New faces for CHEST Physician’s board and special sections

Editor in Chief

Dr. Vera A. De Palo, MBA, FCCP, is the new Editor in Chief of CHEST Physician. She is the Chief Medical Officer at Signature Healthcare in Brockton, Massachusetts. Signature Healthcare, in affiliation with Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center of Boston, is a not-for-profit teaching hospital that serves the greater Brockton area and its surrounding communities. Dr. De Palo is also an Associate Professor of Medicine at the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, in Providence, R.I. Her clinical practice experience is in pulmonary, critical care and sleep medicine. Dr. De Palo has served the American College of Chest Physicians (CHEST) in numerous leadership roles, including serving on the Board of Regents and on the Executive Committee of the Board of Regents during her term as the Chair of the Council of Governors and as a Trustee of the CHEST Foundation. Through the years, she has been a member of the Nominating Committee, the Government Relations Committee, the Chairperson of the Credentials and Membership Committees, and served as the College’s Governor for Rhode Island. Dr. De Palo has been a member of the CHEST Foundation’s Pro Bono Committee and Humanitarian Awards Review Committee. She has participated in and had leadership roles with many other national societies and local health-care groups, including the American Thoracic Society and the Society of Critical Care Medicine. Her current interests include quality and safety in health care – specifically in critical care, health care reform, and systems transformation.

Deputy Editor

Dr. David Schulman, FCCP, is the new Deputy Editor of CHEST Physician. He is an Associate Professor of Medicine at Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta; he also serves as Associate Division Director for Education for Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine and Director of the Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine Fellowship Training Program. Dr. Schulman serves CHEST as Vice Chair of the ACCP Council of NetWorks and has served as member of the CHEST Scientific Program Committee for 4 years. His academic interests lie in developing novel educational curricula and in identifying optimal management strategies for patients with mild sleep-disordered breathing.

New Section Editors

Critical Care Commentary

Dr. Lee E. Morrow, FCCP, is Professor of Medicine and Professor Pharmacy at Creighton University as well as the Pulmonary & Critical Care Fellowship Program Director in Omaha, Nebraska. He joined the American College of Chest Physicians in 1999 and previously served as the Governor for Nebraska Chapter ACCP. Dr. Morrow’s research interests focus on nosocomial infections and have previously been recognized by the College with two Alfred Soffer Research Awards, a Young Investigator Award, and an ACCP-ASP Geriatric Grant.

Sleep Strategies

Dr. Jeremy Weingarten, FCCP, is an Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine at Weill-Cornell Medical College, New York, Chief of the Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine at New York Methodist Hospital (NYM), and Medical Director of the Center for Sleep Disorders at NYM in Brooklyn, New York. He is a current member of the Sleep NetWork Steering Committee at ACCP. His clinical and research interests are in sleep medicine, pulmonary physiology, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

New Editorial Advisory Board Members

Dr. Hossein Almassi, FCCP, is Professor of Cardiothoracic Surgery at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee.

He joined the American College of Chest Physicians in 1987 and served as the Governor for Wisconsin for two terms and was a member of the Critical Care Council, Scientific Presentation and Awards Committee, Scientific Program Committee, Chair of the Credentials Committee, and Vice Chair and Chair of the Cardiovascular Medicine and Surgery NetWork. His clinical and research interests are in multicenter trials in patients’ outcome, atrial fibrillation, and critical care in cardiac surgery.

Dr. Jacques P. Fontaine, FCCP, is an Associate Professor at the University of South Florida, in Tampa. He works as a thoracic surgeon in the Departments of Thoracic and GI Oncology at the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa.

He is the Director of the Mesothelioma Treatment & Research Center. He has also been very active in developing the robotic surgery program at the Moffitt Cancer Center. His interests include robotic surgery, lung cancer screening, mesothelioma, thymoma, and resident education.

Octavian C. Ioachimescu, MD, PhD, FCCP, is an Associate Professor of Medicine at Emory University, in Atlanta, Georgia; staff physician, Medical Director of the Sleep Medicine Center and Sleep Medicine Section Chief at the Atlanta Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC), and the site director of the Emory University Sleep Medicine Fellowship.

He is the incoming President of Georgia Association of Sleep Professionals (GASP) and the current Chair of the ACCP Clinical Pulmonary Medicine Steering Committee. He is very passionate about medical education in the fields of pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine, and was recently inducted into the Emory University Academy of Medical Educators. His main research interests are in the areas of airway disorders, pulmonary physiology and obstructive sleep apnea. Dr. Ioachimescu is the editor of the first online textbook of Sleep Medicine, entitled “Contemporary Sleep Medicine.” He is also the VAMC Sleep Medicine Center Medical Director and Sleep Section Chief).

Dr. Jason M. Lazar, FCCP, is Professor of Medicine at the State University of New York Downstate Medical Center, New York, where he serves as the Director of Noninvasive Cardiology and Director of Cardiovascular Training Program. He joined CHEST in 1990 and has served as Chair of the Cardiovascular NetWork and more recently as New York State Governor. Dr. Lazar’s clinical interests include pulmonary hypertension in multisystem disease and multimodality imaging of cardiovascular disease. His research interests include ventriculoarterial coupling, cardiovascular manifestations of HIV and rheumatologic disorders, and assessment of microvascular and macrovascular function.

Dr. Michael E. Nelson, FCCP, works in Shawnee Mission, Kansas, where he practices pulmonary, critical care and sleep medicine. He has been a member of the ACCP since 1989 and has served in many positions, which include the Governor for the state of Kansas, the Practice Management Committee, the CHEST Regulations and Reimbursement Committee, the steering committee of the Private Practice and Practice Operations NetWorks, and the Board of Trustees of the CHEST Foundation. He is the ACCP alternate adviser to the AMA CPT editorial panel. Dr. Nelson’s interests include pulmonary physiology, obstructive lung disease, and practice management.

Editor in Chief

Dr. Vera A. De Palo, MBA, FCCP, is the new Editor in Chief of CHEST Physician. She is the Chief Medical Officer at Signature Healthcare in Brockton, Massachusetts. Signature Healthcare, in affiliation with Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center of Boston, is a not-for-profit teaching hospital that serves the greater Brockton area and its surrounding communities. Dr. De Palo is also an Associate Professor of Medicine at the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, in Providence, R.I. Her clinical practice experience is in pulmonary, critical care and sleep medicine. Dr. De Palo has served the American College of Chest Physicians (CHEST) in numerous leadership roles, including serving on the Board of Regents and on the Executive Committee of the Board of Regents during her term as the Chair of the Council of Governors and as a Trustee of the CHEST Foundation. Through the years, she has been a member of the Nominating Committee, the Government Relations Committee, the Chairperson of the Credentials and Membership Committees, and served as the College’s Governor for Rhode Island. Dr. De Palo has been a member of the CHEST Foundation’s Pro Bono Committee and Humanitarian Awards Review Committee. She has participated in and had leadership roles with many other national societies and local health-care groups, including the American Thoracic Society and the Society of Critical Care Medicine. Her current interests include quality and safety in health care – specifically in critical care, health care reform, and systems transformation.

Deputy Editor

Dr. David Schulman, FCCP, is the new Deputy Editor of CHEST Physician. He is an Associate Professor of Medicine at Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta; he also serves as Associate Division Director for Education for Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine and Director of the Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine Fellowship Training Program. Dr. Schulman serves CHEST as Vice Chair of the ACCP Council of NetWorks and has served as member of the CHEST Scientific Program Committee for 4 years. His academic interests lie in developing novel educational curricula and in identifying optimal management strategies for patients with mild sleep-disordered breathing.

New Section Editors

Critical Care Commentary

Dr. Lee E. Morrow, FCCP, is Professor of Medicine and Professor Pharmacy at Creighton University as well as the Pulmonary & Critical Care Fellowship Program Director in Omaha, Nebraska. He joined the American College of Chest Physicians in 1999 and previously served as the Governor for Nebraska Chapter ACCP. Dr. Morrow’s research interests focus on nosocomial infections and have previously been recognized by the College with two Alfred Soffer Research Awards, a Young Investigator Award, and an ACCP-ASP Geriatric Grant.

Sleep Strategies

Dr. Jeremy Weingarten, FCCP, is an Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine at Weill-Cornell Medical College, New York, Chief of the Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine at New York Methodist Hospital (NYM), and Medical Director of the Center for Sleep Disorders at NYM in Brooklyn, New York. He is a current member of the Sleep NetWork Steering Committee at ACCP. His clinical and research interests are in sleep medicine, pulmonary physiology, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

New Editorial Advisory Board Members

Dr. Hossein Almassi, FCCP, is Professor of Cardiothoracic Surgery at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee.

He joined the American College of Chest Physicians in 1987 and served as the Governor for Wisconsin for two terms and was a member of the Critical Care Council, Scientific Presentation and Awards Committee, Scientific Program Committee, Chair of the Credentials Committee, and Vice Chair and Chair of the Cardiovascular Medicine and Surgery NetWork. His clinical and research interests are in multicenter trials in patients’ outcome, atrial fibrillation, and critical care in cardiac surgery.

Dr. Jacques P. Fontaine, FCCP, is an Associate Professor at the University of South Florida, in Tampa. He works as a thoracic surgeon in the Departments of Thoracic and GI Oncology at the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa.

He is the Director of the Mesothelioma Treatment & Research Center. He has also been very active in developing the robotic surgery program at the Moffitt Cancer Center. His interests include robotic surgery, lung cancer screening, mesothelioma, thymoma, and resident education.

Octavian C. Ioachimescu, MD, PhD, FCCP, is an Associate Professor of Medicine at Emory University, in Atlanta, Georgia; staff physician, Medical Director of the Sleep Medicine Center and Sleep Medicine Section Chief at the Atlanta Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC), and the site director of the Emory University Sleep Medicine Fellowship.

He is the incoming President of Georgia Association of Sleep Professionals (GASP) and the current Chair of the ACCP Clinical Pulmonary Medicine Steering Committee. He is very passionate about medical education in the fields of pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine, and was recently inducted into the Emory University Academy of Medical Educators. His main research interests are in the areas of airway disorders, pulmonary physiology and obstructive sleep apnea. Dr. Ioachimescu is the editor of the first online textbook of Sleep Medicine, entitled “Contemporary Sleep Medicine.” He is also the VAMC Sleep Medicine Center Medical Director and Sleep Section Chief).

Dr. Jason M. Lazar, FCCP, is Professor of Medicine at the State University of New York Downstate Medical Center, New York, where he serves as the Director of Noninvasive Cardiology and Director of Cardiovascular Training Program. He joined CHEST in 1990 and has served as Chair of the Cardiovascular NetWork and more recently as New York State Governor. Dr. Lazar’s clinical interests include pulmonary hypertension in multisystem disease and multimodality imaging of cardiovascular disease. His research interests include ventriculoarterial coupling, cardiovascular manifestations of HIV and rheumatologic disorders, and assessment of microvascular and macrovascular function.

Dr. Michael E. Nelson, FCCP, works in Shawnee Mission, Kansas, where he practices pulmonary, critical care and sleep medicine. He has been a member of the ACCP since 1989 and has served in many positions, which include the Governor for the state of Kansas, the Practice Management Committee, the CHEST Regulations and Reimbursement Committee, the steering committee of the Private Practice and Practice Operations NetWorks, and the Board of Trustees of the CHEST Foundation. He is the ACCP alternate adviser to the AMA CPT editorial panel. Dr. Nelson’s interests include pulmonary physiology, obstructive lung disease, and practice management.

Editor in Chief

Dr. Vera A. De Palo, MBA, FCCP, is the new Editor in Chief of CHEST Physician. She is the Chief Medical Officer at Signature Healthcare in Brockton, Massachusetts. Signature Healthcare, in affiliation with Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center of Boston, is a not-for-profit teaching hospital that serves the greater Brockton area and its surrounding communities. Dr. De Palo is also an Associate Professor of Medicine at the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, in Providence, R.I. Her clinical practice experience is in pulmonary, critical care and sleep medicine. Dr. De Palo has served the American College of Chest Physicians (CHEST) in numerous leadership roles, including serving on the Board of Regents and on the Executive Committee of the Board of Regents during her term as the Chair of the Council of Governors and as a Trustee of the CHEST Foundation. Through the years, she has been a member of the Nominating Committee, the Government Relations Committee, the Chairperson of the Credentials and Membership Committees, and served as the College’s Governor for Rhode Island. Dr. De Palo has been a member of the CHEST Foundation’s Pro Bono Committee and Humanitarian Awards Review Committee. She has participated in and had leadership roles with many other national societies and local health-care groups, including the American Thoracic Society and the Society of Critical Care Medicine. Her current interests include quality and safety in health care – specifically in critical care, health care reform, and systems transformation.

Deputy Editor

Dr. David Schulman, FCCP, is the new Deputy Editor of CHEST Physician. He is an Associate Professor of Medicine at Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta; he also serves as Associate Division Director for Education for Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine and Director of the Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine Fellowship Training Program. Dr. Schulman serves CHEST as Vice Chair of the ACCP Council of NetWorks and has served as member of the CHEST Scientific Program Committee for 4 years. His academic interests lie in developing novel educational curricula and in identifying optimal management strategies for patients with mild sleep-disordered breathing.

New Section Editors

Critical Care Commentary

Dr. Lee E. Morrow, FCCP, is Professor of Medicine and Professor Pharmacy at Creighton University as well as the Pulmonary & Critical Care Fellowship Program Director in Omaha, Nebraska. He joined the American College of Chest Physicians in 1999 and previously served as the Governor for Nebraska Chapter ACCP. Dr. Morrow’s research interests focus on nosocomial infections and have previously been recognized by the College with two Alfred Soffer Research Awards, a Young Investigator Award, and an ACCP-ASP Geriatric Grant.

Sleep Strategies

Dr. Jeremy Weingarten, FCCP, is an Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine at Weill-Cornell Medical College, New York, Chief of the Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine at New York Methodist Hospital (NYM), and Medical Director of the Center for Sleep Disorders at NYM in Brooklyn, New York. He is a current member of the Sleep NetWork Steering Committee at ACCP. His clinical and research interests are in sleep medicine, pulmonary physiology, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

New Editorial Advisory Board Members

Dr. Hossein Almassi, FCCP, is Professor of Cardiothoracic Surgery at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee.

He joined the American College of Chest Physicians in 1987 and served as the Governor for Wisconsin for two terms and was a member of the Critical Care Council, Scientific Presentation and Awards Committee, Scientific Program Committee, Chair of the Credentials Committee, and Vice Chair and Chair of the Cardiovascular Medicine and Surgery NetWork. His clinical and research interests are in multicenter trials in patients’ outcome, atrial fibrillation, and critical care in cardiac surgery.

Dr. Jacques P. Fontaine, FCCP, is an Associate Professor at the University of South Florida, in Tampa. He works as a thoracic surgeon in the Departments of Thoracic and GI Oncology at the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa.

He is the Director of the Mesothelioma Treatment & Research Center. He has also been very active in developing the robotic surgery program at the Moffitt Cancer Center. His interests include robotic surgery, lung cancer screening, mesothelioma, thymoma, and resident education.

Octavian C. Ioachimescu, MD, PhD, FCCP, is an Associate Professor of Medicine at Emory University, in Atlanta, Georgia; staff physician, Medical Director of the Sleep Medicine Center and Sleep Medicine Section Chief at the Atlanta Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC), and the site director of the Emory University Sleep Medicine Fellowship.

He is the incoming President of Georgia Association of Sleep Professionals (GASP) and the current Chair of the ACCP Clinical Pulmonary Medicine Steering Committee. He is very passionate about medical education in the fields of pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine, and was recently inducted into the Emory University Academy of Medical Educators. His main research interests are in the areas of airway disorders, pulmonary physiology and obstructive sleep apnea. Dr. Ioachimescu is the editor of the first online textbook of Sleep Medicine, entitled “Contemporary Sleep Medicine.” He is also the VAMC Sleep Medicine Center Medical Director and Sleep Section Chief).

Dr. Jason M. Lazar, FCCP, is Professor of Medicine at the State University of New York Downstate Medical Center, New York, where he serves as the Director of Noninvasive Cardiology and Director of Cardiovascular Training Program. He joined CHEST in 1990 and has served as Chair of the Cardiovascular NetWork and more recently as New York State Governor. Dr. Lazar’s clinical interests include pulmonary hypertension in multisystem disease and multimodality imaging of cardiovascular disease. His research interests include ventriculoarterial coupling, cardiovascular manifestations of HIV and rheumatologic disorders, and assessment of microvascular and macrovascular function.

Dr. Michael E. Nelson, FCCP, works in Shawnee Mission, Kansas, where he practices pulmonary, critical care and sleep medicine. He has been a member of the ACCP since 1989 and has served in many positions, which include the Governor for the state of Kansas, the Practice Management Committee, the CHEST Regulations and Reimbursement Committee, the steering committee of the Private Practice and Practice Operations NetWorks, and the Board of Trustees of the CHEST Foundation. He is the ACCP alternate adviser to the AMA CPT editorial panel. Dr. Nelson’s interests include pulmonary physiology, obstructive lung disease, and practice management.