translational and clinical research at Northwestern University.
Average Case Volumes
Northwestern Medicine Interventional Pulmonology (IP) 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
Applications
We participate in the standard interview and match process. We are accredited by the AABIP. Our fellows have all passed the AABIP board exam.
Meet the Team
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.