Interventional pulmonology

Our interventional pulmonologists work collaboratively in a multi-disciplinary team model.

During the treatment journey, our specialists collaborate with physicians and support staff with specific expertise in a wide range of pulmonary conditions.

The combined expertise of our physicians can offer patients access to the latest advances in the fields of interventional pulmonology and sleep disorders.

Our service's medical specialists are:

• Professor Alvin Ing
• Associate Professor Jonathan Williamson
• Dr Tajalli Saghaie
• Clinical Professor Martin Phillips

At MQ Health's Respiratory and Sleep, our physicians in interventional pulmonology are at the forefront of their field and are actively engaged in research.

We publish extensively in high impact peer-reviewed journals, and present regularly at national and international scientific meetings.

Many of us are also involved on the editorial boards of major journals, and actively contribute or lead consensus statements and documents on guidelines of management of many common respiratory issues and diseases.

Our physicians have also been involved in designing and implementing national standards for recognition of competence for common thoracic procedures such as ultrasound and bronchoscopy.

Our physicians provide multidisciplinary clinical supervision, training and education in patient care environments including for:

• nursing
• allied health
• junior medical staff
• other members of the multidisciplinary team.

We also supervise and mentor young researchers, providing opportunities for both laboratory and clinical research into areas such as new therapies in interventional pulmonology.

We are currently supervising over eight PhD students, and are also supervising fellows and registrars, as well as MD research projects for medical students.

Interventional Pulmonology Clinical Fellowship

MQ Health offers a 12 month Interventional Pulmonology and Respiratory Fellowship. The role has a significant interventional component and is ideal for a new fellow seeking to further their skills in interventional pulmonology with MQ Health at the forefront of this new subspecialty.

The Fellowship offers the opportunity to:

• be mentored and work alongside a team respiratory and sleep physicians and other specialists within the team
• be exposed to a wide range of respiratory cases and procedures, including both linear and radial EBUS, rigid bronchoscopy, cryobiopsy of both central and peripheral lung lesions, endoscopic laser resection and stent deployment and bronchial thermoplasty in the management of refractory asthma. MQ Health Respiratory is also at the forefront of both management and research into bronchoscopic techniques for lung volume reduction in COPD. This includes endobronchial valves, thermal ablation and the use of polymer sealant. The successful candidate will also have the opportunity to develop skills in performing pleural procedures under the guidance of the clinical supervisor.
• collaborate with groups across MQ Health to participate in research projects and clinical trial studies including a first in-human project investigating the role of electroporation therapy in chronic bronchitis
• supervise and train students, registrars and other Doctors in Training and contribute to educational activities with MQ Health.