Our team of pulmonary medicine experts is dedicated to teaching future physicians the skills, compassion, and knowledge needed for a career in pulmonary and critical care. By combining a comprehensive medical education and cutting-edge research, fellows learn how to diagnose and treat a variety of common lung diseases including:
Our division also provides coordinated, multidisciplinary care for several specialized disease entities through programs led by faculty who are nationally recognized in their fields. We work closely with the school of medicine and are involved in clinical trials and up to date technologies.
A fellowship in Pulmonary/Critical Care Medicine in is available for trainees wishing to specialize in the field. Call 505-272-4751 or email Pulmonary-Staff@salud.unm.edu for more information.
The UNM Comprehensive Cancer Center is the only National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated cancer center in the state of New Mexico. The center’s lung cancer program brings world-class clinicians and researchers together to collaborate on programs to improve lung cancer screening, diagnosis and treatment.
The UNM Cystic Fibrosis Center is the only facility in the state that is accredited by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation for providing specialized care that leads to improved length and quality of life for people living with cystic fibrosis.
Adult Cystic Fibrosis Care Team
Providers
Nurse Coordinator
Dietitian
Social Work Case Manager
Respiratory Therapist
UNM CF Care Teams
Adult CF Program
5th Floor, Ambulatory Care Clinic
2211 Lomas Blvd NE
Albuquerque, NM 87106
Phone 505-925-4424
Fax 505-272-6630
Clinic Hours: Monday-Friday
8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Pediatric CF Program
3th Floor Ambulatory Care Clinic
2211 Lomas Blvd NE
Albuquerque, NM 87106
Phone 505-272-1908
Fax 505-272-0329
Clinic Hours: Monday-Friday
8 a.m.-5 p.m.
The University of New Mexico Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD) Program
The UNM ILD program offers diagnostic and therapeutic services to patients with interstitial lung diseases. The program also provides guidance to community pulmonologists and primary care providers via a team from multiple disciplines including pulmonary medicine, chest radiology, rheumatology, occupational lung disease and pulmonary hypertension. The program holds a weekly multidisciplinary discussion to help guide management of complex ILD patients.
Our program is the only ILD program in the state of New Mexico and caters not only to the population of New Mexico but also adjoining states of Texas and Arizona. Our program also caters to a vast Native American population and also patients with occupational and environmental ILDs due to uranium mining, which is unique to this area.
Interstitial Lung Disease is a heterogeneous group of lung disorders characterized by inflammation of lung tissue which leads to scarring and fibrosis if untreated.
Common risk factors and causes of interstitial lung disease are:
Suspicious symptoms for Interstitial Lung Disease are:
Services offered
Our multi-disciplinary team offers state-of-the art services related to
Our team
Our team members are very passionate about providing best care to our patients and our providers are experienced in managing these complex medical conditions.
Nour Ali Ass’ad, MD – nassad@salud.unm.edu
George Dreden NP - gedresden@salud.unm.edu
Dayana Salinas , MA - DSalinasPerez@salud.unm.edu
Ivonne Campos, MA - ivillanueva@salud.unm.edu
Contact Us
Clinic 505-272-3840
Fax # 505-272-4367
The Interventional Pulmonology and Advanced Diagnostics team at UNM Health System specializes in minimally invasive diagnostic and therapeutic procedures for patients with suspected malignancy, airway disorders, advanced COPD and pleural diseases. We utilize the latest technological breakthroughs to help you or your loved ones manage symptoms related to lung cancer. We are one of the few centers in the southwest United States offering lung volume reduction for advanced COPD without surgery. Our team members have received special training for these advanced procedures and have years of experience behind them. Trust our dedicated team of respiratory therapists, physician assistants, nurses, social workers and physicians to provide the best care for your needs.
For Patients
With continued acquisition of the most advanced equipment, we can offer minimally invasive options for diagnosis and treatment. Most of our procedures do not require hospitalization. We work with our experts in thoracic surgery, radiation oncology and medical oncology to provide a continuum of care from diagnosis to treatment of cancers involving the chest. We might be able to help you if you have been diagnosed with any of the following conditions
For referring providers
We offer the complete spectrum of interventional pulmonology procedures including
Meet our Team
Akshu Balwan, MD
Balwan is a fellowship trained interventional pulmonologist. He joined UNM in 2020 and sees patients with prior appointment at the UNM comprehensive cancer center and UNM hospitals. His research interests include optimizing diagnostic yield for medical procedures, procedural education and pleural disease management. He is part of the clinical faculty at the UNM, training the next generation of doctors specializing in diseases of the lung.
Bronchoscopy
A small flexible tube with camera (bronchoscope) at its end is inserted into the breathing tube while patient is asleep/sedated to visualize the lung and perform procedures as needed.
Navigation bronchoscopy aka electromagnetic navigation
This machine enables our physicians to reach areas in the lung beyond the visible part of the breathing tube using a virtual 3D model of your lung generated from your CAT scan of the chest. The machine uses your anatomy and electromagnetic fields to help physicians obtain a biopsy.
Robotic Bronchoscopy
A small flexible camera operated by the physician is guided with assistance from the robotic platform to reach distal areas of the lung.
Endobronchial Ultrasound
We can use small ultrasound probe inside your lung to assist with biopsy of lymph nodes and spots on your lung taking out the guesswork in obtaining such biopsies. This procedure provides a non- surgical alternative to a procedure called mediastinoscopy.
Pleuroscopy/Thoracoscopy
A small incision made in the chest is used to introduce a camera and look at your lung from the outside. In selected patients, this can provide an alternative to a surgical procedure called VATS (Video Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery) for diseases of the pleural lining of your lung.
UNM Pulmonary Hypertension Program
The UNM Pulmonary Hypertension (PH) Program provides comprehensive diagnostic and therapeutic services to patients with all forms of pulmonary hypertension. UNM is an accredited Comprehensive Care Center by the Pulmonary Hypertension Association for treating patients with PAH. PAH is defined as elevated blood pressure in the lungs, which leads to enlargement of the right side of the heart and, if untreated, heart failure and death.
Fifteen years ago pulmonary hypertension was considered to be a uniformly progressive and fatal disease. While exciting new treatments have been developed since then, patients with pulmonary hypertension face a truly life-threatening illness. Care is therefore provided by a team of closely coordinated experts in pulmonary hypertension, including physicians, clinical nurse specialists, pharmacists, and social workers skilled in counseling patients facing life-threatening illness.
Diagnosis of PAH
The diagnosis of PAH requires first recognizing suspicious symptoms. These include:
We also ask about risk factors that could make PAH more likely, including:
Once a diagnosis of PAH is considered, several tests may be performed. These include:
Treatment
Many effective treatments for PAH have been developed. These medications range from once a day pills to infusion pumps that deliver medication continuously through an implanted catheter. Which medications are right for you will depend on a number of factors which each patient will discuss and decide upon with their PH treating physician. The physicians and nurse practitioners in the UNM PH Program, have decades of experience in treating PAH and will provide the best, state of the art care to you.
The UNM Pulmonary Hypertension Program Provides:
The Pulmonary Hypertension Program Provides:
PRACTICE PHILOSOPHY
Establishing a collaborative relationship with patients and families by providing the tools and knowledge individuals need to become active participants in their healthcare.
Our Clinics
Our clinics are staffed by pulmonary physicians and other specialists. Physicians at the Pulmonary Hypertension Center treat a wide range of conditions, including:
UNM Pulmonary Hypertension Program Multidisciplinary Team Members
Lana Melendres-Groves, MD
Pulmonary Hypertension Program Director
Associate Professor of Medicine
Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine
University of New Mexico SOM
Trisha Henderson
Sid Richardson
Evan Holm
Charles J Gallegos
A Family Nurse Practitioner, licensed by the state of New Mexico to provide family-centered healthcare to patients of all ages. His scope of practice encompasses health promotion, disease prevention, diagnosis and management of common and complex health care problems.
For the past seven years Charles J, Gallegos has worked for the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Pulmonary Hypertension Team. In collaboration with the pulmonary faculty, he is responsible for inpatient coordination of care and outpatient evaluation of patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension.
Brenda Y. Pacheco
A Certified Physician Assistant, licensed by the state of New Mexico, to provide family-centered healthcare to patients of all ages. Her scope of practice encompasses health promotion, disease prevention, diagnosis and management of common and complex health care problems.
For the past 3 years, Brenda has worked for the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Pulmonary Hypertension Team. In collaboration with the pulmonary faculty, she is responsible for the outpatient evaluation and management of patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension.
Brenda is a New Mexico native, born and raised in Taos, NM. She attended the University of New Mexico where she received her Bachelor’s degree in Biology and Spanish, and received her Physician Assistant degree from the University of New Mexico Physician Assistant Program in 2007. She has also received her Master’s in Physician Assistant Studies from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.
Lisa Robertson, BSN, RN
Pulmonary Hypertension Program Nurse Research Coordinator
Lisa graduated Summa Cum Laude with Departmental Honors from UNM’s College of Nursing in 2010. She has a background in critical care, home hospice and care management. As a member of UNM’s Pulmonary Hypertension Program since 2017, she helps coordinate the program’s participation in the national Pulmonary Hypertension Association Registry (PHAR), identifies appropriate patients for clinical trials, and develops and maintains quality and research initiatives for the program.
Referrals to Pulmonary Hypertension Clinic
Please include the following:
1) Referral, specifically stating Pulmonary Hypertension
2) Pt demographics, including insurance information
3) Recent clinic notes
4) Echocardiogram, done within 6 months of the current date. If patient does not have a current echocardiogram, please have one done ASAP, then faxed to the clinic. Additionally, a Stress Echocardiogram, Transesophageal Echocardiogram, or an ECG/EKG will not suffice.
5) Not required, but if available please fax: V/Q Scan, Pulmonary Function Test, 6 Minute Walk Test, Right Heart Catheterization, Chest X-Ray, Chest CT, Labs: Chem 7, Mg, P04, NT-Pro BNP, ANA, ANCA, Rf, Scl-70, HIV, and Hep Panel.
Please be advised, a New Patient Consultation cannot be scheduled unless all required records are received.
Please call the clinic with any questions.
1101 Medical Arts Ave.
Building 4, Suite B
Albuquerque, NM 87102
P: 505-272-2273
F: 505-925-6013 (Attn: Pulmonary Hypertension)
Our nationally recognized Occupational Lung Medicine is affiliated with the satellite Black Lung/Coal Miners Clinic in Raton, New Mexico and offers care to patients across the state affected by:
In partnership with Miners’ Colfax Medical Center at Raton, NM, we have established innovative programs for the miners of New Mexico (NM). Our mobile screening program with telehealth capability for NM miners, details of which are published in this link, was recognized as a 2016 innovative model at the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Rural Health Information Hub. Along with our partners in the NM Mining Advisory Council, we have published multiple research manuscripts using the NM miners’ cohort. In 2016, we established the Miners' Wellness TeleECHO Program for telementoring professions caring for miners, details for which are published in this link. The Mining Advisory Council and the Miners’ Wellness TeleECHO Programs were recognized as rural COVID-19 innovations by HRSA's Rural Health Information Hub. The American Thoracic Society recognized our TeleECHO program as a 2019 innovation in fellowship education.
Akshay Sood, MD, MPH
Tenured Professor & Miners' Colfax Medical Center Endowed Chair in Mining-Related Lung Diseases Medical Director, Min
ers' Wellness Tele-ECHO Clinic
Assistant Dean, Mentoring and Faculty Retention, UNM School of Medicine Office of Faculty Affairs and Career Development
Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine
Department of Internal Medicine
University of New Mexico School of Medicine
1 University of New Mexico, MSC 10 5550
Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA
Telephone: 505-272-4751 (Academic office)
Direct Telephone: 505-925-4393
Fax: 505-272-8700
Pager: 505-380-0100 (please punch call back number- no voice messages)
For clinical questions, please contact my medical assistant Ivonne Villanueva at 505-272-4453 or ivillanueva@salud.unm.edu (please do not email sensitive information)
For questions on mentoring programs, please contact Wendy Wiggins at mailto:wwiggins@salud.unm.edu
Please check our websites:
Miners' Wellness Tele-ECHO Clinic website (http://echo.unm.edu/miners-wellness/);
The American Miner website (http://theamericanminer.org/);
505-272-4751