About the Pulmonary Disease and Critical Care Medicine Fellowship Program

Fellows' Perspectives on the Program

“There are so many reasons that make fellowship enjoyable at VCU. My co-fellows and attendings are wonderful humans and clinicians - the atmosphere is always supportive and collegial. The amount of educational, clinical and research opportunities are abundant and allow each of us as fellows to pave our path for future careers.”

Meliha Hrustanovic-Kadic, MD - 2023

Welcome to the Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine (PCCM) Fellowship program website.  The fellowship is accredited by ACGME as a three year combined program that provides state-of-the-art training in both pulmonary disease and critical care medicine.  We are incredibly proud of our fellows and our program, and are fortunate to be part of an amazing Department of Internal Medicine and outstanding medical campus at VCU.  Our fellows rotate through both the VCU Medical Campus, a quaternary academic medical center serving most of Virginia, as well as the Richmond VAMC, a tertiary care VA hospital with a new state of the art ICU.  Both campuses have advanced simulation facilities that supplement bedside training in bronchoscopy, airway management, bedside ultrasound, and critical care procedures.   

Our fellows receive outstanding clinical and scholarly training in both pulmonary and critical care medicine, benefiting from direct experience, training, and mentorship in our comprehensive and advanced subspecialty programs including the Interventional Pulmonary Program, Pulmonary Hypertension Center of Excellence, Adult Cystic Fibrosis Program, Interstitial Lung Disease Clinic, and Multisystem Sarcoid Clinic, and Severe Asthma Clinic.  

Our division has been expanding the last few years under the leadership of Dr. Patrick Nana-Sinkam, adding new faculty in advanced ILD, interventional pulmonary, critical care medicine, ethics, pulmonary hypertension, lung cancer, and advanced asthma.  Similarly, our fellowship program has expanded from a total of 12 fellows (4 per year) to 15 fellows (5 per year).  While that growth is exciting and has truly expanded the opportunities for our fellows, we have not lost what made us so special in the first place:  a truly rich and diverse clinical experience with opportunities from research and mentorship all set in a rich, supportive, and diverse learning climate.  Our fellows are indeed part of our division, and that collegiality remains a large part of who we are.  It might also all add up to why both our fellows and our division consistently wins the department teaching awards year after year.  We’re also extremely fortunate to have Dr. Patricia Sime, an internationally known and respected researcher in ILD, as our DOIM Chair and member of our division.  Her leadership and strong support in innovation, service, education and research is inspiring.  

Finally, all of this happens in the setting of a city increasingly recognized by Forbes, Lonely Planet, NY Times, US News and others as one of the top best places to live and visit.  Marked by an affordable cost of living, diverse neighborhoods, a vibrant food and beverage scene, good weather and outstanding parks, Richmond is also a short day trip to the beach, the mountains and DC.  It’s not hard to see why so many people fall in love with the city and never leave.  We hope you’ll take a look and come join us.

Welcome from the Program Director

Welcome from the Program Director

Welcome from the Program Director

The Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine is dedicated to fulfilling its mission of excellence in patient care, education and research and the fellowship program is an integral part of this mission.  Centered at Virginia Commonwealth University, the division and the program have a long tradition of excellence dating back to its early days as The Medical College of Virginia.  We also benefit from our association with the Richmond VA Medical Center, with the two places combining to provide a wealth of both clinical and scholarly opportunities.  The mission of the fellowship is grounded in helping to create the next generation of leaders in our field, both in academic medicine and private practice.  Our fellows have successfully pursed careers across the country in both academics and private practice.  We foster an educational environment that respects and builds upon the individual career aspirations of our fellows.  While difficult to tell from a static webpage, the collegiality and diversity in the division, the department and the institution as a whole is truly palpable in person and is consistently one of the things that our fellows and faculty alike say sets us apart from almost anywhere else they’ve been.  I know it’s a big reason that I came here and never left.  Add in all that the Richmond region brings to the plate, and you’ll find yourself wanting to stay.

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Curriculum

Conferences

All fellows are expected to actively engage in scholarly activities. These activities can be in basic research, translational research, clinical research, health outcomes research, and/or educational research. Essential to success is providing the tools necessary to foster the fellows’ intellectual development as investigators.  As a sign of our commitment to the scholarly efforts of the fellows, the Department of Internal Medicine has designated funding which is set aside specifically to offset the travel cost for fellows who are presenting their work at regional, national, and international scientific and academic meetings.  The commitment to our fellows is evident by the fact that our department chair, Dr. Patricia Sime, personally meets with all fellows in advance of presenting at national and international meetings to offer additional mentorship and guidance.  The PCCM Division helps foster and mentor these scholarly activities under the umbrellas of four “research firms”: critical care, pulmonary, quality/safety, and education.  Each of these are led by key faculty and include fellows, APPs, and residents.   

image 6-400.jpgIt goes without saying that a Pulmonary and Critical Care Fellowship is a demanding three years. But it also goes without saying that we are committed to your well-being, resilience and all aspects of a healthy lifestyle. Without a visit, it’s difficult to really grasp the fun and the camaraderie that our division is known for and compliments our dedication to education, patient care and scholarship. I’m convinced it is part of the reason we have been recognized as the best teaching division for too many years to count. We’ve worked hard to create a schedule that balances work and life, maximizing weekends off to enjoy all that Richmond and the region have to offer. As is typical, we offer 3 weeks paid vacation plus 5 days over the winter holidays and time off for conference attendance.

GME Resident & Fellow Well-Being
Graduate Medical Education training is not easy. With the GME Physician Well-being program, we first and foremost assert our commitment to your well-being, resilience and all aspects of a healthy lifestyle. VCU and VCUHealth are dedicated to ensuring that you have the tools you need to be your best. (Learn more)

All About VCU, VCUHealth, and RVA
First things first. We fondly refer to Richmond as RVA.  People love this city because it’s awesome. And Virginia Commonwealth University is in the middle of it all.  Learn more about VCU, VCUHealth, and RVA!

 

 Lisa K. Brath, MD

Lisa K. Brath, MD

Program Director

 Lisa K. Brath, MD

Lisa K. Brath, MD

Program Director

Internal Medicine

Division of Pulmonary Disease and Critical Care Medicine

Email: lisa.brath@vcuhealth.org

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View Faculty Expertise Profile

Patrick Nana-Sinkam, MD

Patrick Nana-Sinkam, MD

Division Chair

Patrick Nana-Sinkam, MD

Patrick Nana-Sinkam, MD

Division Chair

Internal Medicine

Division of Pulmonary Disease and Critical Care Medicine

Email: patrick.nana-sinkam@vcuhealth.org

Read More

View Faculty Expertise Profile

Class of 2026

Dr. Lowery

Peter B Lowery, MD  
Medical School:  University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock AR  
Residency:  Internal Medicine, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans LA 


Dr.  Mullholand

Jon Brandon (JB) Mullholand, MD 
Medical School:  Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine 
Residency:  Penn State Milton S Hershey Medical Center


Dr. Rabin

Perry Rabin, MD 
Medical School:  Indiana University School of Medicine 
Residency:  Rush University Medical Center


Dr. Rosenberg

Logan Rosenberg, MD 
Medical School:  University of Queensland School of Medicine – Ochsner Cohort 
Residency:  Legacy Emanuel/Good Samaritan Internal Medicine Residency Program, Portland, OR


Dr. Sharm

Alisha Sharma, MD 
Medical School:  St. George’s University School of Medicine, Grenada 
Residency:  Allegheny Health Network, Pittsburgh, PA


Class of 2025

Dr. Yussef Al Ghoul 

Yussef Al Ghoul, MB ChB
Medical School:  University of Benghazi Faculty of Medicine
Residency:  University at Buffalo


Dr. Heloisa DeCarvalho 

Heloisa DeCarvalho, MD
Medical School:  Boston University School of Medicine
Residency:  Virginia Commonwealth University Health System


Dr. Catherine Jeeyoon Kim 

Catherine Jeeyoon Kim, DO
Medical School:  Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
Residency:  University of Florida


Dr. Ashley Reluzco

Ashley Nicole Reluzco, MD
Medical School:  Medical University of South Carolina College of Medicine
Residency:  Medical University of South Carolina


Dr. Darryn Winter

Darryn Leslie Winter, DO
Medical School:  Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Residency:  Prisma Health/University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville Internal Medicine Residency


Class of 2024

Dr. Faridnia 

Masoud Faridnia, MD
Medical School:  State University of New York Upstate Medical University
Residency:  Virginia Commonwealth University Health System


Dr. Hess 

Kathryn Ann Hess, MD
Medical School:  Tufts University Maine Medical Center
Residency:  Virginia Commonwealth University Health System


Dr. Hosse

Robert Edward Hosse, MD
Medical School:  Louisiana State University School of Medicine in New Orleans
Residency:  LSU Internal Medicine Program in Baton Rouge


Dr. Khan

Behram Khan, MBBS
Medical School:  University of Queensland School of Medicine
Residency:  Ochsner Clinic Foundation


Dr. Mclaughlin

Jessica McLaughlin, DO
Medical School:  Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine - Virginia Campus
Residency:  Inova Fairfax Medical Campus


 

 PCCM Fellows

Alumni

Eligibility Requirements

The applicant should be an MD, DO, or MBBS with three or more years of Internal Medicine residency training in an ACGME-accredited training program. A pass on USMLE Step 3 is a mandatory prerequisite for acceptance as a fellow.

How to Apply

The Pulmonary Critical Care Medicine fellowship training program at VCU is a participant in the NRMP match. All applications will be accepted through ERAS and follow ERAS deadlines.

Required Documentation

  • Application
  • Curriculum Vitae
  • USMLE score reports
  • Medical school transcripts
  • MPSE
  • A personal statement
  • 4 letters of recommendation, including one from your program director
  • A photograph

If applicable, please provide the following:

  • ECFMG certificate
  • Medical School Diploma (with translation if necessary)

Application Timeline

We will review applications from July 15 through August 31. Invitations to interview will likely be issued during this time frame.

Interview Information

We typically interview in September and early October, Monday, Wednesday, Friday. Our day typically runs from 7:30-1pm with the following activities:

  • Attend one of our weekly educational conferences
  • Program overview with fellowship PD
  • Interview with several faculty members
  • Informal meet and greet with the fellows

Attention:  In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we like other programs shifted to a virtual interview format. This also had clear benefits for applicants with respect to time and cost. At this point, we plan to follow our national program directors association’s recommendation to continue this practice. 

Program Director

Lisa K. Brath, M.D. 
Box 980050
Richmond, Virginia 23298-0050
Phone: (804) 828-9071
Email: lisa.brath@vcuhealth.org

Associate Program Director

Catherine Grossman, MD 
Phone: (804) 828-9071 
Email: catherine.grossman@vcuhealth.org

Fellowship Coordinator

Jeanette Wood
VCU School of Medicine
Department of Internal Medicine
Box 980509
Richmond, VA 23298-0509 
Phone: (804) 828-9726
Email:  imfellowships@vcuhealth.org