The Pulmonary Hypertension Association (PHA) will host PHA on the Road: PH Patients and Families Education Forum Saturday, Sept. 29, in Long Beach, Calif. This unique education and networking forum provides people living with pulmonary hypertension (PH), their families, caregivers and friends with a unique opportunity to learn from local PH experts alongside others in the PH community. Register today, free of charge, for PHA on the Road – Long Beach, Calif. To learn more, visit the PHA on the Road information page on the PHA website.
Experts who will speak at PHA on the Road – Long Beach are excited to meet attendees and answer questions from the PH community. We asked speakers to share their backgrounds, interests and expertise in caring for people with PH.
Ronald Oudiz, M.D.
Harbor-UCLA Medical Center
Torrance, Calif.
How did you become interested and involved in the PH field?
During my training in cardiovascular diseases, I was lucky to be under the tutelage of Dr. Bruce Brundage, who was Chief of Cardiology at Harbor-UCLA during my fellowship. Bruce was also the first PHA Scientific Leadership Council (SLC) Chair, a true hero of our time. Combined with being lucky enough to be on the ground floor of a soon-to-be wave of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) clinical trials, Bruce’s mentorship helped shape the rest of my career.
What are your current research interests, and what are you passionate about within your practice?
I have long been interested in how exercise affects PAH and how PAH affects exercise. Within my practice, I would like to see our team further develop our research capabilities, with more junior investigators coming on who are passionate about research.
What are you looking forward to most at PHA on the Road later this month?
One of the most moving experiences in the world of PH is to experience the warmth and enlightenment that everyone experiences when patients and treaters get together with each other. It is great to hear stories from patients who meet each other and exchange information, from PH treaters and researchers who meet each other and exchange information and from patients/treaters/researchers who meet each other and learn what the other side is doing.
Alvin Rocha, M.S.N., R.N., CPN
Children’s Hospital Los Angeles
Los Angeles
How did you become interested and involved in the PH field?
The amazing patients and families I have met over time inspired me to become more involved in the PH field. In addition, the dedication of all the health care professionals who work hard and advocate for this special patient population.
What are your current research interests, and what passionate about within your practice?
My current interest includes helping long-term pediatric patients with PH successfully transition from pediatric-focused health care systems to adult-focused health care systems. Watching the pediatric PH patients grow into adulthood and taking control of their health inspires me to continue my work with PH.
What are you looking forward to most at PHA on the Road later this month?
Hearing local PH specialists share information about what is new in the PH community and seeing patients and families learn about PH.
Jeffrey S. Sager, M.D., M.Sc., FACP, FCCP
Santa Barbara Pulmonary Associates
Santa Barbara, Calif.
How did you become interested and involved in the PH field?
My involvement in the field of pulmonary hypertension dates back to my fellowship years in pulmonary and critical care medicine. I was fortunate enough to take care of a patient with pulmonary hypertension, and in those early days there was only Flolan. I watched the process unfold and realized that I wanted to be part of providing better care than what was available at that time. This is a tough disease that is often unrelenting, and I am hopeful that in my career we will ultimately be able to find a cure for this condition.
What are your current research interests?
I am involved in multiple clinical research projects in pulmonary vascular disease. Some of these are pharmaceutical sponsored clinical trials, allowing patients access to therapies that have never been tested before, and that will hopefully provide a cure for PH in the future. Additionally, in partnership with the medical residents at Cottage Health System, we are able to do investigator-initiated studies. Currently, we are working on diagnostic tools with PH patients, and I am hoping that this will provide additional benefit to our patients in the clinic.
What are you looking forward to most at PHA on the Road later this month?
Looking forward to hearing from patients about their concerns and engaging in a productive dialogue with experts in the field.
Jacqueline Szmuszkovicz, M.D.
Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, University of Southern California
Los Angeles
How did you become interested and involved in the PH field?
I have been a pediatric cardiologist taking care of children and adolescents with PH for 21 years. My initial involvement in PH was through my position in the Cardiothoracic Transplant Team at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, and it evolved from there to become a large part of my medical practice.
What are your current research interests and what are you passionate about within your practice?
It is wonderful to have so many more choices in adult therapies now than we did in the past, and our team is passionate about learning the safest and most effective ways to use these medications for children.
What are you looking forward to most at PHA on the Road later this month?
PHA on the Road will be a wonderful chance to meet new friends and colleagues in the PH community, and to reunite with others! It will be great to see my prior patient, who has now transitioned to adult care after spending most of her childhood being cared for at CHLA. We are thrilled that she will be part of our panel on adolescent transition to adult health care.
Register today, free of charge, for PHA on the Road in Long Beach, Calif.
