NM Pulmonary and Thoracic Surgery

The Northwestern Memorial Hospital Pulmonology and Lung Surgery Program has been ranked No. 7 in the nation by U.S. News & World Report, 2025 – 2026. Thank you to @NM_Lung team for your commitment to advancing lung health. breakthroughsforphysicians.nm.org/pulmonary

From groundbreaking research to meaningful connections, we're feeling energized for the future of pulmonary and critical care medicine. Stay tuned for our conference recap from the American Thoracic Society 2026 Annual Conference! #ATS2026 #NMBetter

Justin Karush, DO, recently used pafolacianine, an imaging agent that causes cancer cells to “glow” under light for the first time at Northwestern Medicine. For Steven Evans, 70, the first patient to undergo a procedure with this imaging agent at Northwestern Medicine, the technology changed his life. One month after surgery, he was able to resume all of his pastoral duties.

“They assumed that if you quit over 15 years ago, your risk of smoking-associated cancer goes down dramatically and you don't need screening. But over 30% of #LungCancer patients are never smokers. And in our study, we found that the population is increasing to over 40%,” @AnkitBharatMD, says to @usnews. health.usnews.com/health-care/ar…

Don’t miss this mid‑day symposium on the last day of #ATS2026. Join Ravi Kalhan, MD, and Joseph Bailey, MD, for updates from the Lung Health Cohort, highlighting early lung health, environmental exposures, imaging features, and respiratory outcomes in young adults. See more: breakthroughsforphysicians.nm.org/pulmonary-news…

At #ATS2026, "A Rare Case of Legionella longbeachae Endocarditis" is featured, co‑authored by Nandita Nadig, MD, and Maanasi Samant, MD, as part of a multidisciplinary team. See more: breakthroughsforphysicians.nm.org/pulmonary-news…

On the final day of #ATS2026, check out research from a multidisciplinary team including Nandita Nadig, MD, and Timothy Rowe, MD, featured in the session "From ABCDEF to Aftercare: ICU Practices and Mechanisms That Shape Recovery". See more: breakthroughsforphysicians.nm.org/pulmonary-news…

Wednesday morning at #ATS2026, check out research featuring Michael Cuttica, MD, and Ruben Mylvaganam, MD, as part of a multidisciplinary team. See more: breakthroughsforphysicians.nm.org/pulmonary-news…

@RKalhan @ATSCritCare @atscommunity @ATS_Assemblies @NUFeinbergMed A look inside the #ATS2026 presentation from Ravi Kalhan, MD, on lung health trajectories across the lifecourse and the search for measurable biomarkers to identify respiratory disease risk. #NMBetter

@RKalhan @ATSCritCare @atscommunity @ATS_Assemblies @NUFeinbergMed Ravi Kalhan, MD, presented research at #ATS2026 on identifying at-risk populations in non-tobacco COPD: trajectories, not single measurements, define susceptibility, and proteomic signatures may identify risk before visible disease. #NMBetter

Don’t miss Ravi Kalhan, MD, discussing at‑risk populations in non‑tobacco COPD at #ATS2026. See more: breakthroughsforphysicians.nm.org/pulmonary-news…

Kavitha Selvan, MD, presented at #ATS2026 on behalf of collaborators: each 10-point higher cardiovascular health score in young adulthood was linked to 32% lower odds of interstitial lung abnormalities 25 years later. Heart health may be a key target for preventing chronic lung disease. #NMBetter

A poster session on early lung injury and imaging biomarkers at #ATS2026. Research from Anthony J. Esposito, MD, Ravi Kalhan, MD, Sadiya Khan, MD, and Kavitha C. Selvan, MD, is featured in the session "Proteomic Biomarkers of Early Lung Injury on Chest Computed Tomography, part of If It Can Be Measured: Biomarkers, Imaging, and Physiology in ILD". See more: breakthroughsforphysicians.nm.org/pulmonary-news…

Research co-authored by Nandita Nadig, MD, Susan Russell, MD, and collaborators at #ATS2026: even among top-performing U.S. hospitals, rapid response team structure and quality oversight are not standardized. A significant gap that warrants further study. #NMBetter

Research from Nandita Nadig, MD, Susan Russell, MD, and colleagues examines variation in rapid response team structure, resources, and quality oversight across top‑performing U.S. hospitals. The work is included in the session: "Strengthening Critical Care Delivery: Education, Workforce Development, and Quality Improvement." See more: breakthroughsforphysicians.nm.org/pulmonary-news…

Bhavana Ambil, MD, presented research at #ATS2026 co-authored by Chris Kapp, MD: Aspergillus in incidental lung masses led to the diagnosis of pulmonary sequestration in two asymptomatic adults. In large lesions with atypical presentation, maintain high suspicion for sequestration. #NMBetter

A poster session on rare pulmonary diagnoses at #ATS2026. Work including Chris Kapp, MD, examines pulmonary sequestration complicated by Aspergillus infection presenting as a lung mass in asymptomatic adults, part of the session "Lost and Found: Foreign Bodies and Surprising Diagnoses". See more: breakthroughsforphysicians.nm.org/pulmonary-news…

More from the Northwestern University Simulation Lab: Susan Russell, MD, Clara Schroedl, MD, and trainees in action practicing obstetric critical care emergencies. #ATS2026 #NMBetter

Deepa Daryani, MD, presented at #ATS2026 with co-authors Susan Russell, MD, and Clara Schroedl, MD: obstetric critical care emergencies are rare but high-acuity, leaving pulmonary and critical care medicine trainees underexposed. Preliminary data suggest simulation-based training may be an effective framework to close that gap. #NMBetter

Simulation‑based training for obstetric critical care at #ATS2026. Research from Clara Schroedl, MD, and Susan Russell, MD, is included in the session "Words, Wires, and Wisdom: Communication and Care in the ICU". See more: breakthroughsforphysicians.nm.org/pulmonary-news…

Joseph Bailey, MD, and co-authors at #ATS2026: in healthy young adults with normal lung function, respiratory symptoms like chronic cough nearly doubled the risk of respiratory illness requiring medical care. Early symptom burden may signal a phenotype that predisposes to chronic lung disease. #NMBetter

A poster session on early respiratory health in young adults at #ATS2026. Work from Joseph Bailey, MD, Marc Sala, MD, and Ravi Kalhan, MD, is part of the session "The Lung Under Attack: New Ways to Detect, Defend, and Defeat Respiratory Viruses", examining how respiratory symptoms and spirometry in young adulthood may predict future medically attended respiratory illnesses. See more: breakthroughsforphysicians.nm.org/pulmonary-news…

Kavitha Selvan, MD, and co-authors at #ATS2026: 18 plasma proteins linked to CT lung injury in normal-appearing tissue predicted divergent development of ILD versus emphysema years later. Blood biomarkers may help identify risk before chronic lung disease sets in. #ILD #NMBetter

Don't miss this poster session on early lung injury and imaging biomarkers at #ATS2026. Research from Anthony Esposito, MD, Ravi Kalhan, MD, Sadiya Khan, MD, and Kavitha Selvan, MD, is featured in the session "If It Can Be Measured: Biomarkers, Imaging, and Physiology in ILD". breakthroughsforphysicians.nm.org/pulmonary-news…

Don’t miss this poster discussion session tomorrow at #ATS2026! The Northwestern Medicine team is sharing three posters focused on improving lung cancer diagnostics, including new approaches to identifying malignancy in lung biopsies, optimizing on‑site evaluation during robotic bronchoscopy, and understanding how neighborhood‑level socioeconomic factors may influence stage at diagnosis. See more: breakthroughsforphysicians.nm.org/pulmonary-news…

Research from Scott Budinger, MD, and Peter Sporn, MD, examines epithelial regulation of viral replication and lung injury in influenza infection at #ATS2026. See more: breakthroughsforphysicians.nm.org/pulmonary-news…

Joseph Bailey, MD and co-authors at #ATS2026: recurrent respiratory infections in individuals without prior lung disease more than doubled the odds of COPD and ILD, and quadrupled the odds of bronchiectasis years later. A common infection history may not be so benign. #NMBetter

Work from Joseph Bailey, MD, Ravi Kalhan, MD, Sadiya Khan, MD, and Marc Sala, MD, is featured in the session "Lung Infection Odyssey: Population‑Level Outcomes and Long‑Term Pulmonary Sequelae", examining how recurrent respiratory infections are linked to chronic lung disease and health care utilization at #ATS2026. See more: breakthroughsforphysicians.nm.org/pulmonary-news…