Deployment-Related Lung Disease Center

Iraq veteran Dr. Richard Meehan testing air quality in a dust storm in the Middle East.

Since 2001, more than 3 million United States military personnel and contractors have deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan and other sites in Southwest Asia. In-theatre exposure to open air burn pits, sandstorms, combat dust, diesel exhaust and other workplace hazards may place deployers at risk for disabling respiratory symptoms and lung diseases.

The National Jewish Health Deployment-Related Lung Disease Program in Denver, Colorado, is focused on the diagnosis and treatment of active military, veterans and contactors with lung conditions related to their mission. We also conduct research to understand the causes of deployment-related lung disease, identify new and better diagnostic tools, develop better treatment s and look for ways to prevent these devastating diseases.

National Jewish Health is a Veterans Choice Program approved hospital, providing eligible military veterans access to our specialty care center.

Learn more about Lung Diseases Affecting Military and Veterans

Deployment-related Lung Disease Research

In collaboration with the Department of Defense, National Jewish Health is searching for the causes of deployment-related lung diseases that impact our military personnel and veterans.

Our research program is designed to:

Find noninvasive tests for diagnosing deployment-related lung injury
Explore interactions between smoking and deployment dust
Understand individual risk factors for these lung conditions
Investigate cellular and molecular mechanisms of lung injury
Develop targeted treatments based on scientific evidence

Deployment Lung News and Resources

In collaboration with the Department of Defense, National Jewish Health is searching for the causes of deployment-related lung diseases that impact our military personnel and veterans.

Our research program is designed to:

Find noninvasive tests for diagnosing deployment-related lung injury
Explore interactions between smoking and deployment dust
Understand individual risk factors for these lung conditions
Investigate cellular and molecular mechanisms of lung injury
Develop targeted treatments based on scientific evidence

Our Specialists

Cecile S. Rose, MD, MPH + × Cecile S. Rose, MD, MPH Professor Director, Division of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences Department of Medicine Division of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences Cecile S. Rose, MD, is a pulmonologist at National Jewish Health. Dr. Rose is in the Division of Environmental and Occupational Health Services. View Full Profile Patient Rating 5 out of 5 stars Make an Appointment	Richard T. Meehan, MD, FACP + × Richard T. Meehan, MD, FACP Professor, Department of Medicine Division of Rheumatology Co-Director, Post-Deployment Lung Health Center Autoimmune Lung Center Richard T. Meehan, MD, is a rheumatologist at National Jewish Health. Dr. Meehan is in the Division of Rheumatology and Department of Medicine. View Full Profile Make an Appointment	E Brigitte Gottschall, MD + × E Brigitte Gottschall, MD Associate Professor Department of Medicine Division of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences E Brigitte Gottschall, MD, is a pulmonologist at National Jewish Health. Dr. Gottschall is in the Division of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences. View Full Profile Patient Rating 4.8 out of 5 stars Make an Appointment	Silpa D. Krefft, MD, MPH + × Silpa D. Krefft, MD, MPH Assistant Professor Department of Medicine Division of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences Silpa Krefft, MD, is an occupational pulmonologist at National Jewish Health. Dr. Krefft is in the Division of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences. View Full Profile Make an Appointment
J. Caleb Richards, MD + × J. Caleb Richards, MD Assistant Professor Department of Radiology J. Caleb Richards, MD, is a radiologist at National Jewish Health. Dr. Richards is in the Department of Radiology. View Full Profile Make an Appointment	Jennifer Smith, PA-C, MSPAS + × Jennifer Smith, PA-C, MSPAS Physician Assistant Division of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences Department of Medicine Jennifer Smith, PA-C, is a physician assistant at National Jewish Health. Ms. Smith is in the Division of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences. View Full Profile Make an Appointment	Kalie M. VonFeldt, PA-C, MS + × Kalie M. VonFeldt, PA-C, MS Physician Assistant II Division of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences Department of Medicine Kalie M. VonFeldt, PA-C, is a physician assistant at National Jewish Health. Ms. VonFeldt is in the Division of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences. View Full Profile Make an Appointment