Pulmonology & Sleep Medicine
Due to COVID-19, if you or your child are experiencing any symptoms, please call our office before coming to your scheduled appointment.
Objectives
- To provide exemplary family-centered care to our patients that promotes wellness and quality of life
- To participate in research to improve care and treatment
- To educate patients, families, the medical community and the general public
General Pulmonology
Pediatric pulmonologists and nurse practitioners with expertise in evaluation and management of pediatric lung diseases (i.e. asthma, chronic cough, wheezing, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, recurrent pneumonia, neuromuscular weakness, and shortness of breath).
Cystic Fibrosis Center
Certified by the national Cystic Fibrosis Foundation as a care, teaching and research center, the CF center of WNY includes both pediatric and adult programs for patients with non-acute respiratory diseases (care is provided to adults by internal medicine-certified specialists).
The Cystic Fibrosis Therapeutic Development Center has participated in more than 40 clinical trials and has helped bring several drugs through development to clinical use for patients with CF, focusing on inhaled antibiotics, mucoactive drugs and CFTR potentiators and correctors.
Assisted Breathing Center
We evaluate and manage children who need breathing assistance through use of CPAP, BiPap, mechanical ventilation, cough-assist devices and other therapies to improve airway clearance.
We work closely with the MDA Clinic in providing respiratory care of children with neuromuscular disease.
We have the only New York State-designated Apnea Program in Western New York and provide management for children who are discharged home on oxygen, apnea and bradycardia monitors.
The UBMD Pediatrics Sleep Center at Oishei Children’s Hospital is the only dedicated pediatric sleep program in Western New York. We provide a comprehensive and systematic approach to the diagnosis and treatment of pediatric sleep disorders. A family-centered focus ensures our team works directly with you to develop a plan of care that best addresses medical needs while also maximizing wellness and quality of life.
The Severe Asthma Clinic is a multidisciplinary program with specialists in Pulmonology, Allergy/Immunology, Respiratory Therapy, and Nursing, who collaborate to help children with severe asthma. A severe asthma patient is one who experiences pediatric intensive care unit admission, frequent hospitalizations or ER visits, frequent/high doses of systemic steroids and/or one who is symptomatic despite receiving high-dose controller asthma medications.
The mission of this clinic is to provide optimal care to our patients and educate parents and families about asthma to help them improve asthma control and quality of life for themselves and their loved ones.
Children with severe asthma tend to fall into two categories: difficult-to-treat asthma or severe therapy-resistant asthma.
Difficult-to-treat asthma is poor control due to an incorrect diagnosis or comorbidities and poor adherence due to adverse psychological or environmental factors. Evaluating the patient from a 360-degree view, which involves factoring in other medical conditions, addressing home exposures (mold, dust), assessing access to medication and health services, looking at tobacco exposure, and dealing with school issues, are all important and can all contribute to the clinical picture.
Severe therapy-resistant asthmatics are children whose asthma remains uncontrolled despite resolution of any reversible factors. Incorporating a multidisciplinary model that addresses the medical and social needs of children with asthma has shown demonstrable improvement in quality of life and symptom-free days, as well as decreased hospitalizations and ER visits.
We offer a full range of clinical services including:
- Comprehensive evaluation with dedicated physician time from both Pulmonology and Allergy to confirm the diagnosis of asthma
- Identifying and addressing co-existing problems that may be making the asthma worse (i.e. vocal cord dysfunction, sinusitis, GERD, rhinitis, sinusitis)
- Pulmonary function testing with bronchodilator and other tests as deemed appropriate
- Testing for environmental allergen triggers
- Utilizing community resources to perform in-home assessment of potential asthma triggers and providing free products and resources to help reduce the triggers
- Individualized asthma action plan
- Comprehensive patient education with dedicated asthma educators
For patients with refractory asthma, the Severe Asthma Clinic offers innovative diagnostic and treatment services that are at the forefront of asthma care including:
1. Pulmonary function & exercise testing
The Pulmonary Exercise Diagnostic Laboratory offers the most advanced technology in diagnosing and monitoring lung disease. The staff specializes in testing children as young as 5 years of age and welcomes adults as well for Spirometry, Lung Volumes, Resistance Measurements, Diffusing Capacity, Methacholine Challenge and Exercise Testing.
To schedule an appointment for pulmonary function testing:
Phone: 716.323.6540
Fax: 716.323.6676
2. Sweat testing
We provide the only sweat test laboratory in Western New York certified by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and College of American Pathologists.
To schedule an appointment for sweat testing:
Phone: 716.323.2037
Fax: 716.323.6676
3. We transcribe and interpret events recorded in memory monitors in babies with apnea and bradycardia, as well as overnight home oximetry studies.
Division Manager
Julie Lopian
Clinical Secretaries
Kim Edwards
Lisa Truillizio
Sarah Fitzpatrick
Nurse Practitioners
Kirsten Nutty, CPNP
Mary Sheppard, PNP, BC
Adult CF Program Coordinator
Lynne Fries, PA-C, MPAS, DPT
CF Center Research Coordinators
Nadine Caci, BSN, RNC, CCRC
Christine Roach, BSN, RN, CCRC
Clinical Dietitian
Katelyn Buck-Violanti, MS, RDN, CDN
RN Coordinator
Cheryl Maciejewski, RN
Respiratory Therapists
Rachel Petre, RRT
Sandra Prentice, CRT
Michelle Westley, RRT
Social Worker
Abbey Smolinski, LMSW
Sweat Test Lab Therapist
Jennie Agro, MT
Outpatient Locations:
Conventus
1001 Main Street
4th Floor
Buffalo, NY 14203
Contact Us:
Office: 716.323.0110
Fax: 716.323.0296