Our Alliance

Mission of the ILD Community Network

To unite, empower, and support individuals and organizations in advancing awareness, research, and care for those impacted by Interstitial Lung Disease.

Connect to ILD experts in your region

Partner with trusted ILD experts in your region to unlock your potential and achieve your goals.

ILD EXPERTS

Naomi Amudala

CRNP, MSN

Naomi Amudala, CRNP, MSN, is a highly experienced nurse practitioner specializing in rheumatology at Penn Medicine in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. After graduating from MGH Institute of Health Professions in 2009 with a Master’s in Nursing, Naomi joined the division of Rheumatology at Boston University. Her primary focus was evaluating and managing patients with vasculitis as well as acting as co-investigator in multiple clinical trials in vasculitis. In 2018 she moved to Philadelphia and started working at Penn Medicine Rheumatology. The majority of her time continues to be dedicated to the clinical care of patients with vasculitis and other rare diseases as well as engaging in research. In 2022 Naomi joined the board of directors for RhAPP, which is a national organization for APPs and pharmacists in Rheumatology.

Christine Anderson

NP-C

Christine Anderson, NP-C, is a nurse practitioner specializing in pulmonology at Duke Health in Durham, North Carolina. She is originally from Canada and graduated from The University of Western Ontario with a Bachelors in Science in Nursing in London, Ontario back in 1999. After graduation, she moved to Durham, NC to start a nursing career at Duke University Health System. The majority of her nursing career has been in cardiology from Cardiac Step-Down to Cardiac Intensive Care Unit to the Cardiac Cath Lab. In 2005, Christine obtained a Masters in Science in Nursing with a Leadership focus and became the nurse manager of the Electrophysiology Lab at Duke Hospital. After downsizing the department, she moved over to the Duke Clinical Research Institute as a nurse clinician working on cardiology clinical trials. She truly missed patient care and went back to school and graduated with a post-master’s certificate as an Adult-Gerontologic Nurse Practitioner in 2015. Christine worked at Duke Cardiology of Lumberton for one year before coming back to main campus of Duke University Hospital and starting a new career in pulmonary medicine. Now she is the nurse practitioner for the Duke Interstitial Lung Disease Clinic where she still practices. For her last hurrah, Christine went back to school for a Doctorate of Nursing Practice degree that was awarded in 2019. Her graduate project was “Using a Smart Phrase to Improve Documentation of Supportive Care Measures in Patients with IPF”. This paper was published in the Journal for Nurse Practitioners and was presented at conferences such as the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation and Chest. Christine loves working with ILD patients and have learned so much over the past 9 years working in our clinic. She have been speaking about IPF and progressive ILD for past several years and have so much fun sharing my knowledge with Advanced Care Providers and providers alike.

Lisa Asfahani

PA-C

Lisa Asfahani DHSc, PA-C is a certified and state licensed Physician Assistant practicing in Rheumatology at Southland Arthritis in Temecula, California. Lisa graduated from California State Polytechnic University with a Bachelor’s degree in Biology, her Master’s degree in Physician Assistant Sciences from Loma Linda University in 2011 and her Doctorate degree in Health Sciences from A.T. Still University of Health Sciences in 2022. Lisa is experienced in both Rheumatology as well as in General Medicine and involved in numerous clinical studies in the field of Rheumatology. She is a member of several professional societies including the Association of Rheumatology Professionals (ARP), California Academy of Physician Assistants (CAPA), and RhAPP. Lisa’s goal in patient care is to treat each patient/provider interaction as an opportunity serve, to teach, and to heal. She enjoys traveling and spending time with family whenever she can.

Heather Bachert

NP

Heather D. Bachert, NP, is a board-certified Adult Nurse Practitioner and specializes in interstitial lung disease (ILD) and pulmonary fibrosis (PF) at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, Michigan. She earned her advanced practice training at Wayne State University and the University of Saskatchewan and is certified by the American Nurses Credentialing Center. In addition to her clinical role, Heather leads patient support groups for individuals living with ILD and PF, providing education, guidance, and a sense of community. Known for her compassionate and thorough approach, she is highly regarded by patients for her ability to explain complex conditions clearly and provide attentive follow-up care. She is currently accepting new patients and also offers telehealth services.

Shannon Benesh

DNP, NP-C

Shannon Benesh, DNP, RN-BC, AGNP-C, is a Nurse Practitioner specializing in Interstitial Lung Disease at Columbia University Irving Medical Center within the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care. She earned her BSN from James Madison University and her MSN from Adelphi University, later completing her Doctor of Nursing Practice at Stony Brook University with a project focused on early advance care planning in ILD. Shannon has clinical experience as an RN at leading academic hospitals across various specialties and is certified as a Progressive Care Certified Nurse and Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner. She is an active member of AANP, has contributed to published ILD research, and participates in national advisory boards dedicated to improving ILD care. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband and their dog and enjoys traveling, reading, running, and the occasional cocktail.

Kelley Brant

NP

Kelley Brant, NP, is a nurse practitioner specializing in pulmonology at Intermountain Health in Salt Lake City, Utah. With over 17 years of diverse clinical experience, Kelley Brant is a dedicated healthcare professional with a passion for advancing pulmonary care. A graduate of San Diego State University with a BSN, Kelley began her career as a registered nurse in high-acuity settings, including the emergency room, ICU, and urgent care, where she honed her ability to excel in fast-paced, multidisciplinary environments. Kelley earned her MSN from the University of South Alabama and is double board-certified as a Family Nurse Practitioner and Emergency Nurse Practitioner. For the past 2.5 years, Kelley has served as a nurse practitioner specializing in pulmonary medicine, with a particular focus in interstitial lung disease (ILD). As an ILD program coordinator, Kelley has gained experience in managing complex patient populations and remains actively involved in general pulmonary care, including COPD, asthma, and other respiratory conditions. Kelley also has a strong interest in research, supporting her facility’s participation in several randomized controlled trials to advance evidence-based practice. Beyond clinical work, Kelley is committed to fostering connections within the healthcare community. As a member of AANP, CHEST, and Utah Nurse Practitioners, she emphasizes professional development and collaboration to improve patient outcomes and advance the field of pulmonary care.

Michele Cera

MSN, FNP-BC

April Conlon

NP-C

Kelsey Cramer

MSN, AGACNP-BC, DNP

Kelsey Cramer, MSN, AGACNP-BC, DNP, is a board-certified adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioner specializing in pulmonary medicine at Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin. She focuses on interstitial lung disease (ILD), pulmonary hypertension (PH), and sarcoidosis. Kelsey earned her MSN and DNP from Rush University and is dedicated to delivering patient-centered care, education, and support for those managing complex lung conditions.

Kristy Delaney

APRN

Kristy Delaney, APRN, is a pulmonary nurse practitioner specializing in interstitial lung disease at The University of Kansas Health System. She has over 21 years of experience in medicine, beginning her career as a bedside RN in the Medical ICU before becoming an APRN. For the past 9 years, she has focused her practice on ILD. In addition to her clinical expertise, Kristy holds a degree in Education and is passionate about empowering patients, caregivers, and fellow healthcare professionals through education and support in the management of ILD.

Rebekah Edwards

DNP, FNP-C

Rebekah Edwards, DNP, FNP-C, is a nurse practitioner specializing in pulmonology at Norton Thoracic Institute, St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix, Arizona. She received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Arizona State University and is experienced in pulmonology, cardiology, and thoracic surgery. She also received her Doctorate of Nursing Practice from Arizona State University and has practiced in pulmonology ever since.

Mary Elliot

PA-C, PhD

Kathryn Fenwick

CRNP, DNP

Heather Finlayson

PA-C

Heather Finlayson, MS, PA-C, is a certified Physician Assistant specializing in rheumatology for Summit Rheumatology in Littleton, Colorado. She previously worked at National Jewish Health Rheumatology and started at Colorado Arthritis Associates in Rheumatology in 2012. She has also taught rheumatology courses at Rocky Vista University PA program since 2022. Heather is a member of the Association of Rheumatology Professionals (ARP) (division of American College of Rheumatology-ACR), and the Association of Women in Rheumatology (AWIR). She is currently the AWIR Denver Local Chapter Co-Lead, a Rheumatology Advanced Practice Providers (RhAPP) faculty member and has served on several ACR/ARP committees.

Cori Fratelli

MSN, FNP-C

Cori Fratelli, MSN, FNP-C, is a nurse practitioner specializing in pulmonology at National Jewish Health in Denver, Colorado. She has a unique background in both basic science and clinical research, which has informed her interest in clinical medicine. Her past basic science research includes asthma, airway hyperresponsiveness, cystic fibrosis, and lung cancer. Her past clinical research includes COPD and interstitial lung disease (ILD). Presently, she is interested in how research translates into personalized medicine. Her clinical focus is mainly on ILD, but she also sees general pulmonary medicine patients, as needed.

Kyle George

PA-C

Kyle George, PA-C, is a physician assistant with over 16 years of experience in rheumatology at Saint Luke's Medical Center in Boise, Idaho. He specializes in managing autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and osteoporosis. Kyle collaborates with a multidisciplinary team, providing personalized and comprehensive care to his patients.

Shannon Ghizzoni

PA-C

Shannon Ghizzoni, PA-C, is a board-certified Physician Assistant specializing in rheumatology at the Columbus Arthritis Center in Columbus, Ohio. With a passion for providing comprehensive care to patients with rheumatic conditions, Shannon focuses on patient education, disease management, and improving quality of life. She is dedicated to staying current with the latest advancements in rheumatology and fostering collaborative relationships with patients and healthcare teams to deliver personalized, evidence-based care.

Audrey Gibson

PA-C, MsPAS

Audrey Gibson, MSPAS, PA-C is a board-certified rheumatology physician assistant at the Arthritis Center of North Georgia in Gainesville, Georgia. She holds dual bachelor’s degrees in biology and psychology from Lipscomb University and earned her Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies from South University in Savannah, Georgia. Audrey is a certified densitometrist with a clinical focus on rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, lupus, spondyloarthropathies, inflammatory myopathies, and osteoporosis. She is an active member of the Society of Physician Assistants in Rheumatology, the Georgia Society of Rheumatology, the American College of Rheumatology, and the American Academy of Physician Assistants. Audrey also serves as a faculty advisor for the Rheumatology Advanced Practice Providers (RhAPP).

Jessica Glennie

MSN, APRN

Jessica Glennie, MSN, APRN, is a certified nurse practitioner, specializing in pulmonology, who has worked in outpatient pulmonary medicine at the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio for 8 years. She manages patients in the interstitial lung disease program, including care of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, autoimmune related interstitial lung disease, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, occupational lung diseases, and drug-induced interstitial lung disease. She is co-director of the Cleveland Clinic’s ILD multidisciplinary conference.

Jeanette Hart

PA-C

Jeannette Hart, PA-C, is a board-certified physician assistant with over 13 years of experience specializing in rheumatology at Kadlec Clinic Rheumatology in Richland, Washington. She earned her Master of Clinical Health Services (MCHS) through the University of Washington’s MEDEX Physician Assistant Program in 2012. She began her career in private practice and successfully navigated transitions through both a hospital acquisition and a merger with a large healthcare system—all while refining her clinical expertise and leading efforts to improve patient access, operational efficiency, and best practices in rheumatology care. Committed to advancing healthcare delivery, Jeannette pursued a second master’s degree in Health Administration (MHA), further strengthening her leadership in clinical operations. She is now co-founder and co-owner of PNW Arthritis and Rheumatology, a private rheumatology practice opening October 1, 2025. Jeannette is passionate about education and mentorship, regularly precepting PA students and family medicine residents in her community. She is also the Pacific Northwest Director for RhAPP (Rheumatology Advanced Practice Providers) and has proudly served on its faculty since its inception.

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News

Aetiologic diagnosis of thoracic granulomatous diseases: a retrospective multicentre study in South-Central China

November 2025

CONCLUSIONS: Most thoracic granulomas arise from mycobacterial or fungal infection, while sarcoidosis is the leading non-infectious cause. Thoracoscopy and surgical biopsy show superior diagnostic yields, and special staining aids differentiation of fungal aetiologies. Findings support a multidisciplinary approach to improve diagnostic accuracy.

Characterisation of patients with antifibrotic-treated non-idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis progressive pulmonary fibrosis: a retrospective real-life study

November 2025

CONCLUSIONS: In our cohort, the underlying diagnoses and immunomodulatory treatments received significantly differed from those in the phase III licensing trial. More patients received nintedanib at a reduced dose than at a full dose, despite limited evidence of its efficacy and effectiveness. This highlights the large gap in evidence and the need for additional real-world data.

Detection of Anti-MDA5 Autoantibodies Using HeLa Cells and Immunocytochemistry with Light Microscopy

November 2025

Anti-MDA5 autoantibodies are critical biomarkers for dermatomyositis (DM), amyopathic dermatomyositis (CADM), and polymyositis (PM), particularly in identifying patients at risk of rapidly progressive interstitial lung disease (RP-ILD). Early detection of these autoantibodies is essential to improve patient outcomes, as delayed diagnosis often leads to poor prognoses. Currently, radioimmunoassay is the gold standard for detecting anti-MDA5, but its use is limited by high costs, lengthy...

ML385 Attenuates Malignant Progression of Silica-induced Lung Adenocarcinoma Cells through the ROS/NRF2-autophagy Axis Pathway

November 2025

Silica exposure is associated with an increased risk of lung adenocarcinoma, but its molecular mechanism remains unclear. This study aims to establish a repeatable experimental protocol to explore how the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) inhibitor ML385 inhibits silica-induced malignant progression of lung adenocarcinoma by regulating the ROS/NRF2-autophagy axis pathway. Firstly, a silicosis model was established by intranasal perfusion of silica suspension in C57BL/6 mice. The...

The Italian Society for Rheumatology guidelines for the treatment of patients with rheumatoid arthritis and interstitial lung disease

November 2025

CONCLUSIONS: These guidelines represent a fundamental step towards improving the health management of patients with rheumatological diseases in Italy by providing specific and evidence-based guidelines for the management of RA-ILD. Their use is intended to promote health and reduce the burden of morbidity and mortality in this vulnerable population.

Serum carcinoembryonic antigen levels correlate with disease severity and one-year survival across different interstitial lung diseases subtypes

November 2025

CONCLUSIONS: Serum CEA levels are associated with disease severity and 1-year mortality across ILD subtypes, supporting its potential as a reliable prognostic biomarker.

Efficacy and safety of ARX788 for individuals with HER2-positive breast cancer and brain metastases (ACE-Breast-06): a single-arm, phase 2 trial in China

November 2025

BACKGROUND: ARX788 is a next-generation antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) in which an anti-HER2 monoclonal antibody is linked to a monomethyl auristatin F (MMAF) payload. This study aimed to investigate the intracranial efficiency of ARX788 in epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive breast cancer with active brain metastases.

Editorial: Pulmonary involvement in systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases (SARDs): from diagnostic tools to therapeutic strategies

November 2025

No abstract

Interstitial lung disease following combined CDK4/6 inhibitor therapy and radiotherapy in advanced breast cancer: a case report

November 2025

CONCLUSION: These cases suggest that CDK4/6i may potentiate radiotherapy-associated pulmonary toxicity, and clinicians should exercise caution with this combination.

Cytokine Expression Profiling in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis: Insights From Integrative Proteomic Analysis

November 2025

CONCLUSIONS: Using protein microarrays, we obtained comprehensive cytokine expression profiles in control and IPF lung tissues and conducted an integrated bioinformatics analysis of the proteomic data. Our findings may improve the comprehension of the role of cytokines in IPF and the underlying mechanisms. Moreover, they provide novel targets for developing safe and efficacious drugs for treating IPF.

Pathogenic expansion: fibroblast proliferation fuels fibrosis

November 2025

Pulmonary fibrosis, an unrelenting disease of lung scarring, has been associated with the expansion of a profibrotic fibroblast population and extensive extracellular matrix deposition. In this issue, Molina and colleagues provide foundational mechanistic evidence that fibroblast proliferation itself is a critical driver of fibrosis. Using lineage tracing in preclinical fibrosis models, the authors showed that naive Scube2+ alveolar fibroblasts underwent a profibrotic phenotypic switch prior to...

Phenotypic Analysis of Pulmonary Hypertension Associated With Low Diffusion Capacity and Preserved Lung Function

November 2025

Severe diffusion impairment in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), particularly in idiopathic PAH (IPAH), has garnered considerable attention. However, comprehensive data on low diffusion capacity of the lungs for carbon monoxide (DLCO) with preserved lung function remain limited in broader pulmonary hypertension (PH) cohorts. We analyzed patients with PH, preserved lung function, low DLCO, and available computed tomography (CT) scans. The analysis included 117 patients, with 34% cases of...

When scars tell a story: cases of scar sarcoidosis preceding or following diagnosis of systemic disease

November 2025

Sarcoidosis is a systemic granulomatous disease of unknown etiology, characterized by the formation of non-necrotizing granulomas in various organs, with the lungs and mediastinal lymph nodes being the most commonly affected sites. "Scar sarcoidosis" refers to the rare phenomenon in which sarcoid granulomas develop in pre-existing scars, such as surgical scars, tattoos, or sites of previous skin trauma. We report two cases of patients who presented with sarcoid granulomas developing in previous...

Performance of pulmonary physical exam skills by internal medicine interns

November 2025

CONCLUSIONS: Medicine interns had variable skills in performing the pulmonary PE. Improving PE skills would lead to increased identification of relevant pulmonary findings, inform clinical decision making, and improve overall patient care.

The thoracic radiographic unstructured interstitial pattern underestimates and may fail to identify canine respiratory disease compared to computed tomography

November 2025

In dogs, lung disease presenting with a radiographic unstructured interstitial pattern (UnIP) poses a diagnostic challenge due to heterogenous clinical signs, non-specific differentials, and need for tissue sampling to confirm the pathologic process. The terminology describing patterns on thoracic radiography (TR) can be misleading in assuming an interstitial pattern implies disease of the pulmonary interstitium. Thoracic computed tomography (CT) is more likely to predict anatomic localization...

Efficacy and safety of trastuzumab deruxtecan for metastatic HER2+ and HER2-low breast cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis

November 2025

CONCLUSION: T-DXd has significant long-term and near-term efficacy in prolonging median overall survival, median PFS, and increasing the objective remission rate in patients with HER2-positive or low-expression breast cancer; however, the treatment is associated with notable adverse events, and physicians should be alert to the occurrence of serious adverse events when using this drug.

An AMPK-Centric Strategy: Foenumoside B Coordinates PINK1/Parkin-Mediated Mitophagy With Nrf2/HO-1 Antioxidant Signaling to Resolve Oxidative Stress in Radiation-Induced Lung Injury

November 2025

Radiation-induced lung injury (RILI) is a dose-limiting toxicity of thoracic radiotherapy driven by mitochondrial damage-mediated oxidative stress, persistent DNA damage, and senescence, which together destabilize the alveolar-interstitial niche and promote fibrosis. Here, we identify Foenumoside B (FSB), a natural saponin from Lysimachia foenum-graecum, as a dual-action modulator that preserves mitochondrial quality and restores systemic redox homeostasis to attenuate RILI. In a murine total...

Genetic causal association between metabolic syndrome and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: A 2-sample Mendelian randomization

November 2025

Prior epidemiological investigations have indicated a linkage between metabolic syndrome (MetS) and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). The objective of the present research was to elucidate the inherited causal relationship of MetS with IPF. A 2-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) design was adopted to assess the genetic cause-effect link between MetS and IPF. Multiple analytical strategies, such as inverse-variance weighted (IVW), MR-Egger, weighted median, and weighted mode, were...

Differentiating respiratory syncytial virus pneumonia from interstitial lung disease associated with systemic sclerosis: A case report

November 2025

RATIONALE: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common cause of lower respiratory tract infections in older adults. In systemic sclerosis, interstitial lung disease is a frequent, serious complication requiring immunosuppressive therapy. Differentiating RSV pneumonia from systemic sclerosis-associated interstitial lung disease (SSc-ILD) is essential for appropriate management and to avoid initiating immunosuppressive agents that may be harmful in cases of RSV pneumonia.

Pilot study of (18)F-FAPI-RGD PET/CT for the diagnosis of connective tissue disease associated interstitial lung disease

November 2025

No abstract