
The RIGID & Robotics: Hands-on Course in Interventional Pulmonology - April 25, 2025
Overview
The RIGID & Robotics at the Mitie Lab Houston Methodist
Overview:
The RIGID and Robotics at Houston Methodist is a hands-on cadaver course that will be held on April 25, 2025, at the Mitie Lab in Houston Methodist, Houston Texas.
Houston Methodist is pleased to provide a 1-day intensive hands-on cadaver course in Rigid Bronchoscopy and Robotics. The course is held at state-of-the-art MITIE Lab of Houston Methodist Hospital.
The Course is focused on hands-on cadaver Rigid Bronchoscopy training with all its aspects that include managing the benign and malignant airway disease with Rigid Bronchoscope techniques of reopening the airway, tumor resection, utilizing mechanical and various ablative therapies, especially LASER. It also focuses on Silicone and non-silicone Stent Placements including T-Tubes and Y Stents. 4 cadavers will be used for Rigid Bronchoscopy Training by field experts with a 2:3 mentor/trainees' ratio per station.
Also, one additional station will be dedicated to Ion Robotic Bronchoscopy with Cone-Beam CT (Computed Tomography).
There will be an interactive didactic part to boost the learning experience of the attendees.
Procedures:
Rigid Bronchoscopy (RB)
LASER RB
T-Tube Placement
Stent Placement and management via RB
Various Ablative Therapies applications via RB
Ion Robotic Assisted Bronchoscopy with Cone Beam CT
Target Audience
This course should be of interest to Interventional Pulmonary physicians in training, Practicing, and in-training Pulmonologists, ENT Physicians interested in tracheal procedures and Thoracic Surgeons.
Learning Objectives
Describe Central Airway Obstruction (CAO) in both benign and malignant pathology.
Recognize best approach to manage the CAO
Demonstrate the ability to perform the intervention/ procedure based on evidence-based practice, technique, and outcomes.
Demonstrate the ability to perform RAB and cone-beam CT guidance.
Program
START
7:30 AM | Registration + Breakfast and Exhibits
8:00 AM | Introductions + Course Opening | Tarek Dammad, MD
DIDACTICS
8:15 AM | Case Presentations: Rigid Bronchoscopy | Tarek Dammad, MD and Pablo Diaz-Jimenez, MD, PhD
8:45 AM | Case Presentations: Rigid Bronchoscopy | Michela Bezzi, MD and Tim Murgu, MD
9:15 AM | Case Presentations: Rigid Bronchoscopy | Colleen Channick MD and Ash Sachdeva, MD|
9:45 AM | Case Presentations: Robotic Assisted Bronchoscopy | Roberto Casal, MD
BREAK + EXHIBITION BREAK + EXHIBITS (10:15 AM)
MITIE LAB TRAINING
10:45 AM | Hands-on Workshop Sessions
Group 1 | Station A: Robotic Assisted Bronchoscopy and Cryo Biopsies
Faculty: Roberto Casal, MD and Anastasiia Rudkovskaia, MD
Group 2 | Station B: Rigid Bronchoscopy Intubation, Maneuverability, and Dilation Technique
Faculty: Colleen Channick, MD and Fernando Santacruz, MD
Group 3 | Station C: Rigid Bronchoscopy T tube placement, Stenting Silicone and Y
Faculty: Jose Pablo Diaz-Jimenaz, MD, PhD, Tarek Dammad, MD
Group 4 | Station D: Rigid Bronchoscopy ablation/ resection (Mechanical and LASER Resection)
Faculty: Michela Bezzi, MD and Tarek Dammad, MD
Group 5 | Station E: Rigid Bronchoscopy, Stenting Silicone, SEM Tracheal and Bronchial Stent Placement
Faculty: Ashutosh Sachdeva, MD and Tim Murgu, MD
LUNCH BREAK + EXHIBITS (11:45 AM)
MITIE LAB TRAINING
12:45 PM | Hands-on Workshop Sessions
Group 1 | Station E: Rigid Bronchoscopy, Stenting Silicone, SEM Tracheal and Bronchial Placement
Group 2 | Station A: Robotic Assisted Bronchoscopy and Cryo biopsy
Group 3 | Station B: Rigid Bronchoscopy Intubation, Maneuverability, and Dilation Technique
Group 4 | Station C: Rigid Bronchoscopy T tube placement, Stenting Silicone and Y
Group 5 | Station D: Rigid Bronchoscopy ablation/ resection (Mechanical and LASER Resection)
1:45 PM | Hands-on Workshop Sessions
Group 1 | Station D: Rigid Bronchoscopy ablation/ resection (Mechanical and LASER Resection)
Group 2 | Station E: Rigid Bronchoscopy, Stenting Silicone, SEM Tracheal and Bronchial
Group 3 | Station A: Robotic Assisted Bronchoscopy and Cryo Biopsy
Group 4 | Station B: Rigid Bronchoscopy Intubation, Maneuverability, and Dilation Technique
Group 5 | Station C: Rigid Bronchoscopy T tube placement, Stenting Silicone and Y
2:45 PM | Hands-on Workshop Sessions
Group 1 | Station C: Rigid Bronchoscopy T tube placement, Stenting Silicone and Y
Group 2 | Station D: Rigid Bronchoscopy ablation/ resection (Mechanical and LASER Resection)
Group 3 | Station E: Rigid Bronchoscopy, Stenting Silicone, SEM Tracheal and Bronchial Placement
Group 4 | Station A: Robotic Assisted Bronchoscopy and Cryo Biopsy
Group 5 | Station B: Rigid Bronchoscopy Intubation, Maneuverability, and Dilation Technique
3:45 PM | Hands-on Workshop Sessions
Group 1 | Station B: Rigid Bronchoscopy Intubation, Maneuverability, and Dilation Technique
Group 2 | Station C: Rigid Bronchoscopy T tube placement, Stenting Silicone and Y
Group 3 | Station D: Rigid Bronchoscopy ablation/ resection (Mechanical and LASER Resection)
Group 4 | Station E: Rigid Bronchoscopy, Stenting Silicone, SEM Tracheal and Bronchial Placement
Group 5 | Station A: Robotic Assisted Bronchoscopy and Cryo biopsy
4:45 PM | Group Discussion + Post-Course Evaluation + Closing Remarks
5:00 PM | Adjourn
Venue

Faculty
Course Faculty:
Program Director:
Tarek Dammad, MD, AABIP
Director, Academic Interventional Pulmonology
Houston Methodist Hospital
Program Co-Director:
Jose Pablo Diaz-Jimenez, MD, PhD
Former WABIP Chair, Clinic Corachan
Barcelona, Spain
Speakers / Facilitators
Michela Bezzi, MD, PhD
Interventional Pulmonologist, Chief Pulmonary Department
University Hospital, ASST Spedali Civili Brescia
Brescia, Italy
Roberto Casal, MD, AABIP
Interventional Pulmonology,
MD Anderson Cancer Center
Houston, Texas
Colleen Channick, MD, AABIP
Director of Interventional Pulmonology,
University of California,
Los Angeles (UCLA)
Ray Chihara, MD, PhD
Thoracic Surgery,
Houston Methodist Hospital
Septimiu Murgu, MD, FCCP, DAABIP
Professor of Medicine,
The University of Chicago
Chicago, Illinois
Anastasiia Rudkovskaia, MD, AABIP
Interventional Pulmonology,
Houston Methodist Hospital
Ashutosh Sachdeva, MBBS, MBA, FCCP
Chief, Section of Interventional Pulmonology,
University of Maryland
Baltimore, Maryland
Fernando Santa Cruz, MD, AABIP
Interventional Pulmonology,
Houston Methodist Hospital
Accreditation
Available Credit
- 7.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
Houston Methodist is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
Houston Methodist designates this Live activity for a maximum of 7.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
- 7.25 Attendance