Meet The Faculty
The Division of Pulmonary Medicine at Mayo Clinic's campus in Jacksonville, Florida, evaluates, diagnoses and treats patients with a diverse array of commonly and uncommonly encountered pulmonary problems.
From routine assessments of chronic cough and shortness of breath to evaluating patients for lung transplants or specialized cancer treatments, the Division of Pulmonary Medicine offers a multispecialty yet very personalized approach to care.
There are 10 board-certified pulmonologists who actively participate in your training experience. Particular areas of faculty interest include lung cancer, pulmonary hypertension, interventional bronchoscopy, asthma, interstitial lung disease, sleep-disordered breathing, and lung infections.
The Department of Critical Care Medicine consists of 17 board-certified intensivists with backgrounds that include internal medicine, anesthesia, pulmonology, neurology, transplant medicine and nephrology. The department provides 24/7 coverage of a closed ICU of approximately 56 beds. Specialized care is provided with further subdivision of units, including the surgical ICU, medical ICU, CCU, neuro ICU and transplant ICU. Particular areas of interest include bedside ultrasonography; acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and associated rescue therapies, including extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO); liver failure; and quality improvement in the ICU.
From the program director
Welcome and thank you for your interest in the Pulmonary Disease and Critical Care Medicine (PCCM) Fellowship at Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida. Our mission is to train aspiring fellows in both pulmonary and critical care medicine to achieve excellence in autonomous clinical practice, education, and research.
The program teaches fellows to become physician scholars and practice in a competent, professional, and compassionate manner.
As a program, we aim to foster:
- Critical and analytical thinking
- A spirit of inquiry
- Self-assessment of life-long learning strategies
- Procedural and technical skills
The three shields of Mayo Clinic symbolize the three key areas of our focus — patient care, research, and education — and the fellowship's vision and mission clearly align with these principles.
As we thrive to advance the science of medicine, we always focus on Mayo Clinic's primary value, "the needs of the patient come first."
Neal Patel, M.D., M.P.H.
Program Director
Faculty
In addition to caring for patients in their clinical practices, Mayo Clinic's faculty members are committed to teaching and contributing to the growth of medical knowledge. Many of our faculty have published and lectured extensively and are highly regarded in their fields.
You have direct access to the pulmonary medicine faculty at Mayo Clinic throughout your training. Faculty members are available on the premises at all times, including in-house nighttime coverage.
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Scott Helgeson, M.D.Associate Program Director Dr. Helgeson is a board-certified pulmonologist, intensivist, and clinical informatician. As a 2021 graduate of Mayo Clinic's PCCM Fellowship, Dr. Helgeson brings a fellow-focused approach to his role as Associate Program Director. His research interests include clinical decision support systems and machine learning. |
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Augustine Lee, M.D.Division Chair As a former Program Director of the PCCM Fellowship, Dr. Lee is invested in the success of our fellows. Dr. Lee's clinical interests include interstitial lung diseases, pulmonary vasculitis, and aspiration syndromes. |
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Pramod Guru, M.B.B.S., M.D.Associate Professor of Medicine Aside from being core faculty in the PCCM Fellowship, Dr. Guru is also the Program Director for the Critical Care Medicine Fellowship. His clinical interests include ECMO in cardiorespiratory failure, mechanical circulatory support, acute kidney injury and critical care nephrology, and critical care medicine education. |
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Vichaya Arunthari, M.D.Assistant Professor of Medicine Dr. Arunthari completed his fellowship training at Mayo Clinic and brings a familiarity with what fellows at Mayo Clinic encounter daily. His clinical interests include sleep medicine, general pulmonary diseases, sleep apnea, and restless leg syndrome. |
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Carla Venegas, M.D.Assistant Professor of Medicine Dr. Venegas specializes in critical care medicine and fellows primarily interact with her while on critical care rotations. She specializes in both critical care and neurology. |
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David Abia Trujillo, M.D., M.B.Assistant Professor of Medicine Dr. Abia Trujillo is a 2021 graduate of the PCCM Fellowship. His clinical interests include interventional management of COPD, central airway obstruction, pleural disease, tracheostomy and PGE tube placement, diagnostic interventions for pleural disease, interstitial lung disease, and pulmonary nodules. |
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Emir Festic, M.D.Professor of Medicine Dr. Festic practices pulmonary and sleep medicine, with a focus on acute respiratory failure, chronic respiratory failure, sleep disordered breathing, and general pulmonary and sleep medicine. He is also an NIH-funded researcher, providing research mentorship to residents and ellows. |
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John Moss, M.D.Assistant Professor of Medicine Dr. Moss completed both his residency and fellowship at Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida. His clinical interests include pulmonary hypertension, right heart failure, hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia, pulmonary embolism, and clinical trials in the field of pulmonary hypertension. |
Advisers and mentors
You are assigned a faculty adviser who can provide comprehensive educational advice and personal support. Your adviser also serves as a contact point, introducing you and your family to Jacksonville and the Mayo Clinic system.
Visiting professors
Many prominent professors visit Mayo Clinic each year. They present their work during lectures and participate in hospital rounds. You are encouraged to take full advantage of these opportunities.