Pulmonary Medicine

Host: Charles Turck, PharmD, BCPS, BCCCP Guest: Jason Ackrivo, MD, MSCE Guest: Bethany Lussier, MD Respiratory decline in patients with neuromuscular diseases and mitochondrial myopathies can be challenging to identify, especially because its early signs may be subtle and vary from person to person. However, knowing how to evaluate a patient’s respiratory function is key to improving outcomes and quality of life. Joining Dr. Charles Turck to discuss this importance and provide recommendations for optimizing respiratory care are Drs. Jason Ackrivo and Bethany Lussier. Dr. Ackrivo is an Assistant Professor of Medicine in Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, and Dr. Lussier is an Associate Professor of Internal Medicine at UT Southwestern Medical Center and a member of its Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine.

Host: Nathan Falk, MD, MBA, FAAFP Guest: Megan Conroy, MD, MA(Ed), FCCP Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) often experience significant delays in diagnosis and treatment due to systemic gaps in management. A recent survey of 400 primary care and pulmonary clinicians uncovered patterns of fragmented care among both specialties. Join Dr. Nate Falk and Dr. Megan Conroy as they dive into the findings and explain how CHEST’s COPD Toolkit can help clinicians address these gaps and provide a coordinated approach to COPD management. Dr. Falk is a board-certified family physician as well as a Professor and Founding Residency Director for Family Medicine at Florida State University in partnership with BayCare Health System. Dr. Conroy is a Chair and Assistant Professor in the Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine at The Ohio State University. This program is produced in partnership with the American College of CHEST Physicians and is supported by Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Guest: Fernando López-Ríos, MD, PhD Guest: Christian Rolfo, MD, PhD Guest: Prof. Charlie Gourley In this on-demand replay of a recent interactive webinar, renowned experts Prof. Fernando López-Ríos, Prof. Christian Rolfo, and Prof. Charlie Gourley review the latest data, guidelines, and patient cases as they explore best practices for HER2 testing and the evolving role of IHC in lung and ovarian cancers. Topics of conversation include the following: Watch the on-demand video to gain expert insights on optimising IHC HER2 testing and interpreting results in lung and ovarian cancer. The full programme is also featured on the COR2ED website, here: HER2 Testing: The Evolving Role of Immunohistochemistry (IHC)

Host: Charles Turck, PharmD, BCPS, BCCCP Guest: Kaitlin Batley, MD Guest: Esra Caylan, MD Thymidine kinase 2 deficiency (TK2d) presents with a variability of symptoms, including respiratory, neurological, and ocular ones, making it difficult to diagnose. Because of this, a multidisciplinary care team that’s tailored to each patient’s needs is key to effectively identifying and treating this disease. Hear about the role of a multidisciplinary team and strategies for personalizing treatment with Drs. Kaitlin Batley and Esra Caylan. Dr. Batley is the Director of Pediatric Neuromuscular Medicine at Children’s Health and an Assistant Professor at UT Southwestern Medical Center. Dr. Caylan is a pediatric pulmonologist at Children’s Health and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at UT Southwestern Medical Center.

Host: Nathan Falk, MD, MBA, FAAFP Guest: Ashwin Basavaraj, MD Early recognition and diagnosis of non-tuberculosis mycobacteria (NTM) and bronchiectasis are key for optimal patient management. However, these conditions are often misdiagnosed as COPD or asthma, leading to significant challenges and delays in treatment. Join Drs. Nate Falk and Ashwin Basavaraj as they share perspectives on accurately diagnosing NTM and bronchiectasis with early symptom recognition, a thorough patient history, and testing. Dr. Falk is a board-certified family medicine physician, a Professor and Founding Residency Director for Family Medicine at Florida State University in partnership with BayCare Health System, and the Assistant Dean for Graduate Medical Education at Florida State University. Dr. Basavaraj is an Associate Professor of Medicine at New York University Grossman School of Medicine, the Director of the Bronchiectasis and NTM Education Program at NYU Langone Health, and the Section Chief of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine at Bellevue Hospital Center. This program is produced in partnership with the American College of CHEST Physicians and is sponsored by Insmed Incorporated.

Guest: Nasser Altorki, MD Nasser Altorki, MD, chief of thoracic surgery at NewYork-Presbyterian and Weill Cornell Medicine, shares the results of a first-of-its-kind study evaluating low-dose radiation combined with immunotherapy for neoadjuvant treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) tumors. The dual-therapy treatment of durvalumab in combination with stereotactic body radiation was almost twice as effective at tumor killing compared to durvalumab alone. © 2025 NewYork-Presbyterian

Host: Charles Turck, PharmD, BCPS, BCCCP Guest: Jason Ackrivo, MD, MSCE Respiratory complications are fairly common in patients with neuromuscular disorders, and given their vast impacts on a patient’s prognosis and quality of life, it’s critical to proactively detect and monitor any signs of respiratory decline. To learn more about the symptoms, impacts, and diagnosis of respiratory complications in patients with neuromuscular disorders, Dr. Charles Turck speaks with Dr. Jason Ackrivo. Not only is Dr. Ackrivo the Associate Director of the Fishman Program for Home Assisted Ventilation, but he's also an Assistant Professor of Medicine in Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.

Host: Charles Turck, PharmD, BCPS, BCCCP Guest: Bimaje Akpa, MD Clinical practice guidelines from the American College of Chest Physicians provide recommendations for managing respiratory complications in patients with neuromuscular diseases, which can help inform our evaluation and treatment decisions. Joining Dr. Charles Turck to break down key insights from the CHEST guidelines and their impacts on clinical practice is Dr. Bimaje Akpa. Dr. Akpa is an Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine at the University of Minnesota.

Host: Charles Turck, PharmD, BCPS, BCCCP Guest: Hank Mayer, MD Patients with neuromuscular conditions often exhibit respiratory symptoms that impact their airway clearance and gas exchange, making it increasingly difficult for them to breathe. However, effective assessment techniques and early intervention can help mitigate the progression of this dysfunction, potentially keeping patients from needing extended recovery time or even inpatient care. Joining Dr. Charles Turck to discuss the importance of informed, proactive intervention for respiratory symptoms in patients with neuromuscular conditions is Dr. Hank Mayer. Dr. Mayer is the Medical Director of the Pulmonary Function Laboratory at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and a Professor of Clinical Pediatrics at the University of Pennsylvania's Perelman School of Medicine.

Guest: Kathleen M. Buchheit, MD Guest: Joseph K. Han, MD Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) is associated with a low quality of life and increased healthcare utilization, and patients often continue to have severe symptoms despite therapy.​ Understanding the role of underlying inflammatory pathways and epithelial dysfunction may help inform clinical decision making for these patients. In this program, Dr Kathleen Buchheit and Dr Joseph Han share their insights on the pathophysiology of CRSwNP and how unaddressed underlying inflammation may contribute to a variety of challenges for patients. Dr Buchheit is an Assistant Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, specializing in Allergy and Immunology. Dr Han is a Professor of Otolaryngology, the Chief for the Division of Rhinology and Endoscopic Sinus and Skull Base Surgery, and the Chief of the Division of Allergy at Eastern Virginia Medical School in Norfolk, Virginia. References: Mullol J, et al. J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2022;10:1434-1453.e9 LaryngoscopeAllergyJ Allergy Clin Immunol Pract ©2024 Amgen and AstraZeneca. All rights reserved. US-96000 Last Updated 12/24

Guest: Ashwin Basavaraj, MD Guest: Keren Bakal, MD Guest: Nathan Falk, MD, MBA, FAAFP Guest: Amy Springer, NP Often mistaken for COPD or asthma, bronchiectasis and nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) can be difficult to recognize and test for, often delaying diagnosis and effective treatment. However, an emphasis on education and research can help address these diagnostic gaps, and involving a multidisciplinary care team can improve treatment plans and patient outcomes. Joining Dr. Ashwin Basavaraj, Associate Professor of Medicine at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, to talk about how we can optimize the diagnosis and management of bronchiectasis and NTM are Dr. Keren Bakal, Dr. Nathan Falk, and Ms. Amy Springer. Dr. Bakal is a pulmonologist specializing in critical care medicine at Overlook Medical Center and Morristown Medical Center in New Jersey, Dr. Falk is a Professor and the founding Residency Director for Family Medicine at Florida State University, and Ms. Springer is a Senior Nurse Practitioner at NYU Langone Health. This program is produced in partnership with the American College of CHEST Physicians, and is sponsored by Insmed Incorporated.

In this brief video, learn more about growing evidence supporting the key role of airway epithelium dysfunction in driving inflammation in CRSwNP. ©2025 Amgen and AstraZeneca. All rights reserved. US-94728 Last Updated 1/25

Host: Isaretta Riley, MD, MPH Guest: Nicola A. Hanania, MD, MS, FCCP Guest: Jay Peters, MD A recent study assessing the impact of implicit bias on uncontrolled asthma treatment found that a patient’s identity and socioeconomic status can unintentionally influence a physician’s decision-making, impacting the quality of care. Additionally, a critical gap exists in clinician awareness and implementation of health equity practices, which play a key role in mitigating these unintended consequences. That’s why Drs. Isaretta Riley, Nicola Hanania, and Jay Peters come together to explore the latest research on unconscious bias in asthma treatment and provide recommendations for more equitable care. Dr. Riley is an Assistant Professor of Medicine at Duke University School of Medicine in Durham, North Carolina; Dr. Hanania is a Professor of Pulmonary Medicine and the Director of Airways Clinical Research Center at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas; and Dr. Peters is a Professor Emeritus of Medicine in the Division of Pulmonary Diseases and Critical Care Medicine at the University of Texas, San Antonio. This episode of Deep Breaths: Updates from CHEST was supported by a non-promotional, non-CME educational program brought to you by CHEST in collaboration with and sponsored by GSK.

Host: Jacob Sands, MD Guest: Julia Rotow, MD In non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), a small percentage of patients will have activating HER2 mutations. For these patients, the standard second-line therapy is docetaxel, but this can have poor response rates. That’s why the DESTINY-Lung03 trial examined the safety and efficacy of trastuzumab deruxtecan in patients with pretreated HER2-overexpressing non-squamous NSCLC. Here with Dr. Jacob Sands to share the findings from part 1 of this trial is thoracic medical oncologist Dr. Julia Rotow.

Host: Vallerie V. McLaughlin, MD During a satellite symposium at the AHA 2024 Annual Meeting, experts reviewed the role of novel disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) in treating and managing pulmonary hypertension (PH) and the impact of current PH treatments vs novel DMTs. They also discussed how to identify appropriate patients for DMTs and strategies to customize treatment with risk-based assessments. In addition, highlights from the 7th World Symposium in PH were discussed. Tune in to keep up!

Host: Charles Turck, PharmD, BCPS, BCCCP Guest: Laura Alder, MD The recent approval of antibody drug conjugates (ADCs) has the potential to address unmet needs associated with second-line treatment options for non-small cell lung cancer, like limited benefits and substantial toxicity. But given the complex structure of ADCs, it’s important to identify biomarkers that can predict a patient’s response to therapy. That’s why the phase 1b TROPION-LUNG02 trial examined the effectiveness of Dato-DXd and HER3-DXd in the presence of predictive biomarkers. Joining Dr. Charles Turck to discuss the trial’s findings and implications is Dr. Laura Alder, Assistant Professor of Medicine at Duke University School of Medicine in Durham, North Carolina.

Host: Charles Turck, PharmD, BCPS, BCCCP Guest: Thomas Egenod, MD In an effort to identify additional treatment options for resectable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), the NeoCOAST-2 study is evaluating the efficacy and safety of combining durvalumab, chemotherapy, and novel agents in the neoadjuvant setting as well as combining durvalumab with novel agents in the adjuvant setting. Joining Dr. Charles Turck to share the preliminary results regarding the safety, pathological complete response, and major pathological response rates of these two approaches is study investigator Dr. Thomas Egenod, who presented the NeoCOAST-2 study at the 2024 World Conference on Lung Cancer.

Host: Jacob Sands, MD Guest: Alex Spira, MD, PhD, FACP Valemetostat is a novel therapy that’s demonstrated clinical efficacy and safety across multiple hematologic malignancies, but what role might it have in treating patients with advanced, unresectable, or metastatic non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)? To find out, an upcoming trial is examining the efficacy and safety of combining valemetostat and datopotamab deruxtecan (Dato-DXd). Here with Dr. Jacob Sands to talk about the study’s design and next steps is Dr. Alex Spira, Director of the Thoracic and Phase I Program at Virginia Cancer Specialists Research Institute and a Clinical Assistant Professor at Johns Hopkins.

Host: Jacob Sands, MD Guest: Aaron Lisberg, MD Unfortunately, brain metastases are very common in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). That’s why the phase 3 TROPION-Lung01 trial examined the efficacy and safety of datopotamab deruxtecan (Dato-DXd) for advanced non-squamous NSCLC with brain metastases. Joining Dr. Jacob Sands to share the results presented at the 2024 ESMO Congress is thoracic medical oncologist Dr. Aaron Lisberg.

Host: Jacob Sands, MD Guest: Aaron Lisberg, MD Docetaxel alone or in combination with ramucirumab is the current standard of care for the second-line treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), but there are several limitations of docetaxel-containing regimens. That’s why there’s interest in identifying new therapies like datopotamab deruxtecan (Dato-DXd), which was found to improve overall survival based on an interim analysis. But what are the latest findings? Here to share the final overall survival data on Dato-DXd from the TROPION-Lung01 trial are Drs. Jacob Sands and Aaron Lisberg, who worked together on this research that was presented at the 2024 World Conference on Lung Cancer.