A Message from Gerard J. Criner, MD, FACP, FACCP
Chair and Professor, Department of Thoracic Medicine and Surgery

The Department of Thoracic Medicine and Surgery is the first in the nation to include thoracic medical and surgical care in a consolidated, multidisciplinary academic department. This department combines the many activities of Temple’s nationally-respected Lung Center into three integrated sections:

• Thoracic Surgery
• Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine
• Center for Inflammation and Lung Research

This combination provides the platform to deliver the highest quality patient care, advance cutting-edge research, and attract world-class physicians. As a result, patients receive focused care from a team of pulmonologists, thoracic and transplant surgeons, radiologists, anesthesiologists, pathologists, nurses, respiratory and rehabilitative therapists, nutritionists, case managers and social workers.

Temple is already a leader in the United States for lung transplantation, acute and chronic care of pulmonary diseases, clinical and scientific research, and medical education. The collaborative atmosphere created by the new department bolsters Temple’s already strong pulmonary clinical trials program, including research into the causes of and therapies for COPD, emphysema, alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency, asthma, lung cancer, pulmonary hypertension, sarcoidosis, pulmonary fibrosis and sleep apnea.

The integration and alignment of clinical and basic science research efforts within the new department also advance Temple Health’s leadership in personalized medicine by creating a more comprehensive understanding of genetic and environmental causes of advanced lung disorders, facilitating discovery of novel therapies and providing individualized patient care.

This is an exciting time for Temple’s pulmonary program. We expect that we will continue to reshape the standard of care for patients with lung disease and strengthen our leadership role in the areas of research and medical education.