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Our Alliance

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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.

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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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Michele Cerra

MSN, FNP-BC

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April Conlon

NP-C

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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 from Depaul University in Chicago, and her DNP from Rush University. She is dedicated to delivering patient-centered care, education, and support for those managing complex lung conditions.

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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.

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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.

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Mary Elliott

PA-C, PhD

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Kathryn Fenwick

CRNP, DNP

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Courtney Gibbons

NP

Courtney Gibbons, MSN, APRN, AGACNP-BC, is a dedicated Pulmonary Nurse Practitioner. With empathy, and compassion, Courtney is committed to delivering evidence-based, patient-centered care to individuals living with complex lung conditions. Her nurse practitioner career has been devoted to pulmonary medicine, to improve quality of life and empower patients. Courtney earned her License at Tyler Junior College then advanced to Registered Nurse in 2016 after completing her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Indiana State University, and later earned her Master of Science in Nursing with an Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Certification from the University of Texas at Arlington in 2021. Throughout her career, Courtney has been recognized for her dedication to clinical excellence and compassionate care, receiving the Houston Methodist ICARE Award and being named among the Houston Chronicle’s Top 150 Nurses of 2020.

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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).

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Jessica Glennie

CNP

Jessica Glennie, CNP, 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.

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Association of hematological inflammatory indices with disease activity and interstitial lung disease in systemic sclerosis

calAugust 2026

CONCLUSION: Hematological inflammatory indices are associated with disease activity and pulmonary involvement in SSc. Among these indices, NLR appears to be a more robust independent marker of ILD compared to SII. These findings suggest that simple hematological indices may provide additional value in the clinical assessment of patients with SSc. Key Points • Patients with SSc-associated ILD exhibited significantly higher NLR and SII levels than those without ILD. • NLR remained independently...

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How to improve treatment persistence in fibrosing ILD patients on nintedanib, without sacrificing effectiveness? A possible answer from Japan

calAugust 2026

No abstract

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Lung biopsy strategies for childhood interstitial lung disease: Indications and techniques

calAugust 2026

Childhood interstitial lung disease comprises a heterogeneous group of rare disorders where diffuse parenchymal involvement can cause chronic respiratory morbidity, pulmonary hypertension and death. Although advances in high-resolution computed tomography, immunological workup and genetic testing have improved diagnostic precision, many children remain undiagnosed after comprehensive non-invasive evaluation, and the role, timing and technique of lung biopsy remain challenging. First, this...

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Clinical characteristics and concordance of anti-MDA5 autoantibodies: A multicentre Australian study

calAugust 2026

CONCLUSION: Higher anti-MDA5 signal intensity on LIA was associated with greater clinical concordance. Pneumomediastinum is common and associated with high mortality.

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Beyond Visual Scoring: Computational CT-analysis for HRCT based quantification of Interstitial Lung Disease in Inflammatory Rheumatic Disease

calAugust 2026

Interstitial lung disease (IRD-ILD) is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with inflammatory rheumatic disorders (IRD). High-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) is widely considered the gold standard for the non-invasive assessment of ILD; however, its interpretation is constrained by substantial inter-observer variability and the need for time-consuming expert evaluation. Computer-based image analysis including artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a promising...

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Inter-Organ Communication in Pulmonary Fibrosis: Systemic Modifiers of a Lung-Centered Disease

calAugust 2026

Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) is a chronic, progressive interstitial lung disease characterized by recurrent alveolar epithelial injury, aberrant repair, fibroblast activation, excessive extracellular matrix deposition, and irreversible loss of lung function. Although traditionally considered a lung-restricted disorder, increasing evidence suggests that systemic alterations contribute to disease progression and heterogeneity. Complex communication networks between the lung and distant organs,...

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Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis in Adults: A Canadian Multicenter Case Series

calAugust 2026

Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a rare clonal myeloid neoplasm. Canadian data on clinical characteristics, molecular profile, and treatment outcomes is limited. This study aims to report the initial experience of a Canadian rare diseases program, reflecting "real-world" diagnostic pathways, referral patterns, and treatment heterogeneity across multiple provinces. We conducted a retrospective review of patients managed in an adult-care cohort with histologically confirmed LCH diagnosed...

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Characteristics, prognosis, and risk factors for relapse in patients with cryptogenic organizing pneumonia: A prospective cohort study in China

calAugust 2026

CONCLUSION: This study indicated that patients with COP had a good prognosis with favorable survival outcomes. However, relapse was relatively common, occurring in more than 20% of patients. Therefore, close follow-up is essential for early detection of relapses, particularly during corticosteroid tapering or after treatment discontinuation.

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Atezolizumab vs durvalumab for extensive-stage small cell lung cancer in Japan: a real-world comparative analysis of costs and clinical outcomes

calAugust 2026

CONCLUSIONS: Atezolizumab was associated with lower medical costs and similar survival outcomes compared with durvalumab in ES-SCLC, suggesting its use as a clinically comparable option with lower associated costs in Japanese real-world practice.

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Early diagnosis in interstitial lung diseases and its impact

calAugust 2026

Delayed diagnosis of interstitial lung diseases (ILD), particularly fibrosing forms, poses a significant major clinical and healthcare challenge. The nonspecific nature of early symptoms, underdetection of characteristic physical signs such as "velcro" crackles, and the nonspecialized interpretation of high-resolution computed tomography contribute to diagnostic delays, further exacerbated by healthcare system fragmentation and limited access to specialized centers. Current evidence suggests...

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Multi-target Therapy with Rituximab plus Mycophenolate Mofetil versus Rituximab Monotherapy in Systemic Sclerosis-Associated Interstitial Lung Disease

calAugust 2026

CONCLUSION: In this real-world study, RTX plus MMF was associated with favourable longitudinal FVC% trajectories compared with RTX monotherapy in a non-randomised cohort, despite greater baseline disease severity in the MTT group. These findings support prospective evaluation of MTT particularly in high-risk patients.

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Lung Transplantation in Rheumatoid Arthritis Related Interstitial Lung Disease: Risk Factors and Mortality in a Universal Health Care System

calAugust 2026

CONCLUSION: Lung transplantation is an uncommon, but important therapy for RA-ILD. Select comorbidities are associated with lung transplantation. Post-transplant survival among RA-ILD patients in Ontario was comparable to that reported elsewhere.

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An acceptance-based healthy lifestyle programme for community-dwelling patients with pneumoconiosis: A waitlist pilot randomised controlled trial

calAugust 2026

CONCLUSION: The integration of acceptance-based components into pneumoconiosis management may reduce psychological inflexibility and promote engagement in exercise.

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Interstitial Lung Disease in Children: Rare Genetic Variants Beyond Surfactant Dysfunction

calAugust 2026

CONCLUSIONS: Interstitial lung disease rarely occurs in children, but increased awareness and genetic testing may enable earlier diagnosis. Recognizing that diffuse parenchymal lung disease can occur in rare systemic diseases may improve diagnoses and treatment.

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Clinical and immunological features of rheumatoid arthritis patients with positive anti-centromere antibody: a case-control study

calAugust 2026

CONCLUSION: ACA-positive RA may present a unique phenotype characterized by an increased risk of interstitial lung disease, sicca symptoms, and cholestatic liver injury; thus, enhanced pulmonary/hepatic screening and tailored monitoring strategies are critical.

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Bibliometric Analysis of Pulmonary Fibrosis Imaging Research: Knowledge Graph Construction Based on the Web of Science Core Database

calAugust 2026

CONCLUSION: PF imaging research has shifted from diagnostic consensus toward quantitative CT biomarkers and artificial intelligence(AI)-driven phenotyping, driven by the need to reduce interobserver variability and enable individualized risk stratification. Geographic fragmentation and limited multicenter validation remain key barriers to AI generalizability. Future priorities include standardized imaging protocols, prospective multicenter validation cohorts, and integration of AI-driven CT...

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CT-Based Biomarkers for Predicting Progressive Phenotypes in Interstitial Lung Diseases: A Retrospective Cohort Study

calAugust 2026

CONCLUSIONS: The STP score is a useful imaging biomarker for predicting DP and, when combined with conventional quantitative CT scores, may improve risk stratification in patients with non-IPF ILD.

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Strong, sustained type I IFN signaling acts cell intrinsically to impair IFNγ responses and cause tuberculosis susceptibility

calAugust 2026

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) causes over one million deaths annually, but most infected individuals never exhibit symptoms. Type I interferons (IFNs) have emerged as a major factor driving susceptibility to Mtb, but how type I IFNs impair immunity to Mtb is a key unresolved question. Here, we show that an early effect of type I IFN during Mtb infection is the cell-intrinsic impairment of IFNγ signaling. IFNγ signaling is selectively impaired in the subset of infected macrophages experiencing...

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DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS CHALLENGES OF PULMONARY SARCOIDOSIS IN PRIMARY CARE PRACTICE: THE ROLE OF MULTIDISCIPLINARY AND PERSONALIZED APPROACHES

calAugust 2026

CONCLUSION: The presented clinical case demonstrates the fundamental complexity of the differential diagnosis of the classical course of sarcoidosis, tuberculosis and oncological diseases in a patient with comorbid pathology, which necessitates the use of multidisciplinary tactics and personalized analysis in primary health care.

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Isolated IgG4-related lung disease: a case report

calAugust 2026

CONCLUSIONS: IgG4-RLD should be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients with pulmonary lesions unresponsive to antibiotic therapy. Comprehensive evaluation including serum IgG4 measurement and targeted pathological biopsy is essential for accurate diagnosis. Early initiation of immunosuppressive therapy can effectively improve outcomes and prevent disease progression.