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About us

The Division of Respiratory Medicine is dedicated to improving all aspects of respiratory health affecting infants, children, and young adults. The Division has maintained a national ranking in Pulmonology in the U.S. News and World Report survey of children’s hospitals since 2009, with improved scores each year. Many of the senior faculty are internationally recognized. The clinical programs provide expert consultation, clinical management expertise, and patient and family education to children and youth with respiratory disorders in San Diego and surrounding counties, and receive referrals from throughout the U.S. and other countries. The divisional research programs range from fundamental basic investigations regarding the effect of disordered respiration, hypoxia and hypercapnia on cell function and cell fate in brain, heart and lung, to cutting- edge basic research in pulmonary fibrosis and cystic fibrosis, and novel clinical research studies in cystic fibrosis. Divisional scholars provide research training and mentorship to future investigators from the undergraduate to junior faculty levels. The Division of Respiratory Medicine is critical to the educational mission of the Department of Pediatrics, with a well regarded Pulmonology Fellowship program which has received full five-year accreditation on its first external review, and programs specific to students, housestaff, fellows and the San Diego practice community. Dr. Lesser has developed a monthly Western states Pediatric Pulmonary Teleconference case discussion series which now includes over 14 Respiratory Medicine programs in several Western states and Canadian Provinces, to improve care of complex patients, and provide education and networking for subspecialty residents and junior faculty in Respiratory Medicine throughout the region.

Our Faculty, Staff, and Services are also featured on the Rady Children's Hospital, San Diego website: