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The RIGID & Robotics: Hands-on Course in Interventional Pulmonology - September 18, 2026
The RIGID & Robotics at the Mitie Lab Houston Methodist
This is state-of-the art, hands-on, cadaver course in interventional pulmonology with focus on:
- Management of central airway obstruction via RIGID Bronchoscopy, LASER, Electrosurgery and airway stenting
- Robotic Assisted Bronchoscopy with advanced imaging techniques, diagnostic and therapeutic applications for the peripheral pulmonary tumors
The one-day intensive course is taught by diverse expert faculty from the United States and Europe to bring different perspectives and innovative approach. Participants will be provided with pre-course materials, including video didactics.
Program Director: Tarek Dammad, MD, D-AABIP, Houston Methodist Hospital
Program Co-director: Ashutosh Sachdeva, MBBS, MBA, FCCP, Chief, Section of Interventional Pulmonology, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland
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
- Recognize and manage Central Airway Obstruction in both benign and malignant disease
- Learn and practice the interventions/procedures based on evidence-based practice, technique and outcomes
- Demonstrate the ability to perform RAB with advanced imaging guidance
Agenda:
7:15 am: Registration, breakfast and exhibits
8:00 am: Opening remarks and Introductions: Tarek Dammad, MD
8:15 am: Case Presentations, Panel Discussion, Interactive Learning of Rigid Bronchoscopy, Ablative Therapy and Airway Stenting
9:00 am: Robotic-Assisted Bronchoscopy, Advanced Imaging, Case Presentations, Panel Discussion and Interactive Learning
9:45 am: Break
10:00 AM: HANDS-ON WORKSHOP MORNING SESSIONS
Station One (Group 1): Robotic Assisted Bronchoscopy, Ion with Portable Cone Bean CT/ GE
Station two (Group 2): Robotic Assisted Bronchoscopy, Galaxy with advanced imaging
Station Three (Group 3): RIGID Bronchoscopy, Intubation, maneuvering, Dilation Techniques, foreign body removal
Station Four (Group 4): RIGID Bronchoscopy, Mechanical Resection, LASER and Silicone Airway Stenting
Station Five (group 5): RIGID Bronchoscopy with Electrosurgery and SEMS Airway stenting
11: 00 am Hands-on sessions repeats (Groups rotation)
12:00 pm: Lunch and exhibit
1:00 pm: Hands-on session
2:00 pm: Hands-on session
3:00 pm: Hands-on session
4:00 pm post-course evaluation and closing remarks
4:30 pm: Adjourn
Procedures learned:
RIGID Bronchoscopy
LASER Photocoagulation and Ablation
Electrosurgery (APC, Electrocautery, Electro Knife and Cryo)
Silicone Stents, T-Tubes and SEMS Placement
Robotic Assisted Bronchoscopy coupled with Cone Beam CT and Tomosynthesis
Fiducial markers placement
Cryo Biopsies via RAB
Program Director:
Tarek Dammad, MD, D-AABIP
Director, Academic Interventional Pulmonology
Houston Methodist Hospital
Program Co-Director:
Ashutosh Sachdeva, MBBS, MBA, FCCP
Chief, Section of Interventional Pulmonology, University of Maryland
Baltimore, Maryland
Faculty
Michela Bezzi, MD, PhD
Interventional Pulmonologist
Chief, Pulmonary Department
University Hospital, ASST Spedali Civili
Brescia, Italy
Jose Pablo Diaz-Jimenez, MD, PhD
Former WABIP Chair
Clínica Corachan
Barcelona, Spain
Colin Gillespie, MD
Section Head, Bronchoscopy and Interventional Pulmonology
Cleveland Clinic Foundation
Cleveland, Ohio
Catherine Oberg, MD, D-AABIP
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
New York, New York
Audra Schwalk, MD, D-AABIP
UT Southwestern Medical Center
Dallas, Texas
Sonali Sethi, MD, D-AABIP
Cleveland Clinic
Cleveland, Ohio
Ray Chihara, MD, PhD
Thoracic Surgery
Houston Methodist Hospital
Warren Naselsky, MD
Thoracic Surgery
Houston Methodist Hospital
Fernando Santa Cruz, MD, D-AABIP
Houston Methodist Hospital
Available Credit
- 7.00 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 7.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
- 7.00 Attendance
Exhibitors
We gratefully acknowledge the following companies for participating as exhibitors for this activity:
Boston Medical
ERBE
Fujifilm
GE
Merit
Noah Medical
Richard Wolf Medical Instruments
Thoracent, a Maverix company