Collaboration and innovation in Pulmonary Medicine
CDH team represents in Belgium
Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine Division Chief Ricardo Mosquera, MD, MS, and the diaphragmatic congenital hernia (CDH) team presented at the CDH International Symposium 2026 held in Leuven, Belgium, in April.
Dr. Mosquera, along with colleagues from the Department of Pediatric Surgery Matthew Harting, MD, MS, and Ashley Ebanks, FNP-C, and the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences Anthony Johnson, DO, (pictured above) showcased their collaborative work, engaged with international leaders in the field, and highlighted UTHealth Houston’s growing impact. Their reception was extremely positive and reinforced that UTHealth Houston is at the forefront of the global CDH community.
New registry partnership and leading-edge equipment
The Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine Division, representing McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston, has been invited to join the International Bronchiectasis Pediatric Registry (external link) known as Child-BEAR-Net. This worldwide registry exists to document the incidence and prevalence of bronchiectasis and map the natural history of the disease. McGovern Medical School is only the second program in the United States to be part of this international and prestigious network led by teams in Australia, Spain, and the United Kingdom.
This clinical team has also received an electrical impedance tomography (EIT) device: Sentec EIT (pictured above). This device is a radiation-free, noninvasive bedside imaging technology used to continuously monitor regional lung ventilation and air distribution. The system — featuring the FDA-cleared LuMon system — uses a soft belt to send safe, alternating currents through the thorax, enabling clinicians to personalize respiratory therapy in both neonatal and adult patients.
The Division of Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine is the first center to offer the EIT for clinical use. “While 15 other centers nationwide have EIT systems, their use is limited to research. We are excited to be the first in the country to deploy this device clinically,” Dr. Mosquera said.