Fellowship Details & Requirements
The Interventional Pulmonology (IP) Program at MD Anderson began in 2000 and has since graduated at least two IP fellows every year.
The fellowship was designed to provide the subspecialty trainees with extensive training and experience in advanced diagnostic and therapeutic procedures that are essential to the practice of Interventional Pulmonology. This type of training is beyond what is typically available in a standard Pulmonary and Critical Care fellowship and requires at least an extra year of training.
The subspecialty trainees spend 12 months completing rotations in Interventional Pulmonology at MD Anderson Cancer Center to gain multidisciplinary expertise to master the performance of these invasive diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. During these rotations, trainees will be principally taught by their supervising attending. Additional teaching occurs through the didactic series of lectures, which you can locate on the website.
Eligibility, Prerequisites & Application Process
Our Graduate Medical Education (GME) Office has preliminary eligibility requirements that all prospective trainees must meet before applying for a training program at our institution. In addition to these criteria, our program also has the following requirements:
1. Successful completion of a U.S Internal Medicine Residency Program
2. Physicians who satisfactorily complete at least a two-year fellowship in Pulmonary Medicine
3. Successful completion of USMLE STEP 1, 2 and 3
4. ECFMG certification, if applicable
Applications will be accepted for academic year 2026-2027 starting July 1, 2025 (subject to change) though September 30, 2025.
Required application documents for preliminary review:
· Curriculum Vitae
· Medical school transcript
· USMLE and/or Complex transcript
· Three additional letters of recommendation (one from current residency program director)
· Statement of Intent
· Recent photograph
· Interviews will be required
Additional documents for foreign medical school graduates:
Note: Documents in a language other than English must be submitted with certified translation.
· ECFMG certificate
Additional documentation may be required before a candidate can be appointed.
We require all applicants to apply via the electronic AIPPD application system.
After review of the provisionally acceptable application, a decision to interview the applicant is made, and we’ll arrange a one-day virtual interview itinerary, which includes appointments with the program training director, principal fellowship training faculty personnel and selected other clinical faculty from the Department of Pulmonary Medicine. Evaluations are obtained from each interviewing representative.
Based on the supplied application materials, evaluations and any necessary personal, professional or solicited references, a decision is made to either provide an informal offer or to reject a candidate.
A sample contract for prospective trainees may be viewed here.
Program Goals & Objectives
The fellowship aligns its goals and objectives with the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education's (ACGME) six core competencies to ensure comprehensive training and development of fellows in the field of Interventional Pulmonology.
Professionalism
Fellows must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary to practice professionally responsible, ethical and compassionate care in clinical pulmonary medicine and Interventional Pulmonology.
Patient Care and Procedural Skills
Fellows must be able to provide patient care that is patient- and family-centered, compassionate, equitable, appropriate, and effective for the treatment of health problems and the promotion of health.
Medical Knowledge
Fellows must demonstrate knowledge about established and evolving science that would be critical to the practice of clinical pulmonary medicine and Interventional Pulmonology.
Practice-Based Learning and Improvement
Fellows must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary to initiate self-directed and independent learning. Fellows must keep abreast of current information and practices relevant to clinical pulmonary medicine and Interventional Pulmonology
Interpersonal and Communication Skills
Fellows must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary to develop and maintain appropriate interpersonal relationships and to communicate effectively with patients, families, colleagues and the public.
By integrating these core competencies into our fellowship program, we aim to produce highly skilled and compassionate interventional pulmonology specialists who are equipped to excel in clinical practice, research, and leadership roles within academic medicine. Our fellows will emerge from the program with the knowledge, skills, and professionalism necessary to make meaningful contributions to the field of interventional pulmonology and provide exceptional care to patients and their families.
Program Structure & Curriculum
The Interventional Pulmonology Fellowship Program at MDAnderson is accreditated from the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). There are two new fellow position every year as this is a one-year fellowship opportunity.
Trainees are expected to develop competence in procedures essential to the diagnosis and management of complex airway problems, benign and malignant central airway obstruction, and pleural diseases. In addition to development of procedural skills, trainees must gain an understanding of the indications, contraindications, complications, and interpretation of various tests and treatment strategies common to an Interventional Pulmonologist.
Trainees are expected to present a comprehensive review of the following core topics during the course of their fellowship:
1. Endobronchial ultrasound
2. Thermal Therapy:
a. Argon plasma coagulation
b. Endobronchial Laser therapy
c. Cryotherapy
3. High dose endobronchial brachytherapy, PDT and cryotherapy
4. Endobronchial stents
5. Management of endobronchial lesions:
a. Evaluation of endobronchial lesion
b. Use of rigid bronchoscopy vs. flexible bronchoscopy
c. Multimodality treatment and palliation of advanced lung cancer
6. Hemoptysis
7. Early detection of lung cancer
8. Management of early lung cancer (metaplasia, dysplasia, CIS, AAH)
9. Evaluation of pleural diseases
10. Management of malignant pleural effusions
11. Bronchoscopic therapy for asthma and emphysema
12. Bronchoscopic management of benign airway strictures and obstruction
In addition, to expanding their clinical experience of Pulmonary Medicine, subspecialty trainees are expected to develop, hone and exhibit scholarship by participating in research activities of the Department of Pulmonary Medicine under the supervision of George A. Eapen, M.D., at MD Anderson Cancer Center. Opportunities for investigation will focus on clinical research projects related to diagnosis and management issues in Thoracic Oncology.
Participant’s Supervisory and Patient Care Responsibilities
Trainees are expected to attend in outpatient clinics on weekdays, where they will participate in the provision of consultative services to all referred patients, both inpatient and outpatient under the direct personal supervision of a staff Interventional Pulmonologist. Trainees are also expected to participate in a call duty schedule for emergencies. Maximum duty hours will be tracked and not exceeded. Faculty members of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center will supervise trainees during rotation and for procedures. All supervising faculty involved in Interventional Pulmonology rotations are Board-certified in Internal Medicine and Pulmonary Diseases. Faculty supervision includes but is not limited to the following: approval of procedures to be performed after discussion of the indications, contraindications, and possible complications of each specific case; close assistance during performance of procedures; aid in interpretation of results of procedures as indicated, as well as further treatment planning.
Procedural Requirements
Trainees are expected to develop competence in procedures essential to the diagnosis and management of complex airway problems, benign and malignant central airway obstruction, and pleural diseases. In addition to development of procedural skills, trainees must gain an understanding of the indications, contraindications, complications and interpretation of test results to attain mastery of Interventional Pulmonology. Fundamental procedural competence should include therapeutic bronchoscopy, electrocautery, argon plasma coagulation, cryotherapy, airway stent insertion, balloon bronchoplasty and dilatation techniques, endobronchial radiation (brachytherapy), bronchoscopic resection and dilatation, endobronchial ultrasound, transbronchoscopic needle aspiration and biopsy, percutaneous dilatational tracheotomy, and transtracheal oxygen catheter insertion. Pleural procedures include thoracentesis, chest tube placement, pleuroscopy, pleural biopsies and pleurodesis.
During rotations in Interventional Pulmonology, trainees will be taught by their supervising attending. Teaching styles are unique to each attending, but typically learning occurs through “hands-on” and “patient-directed” avenues based upon topics suggested by clinical consultations. Attending will provide trainees with pertinent bibliography and printed materials as appropriate in illustrating important teaching points for cases. To augment this experience-based learning, the trainees will be provided with a pertinent reading list to cover essential topics in Interventional Pulmonology.
Didactic Components
Additional teaching occurs through a didactic series of multidisciplinary lectures occurring in the Texas Medical Center. Weekly sessions include MD Anderson Pulmonary Conference, MD Anderson Thoracic Oncology Conference, MD Anderson Thoracic Surgery Conference, Combined Modalities Oncology Conference at UT Medical School at Houston, Pulmonary Fellows Journal Club, Pulmonary Oncology Journal Club and Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine Grand Rounds. These conferences include a broad array of subject matter and diverse speakers both intramurally and from institutions outside the program. Conferences are considered an integral component of the educational process for fellowship training, and attendance is mandatory for these seminars.
Evaluation
Fellows will be evaluated by supervising faculty at the conclusion of each rotation using the web-based graduate and undergraduate medical education software, New Innovations. Employing the standard 9-point ABIM evaluation form, faculty will complete timely assessments in writing for submission to the fellowship program director. To provide feedback to trainees, faculty members are encouraged to verbally review performance during and at the conclusion of each rotation. In addition, fellows undergo periodic performance reviews at least semiannually with the program director.
Fellows are expected to complete an evaluation form at the conclusion of each rotation to assess both supervising faculty and the rotation itself. In addition, the program director solicits input from the trainees regarding the quality of rotations and means to improve the academic character of the Interventional Pulmonology fellowship program.
Trainee Success & Program Outcomes
This program averages 50 applicants per year, and fellows have enjoyed lots of success. Past graduates include faculty at the following academic institutions:
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Baylor College of Medicine
UT Southwestern
Methodist Hospital-San Antonio
Cleveland Clinic
Henry Ford Hospital
Scholarly Activity
Publication: Respiratory Medicine
Authors: Khan NA, Bhandari BS, Jyothula S, Ocazionez D, Buryanek J, Jani PP.
Publication: Cureus
Authors: Bhandari BS, Armas Villalba AJ, Zavalla KR, Banay DJ, Eapen G.
Publication: J Bronchology Interventional Pulmonology
Authors: Casal RF, Walsh G, McArthur M, Hill LR, Landaeta MF, Armas Villalba AJ, Ong P, Debiane L, Vakil E, Grosu HB, Jimenez CA, Ost D, Adachi R, Eapen GA.
Publication: Diagnostics (Basel)
Authors: Salahuddin M, Bashour SI, Khan A, Chintalapani G, Kleinszig G, Casal RF.
Publications: Journal Thoracic Disease
Authors: Khan A, Bashour SI, Casal RF
Publication: Chest
Authors: Shojaee S, Pannu J, Yarmus L, Fantin A, MacRosty C, Bassett R Jr, Debiane L, DePew ZS, Faiz SA, Jimenez CA, Avasarala SK, Vakil E, DeMaio A, Bashoura L, Keshava K, Ferguson T, Adachi R, Eapen GA, Ost DE, Bashour S, Khan A, Shannon V, Sheshadri A, Casal RF, Evans SE, Pew K, Castaldo N, Balachandran DD, Patruno V, Lentz R, Pai C, Maldonado F, Roller L, Ma J, Zaveri J, Los J, Vaquero L, Ordonez E, Yermakhanova G, Akulian J, Burks C, Almario RR, Sauve M, Pettee J, Noor LZ, Arain MH, Grosu HB.
Mucinous Adenocarcinoma of the Lung: A Great Mimicker of Pneumonia
Publication: Cureus
Authors: Cabrera Charleston M, Lizarraga Madrigal D, Khan A, Eapen G, Grosu H
Publication: Respiratory Medicine Case Report
Authors: Sabath BF, Lin J, Salahuddin M, Grosu H.
Program Faculty & Leadership
George Eapen, M.D.
Professor, Pulmonary Medicine
Program Director, Interventional Pulmonology Fellowship
Email: geapen@mdanderson.org
Julie Lin, M.D.
Assistant Professor, Pulmonary Medicine
Associate Program Director, Interventional Pulmonology Fellowship
Email: jlin5@mdanderson.org
Why This Program
GME trainees’ salary stipends are updated every year based on the ACGME’s recommendations, and because our trainees are considered workforce members, they also enjoy MD Anderson’s employee benefits, including health insurance, retirement planning, disability insurance and six weeks of parental leave. Our GME House Staff Senate offers trainees the opportunity to experience a leadership role in a medical field career, and the institution’s Academic Mentoring Council provides avenues to secure tailored academic mentoring from faculty. Our GME trainees benefit from the extensive support offered to our research trainees, too; they are invited to participate in grant application workshops, apply for pilot grants to support their research ideas and receive monetary awards for securing extramural grant funding.
Trainee wellness is also of utmost importance at MD Anderson. Our trainees have access to MD Anderson’s employee networks, fitness center and other wellness resources provided by the institution. Additionally, our Graduate Medical
Education Committee (GMEC), which provides oversight of our accredited programs, regularly assess our trainees’ needs and implements various initiatives, such as providing free call meals and discounted parking to GME House Staff, to address those gaps. The committee even has a subcommittee dedicated to supporting our trainees' wellness.
Our efforts to ensure a welcoming and supportive education and training experience have been commended nationally. In 2023, the Office of Graduate Medical Education received the DeWitt C. Baldwin, Jr. Award, a prestigious national award that recognizes our institution for its respectful and supportive environment for delivering medical education and patient care.
Beyond MD Anderson
MD Anderson’s location has many benefits, too. Our main campus is nestled inside the Texas Medical Center, the world’s largest medical center which boasts about 10 million patient encounters each year. Many of our faculty are involved in interorganizational research collaborations, both within the TMC and across the nation, exposing trainees to groundbreaking advancements in medical care in real time.
Most importantly, the city of Houston is a great place to call home and raise a family. We are one of the most culturally diverse cities in the nation. More than 145 different languages are spoken across the city, placing us behind only New York and Los Angeles. In fact, about 30% of the city’s population speaks a language other than English at home. And, paychecks here stretch farther than most U.S. metro areas, thanks to our low cost of living. Visit our Why Houston page to learn more about our city’s affordable housing, fine dining, entertainment scene, nationally renowned museums and other great attributes.