Pulmonary Hypertension and Pulmonary Vascular Diseases Program | Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine | Department of Internal Medicine

UC Davis Health’s Pulmonary Hypertension Program, within the nationally ranked Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, is a leader in the field of Pulmonary Hypertension and member of the Pulmonary Hypertension Association Comprehensive Care Center Network.

Conditions managed through our clinic include:

• Pulmonary Hypertension
• Pulmonary Embolism
• Chronic Thromboembolic Disease
• Arteriovenous Malformations
• Sickle Cell Related Lung Disease
• Connective Tissue Related Lung Disease
• Vasculitis

The Program has established distinction and dedication in state-of-the-art care advanced therapies for patients with a diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension. In existence for close to 30 years the program currently sees over 600 patients with a diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension. The program received the highest designation as a referral center by the Pulmonary Hypertension Association (PHA) in 2015. The program has a multidisciplinary approach with a team of pulmonologists, cardiologists, radiologist, nurse specialists, pharmacists and respiratory therapist all working together to provide the highest level care to patients with pulmonary hypertension. Our program emphasis is on a patient centered approach with a primary aim to support and educate patients and their families about their disease.

Our Team

Our multi-disciplinary team, which includes physicians, nurses, respiratory therapists, pharmacists and clinical research coordinators, provide multidisciplinary comprehensive advanced therapy for conditions within the full spectrum of pulmonary vascular disease. Patients will have access to highest level diagnostics and advanced therapies for pulmonary vascular disease.

The program is recognized by the PHA as a destination center for comprehensive care of patients with pulmonary hypertension. In addition to access to advanced therapies, patients will have opportunities to participate in a broad range of clinical trials and translational investigation and basic science research.

Mark V Avdalovic, M.D.
Director
Professor of Clinical Medicine
Medical Director Pulmonary Hypertension Program
Vice Chair Department of Internal Medicine

Namita Sood, M.D., F.C.C.P.
Professor of Clinical Medicine
Director UC Davis Advanced Lung Disease Program
Director Pulmonary Hypertension Clinical trials

Suraj Timilsina, M.D., Rh.M.S.U.S.
Health Sciences Assistant Clinical Professor
Rheumatology, Allergy and Clinical Immunology

• Carrie Pring, R.N. – Lead Nurse Coordinator
• Linda Vuong, R.N. – Nurse Coordinator
• Holly Leighton, R.D. – Nurse Coordinator
• Suzan Hu – Pharmacist
• Richard White, R.R.T. – Respiratory Therapist
• Gina Brandau, R.R.T. – Respiratory Therapist
• David Yang – Clinical Research Coordinator
• Parmida Pajouhesh – Clinical Research Coordinator
• Sienna Wuu – Clinical Research Coordinator

Translational Research

Our pulmonary vascular disease research program integrates NIH-funded investigators performing basic and translational research in pulmonary vascular disease.

Our mission: to investigate molecular and cellular mechanisms driving development and progression of pulmonary vascular disease, to dissect and pre-clinically validate novel molecular targets for therapeutic intervention, and to develop human-based in vitro platforms for molecular and preclinical studies of the pathogenesis of pulmonary hypertension.

Elena Goncharova, Ph.D.
Director, Pulmonary Vascular Disease Research
Professor, Department of Internal Medicine
UC Davis School of Medicine

We are actively involved in clinical trials evaluating new therapies and tools for improving patient care and the treatment of lung diseases. Discover Current Clinical Trials