History

David Ralph started the Pulmonary Vascular Disease program in 1993. Stephanie Nolley joined the program in 1998 and Peter Leary joined the program in 2012. Members of the pulmonary vascular team contribute locally, regionally, and nationally to pulmonary hypertension education. The inpatient and outpatient facilities for the Pulmonary Vascular Disease Program are both located at the University of Washington Medical Center. This is a tertiary/quaternary referral center for the WWAMI region (Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, & Idaho) and the regional heart and lung transplant centers.

There is onsite cardiac catheterization, respiratory therapy, echocardiography, cardiac MRI, pulmonary diagnostics services (including cardiopulmonary exercise testing), and broad consultative services. The University of Washington also performs pulmonary artery thromboendarterectomies for patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension.

Core strengths of the program include the program’s size, longevity, expertise of its members, resources of the University of Washington at large, and the strong patient support and advocacy network in the Pacific Northwest.

PH Program Physicians

• David Ralph, MD (Director)
• Peter Leary, MD, MS (Co-Director)

Center Coordinator

• Stephanie J. Harris Nolley, RN, B.S.N.

Duration of Program’s Existence

• Since 1993

Number of PAH/CTEPH Patients Being Actively Managed

• 300-349

Number of Patients on IV/SQ Therapy

• 40-49

Support Services Available

• Anticoagulation Services
• Cardiac Anesthesia
• Central Line Placement and Repair
• Congenital Heart Disease
• Dietary/Nutrition
• Lung Transplant Program
• On-Call Pulmonary/Cardiology Service (24/7)
• Palliative Care
• Pulmonary/Cardiac Rehabilitation
• Pulmonary Thromboendarterectomy (PTE)
• Rheumatology
• Social Work

David D. Ralph, M.D.

Board Certifications

• Internal Medicine
• Pulmonary Medicine
• Critical Care Medicine

Education

• 1972 – MD – Stanford University Medical School, Stanford, Calif.
• 1968 – BA – Stanford University, Stanford, Calif.
  Biology

Postgraduate Training

• 1979-1981 – Fellowship, Pulmonary/Critical Care Medicine, University of Washington Hospitals, Seattle, Wa.
• 1973-1975 – Residency, Internal Medicine, University of Washington Hospitals, Seattle, Wa.
• 1972-1973 – Internship, Pulmonary/Critical Care Medicine, University of Washington Hospitals, Seattle, Wa.

Current Faculty Appointments

• 1988-Present – Associate Professor, Division of Pulmonary/Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Wa.

Current Hospital and Administrative Appointments

• 1992-Present – Medical Director, Bronchoscopy Service, University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle, Wa.
• 1992-Present – Medical Director, Pulmonary Diagnostic Center, University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle, Wa.
• 1986-present – Associate Medical Director, University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle, Wa.

Publications

• Click here for recent pulmonary hypertension publications by Dr. Ralph.

Program Co-Director

Peter J. Leary, M.D. M.S.

Board Certifications

• Internal Medicine
• Pulmonary Medicine
• Critical Care Medicine

Education

• 2005 – MD – Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD.
• 2000 – BA/BS – University of California at Davis, Davis, CA.
  Neurobiology, Physiology, & Behavior and History

Postgraduate Training

• 2009-2012 – Fellowship, Pulmonary/Critical Care Medicine, University of Washington Hospitals, Seattle, Wa.
• 2007-2009 – Residency, Internal Medicine, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD.
• 2006-2007 – Post-Doctoral Research Associate, Hofmann Cardiovascular Physiology Lab, University of Tennessee & St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
• 2005-2006 – Internship, Internal Medicine, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD.

Current Faculty Appointments

• 2013-Present – Associate Professor, Division of Pulmonary/Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Wa

Stephanie J. Harris Nolley RN, B.S.N.

Professional Credentials

• Registered Nurse

Education

• 1983 – BSN – Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana

Current Professional Experience

• 1998-present – Nurse Coordinator, Pulmonary Vascular Disease Program, University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle, Wa.

New and established patients interested in making an appointment with the University of Washington Pulmonary Hypertension and Pulmonary Vascular Diseases Clinic can do so by contacting:

• Telephone: (206) 598-7356