Pediatric Pulmonology
Pediatric Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine
Our pediatric pulmonary team is a multidisciplinary team comprised of three board-certified pediatric pulmonologists, a full-time clinical nurse, a nutritionist, a social worker and clinical respiratory therapists. We provide diagnosis and treatment for a wide variety of respiratory illnesses in infants, children and adolescents. We offer comprehensive outpatient and inpatient consultation and follow-up of a variety of complex respiratory conditions including asthma, chronic lung disease of prematurity, cystic fibrosis, chronic respiratory failure, rare lung diseases, neuro-muscular and chest wall disorders, bronchiectasis, congenital lung anomalies, airway anomalies, technologically dependent children (children on non-invasive and invasive ventilation), as well as a range of sleep disorders.
Patient Procedures
- Spirometry testing
- Exhaled nitric oxide testing
- Pulmonary function testing
- Exercise induced asthma testing
- Flexible bronchoscopy services
- Sweat testing
- Sleep lab services
At our sleep center we offer full service sleep laboratory and clinical sleep services. Our sleep lab offers inpatient and outpatient sleep studies for children across all age groups including children with complex medical conditions and children on non-invasive and invasive ventilation. Our clinical sleep services are provided by our two board certified pediatric sleep specialists. We diagnose and treat a wide variety of sleep conditions including obstructive sleep apnea, central sleep apnea, insomnia, disorders of excessive daytime sleepiness, parasomnia and sleep issues in children with developmental disabilities. In addition, we offer home sleep studies, actigraphies, home pulse oximetry studies and positive airway pressure support clinics.
The flexible bronchoscopy program is provided by pediatric pulmonologists and pediatric intensivists. Flexible bronchoscopy allows direct and immediate access to the lungs and is performed to diagnose and treat a wide variety of conditions such as chronic cough, wheeze, stridor, atelectasis, foreign body aspiration etc. Our bronchoscopy services include flexible bronchoscopy, bronchoalveolar lavage, bronchial brush biopsy and endobronchial biopsies and are offered for both in and outpatients.
Our Pediatric asthma program is dedicated to improving asthma awareness and treatment. Our comprehensive asthma care includes thorough clinical evaluation, spirometry, oscillometry and exhaled nitric oxide testing, intense asthma education by our medical assistants, nurses and respiratory therapist. In addition, we have active asthma clinical trials for children >12yrs of age.
The cystic fibrosis center remains a strong regional referral center and clinical resource for northern California. Our pediatric and adult programs remain strong and collaborative, and both components have grown over the past years. The pediatric program provide comprehensive care to children through a strong collaborative multidisciplinary team. This well established program is supported by a long history of institutional commitment and both inpatient and outpatient arenas. Our expert team continuously seeks to better serve our patients and improve outcomes.
At the Pediatric Airway Clinic, we provide most comprehensive evaluation of children with upper airway and sleep disorders. We diagnose and manage variety of clinical conditions that include:
- laryngotracheomalacia
- subglottic stenosis
- laryngeal papillomas
- obstructive sleep apnea
- tracheotomy with/without mechanical ventilation etc.
Our multidisciplinary team provides coordinated approach to care and bridges the gap between the specialists and makes it possible to meet the needs of children with complex medical conditions.
Our team
Sanjay Jhawar, M.D.
Sanjay Jhawar, M.D.'s clinical interests include neonatal apnea, obstructive sleep apnea in children, cystic fibrosis, and childhood asthma. His research interests in basic science include leukocyte chemotaxis and chronic pulmonary inflammation. His clinical interest is in neonatal lung disease related to prematurity and childhood sleep-related respiratory disorders.
Kiran Nandalike, M.D.
Kiran Nandalike, M.D., specializes in pulmonary and sleep medicine. She had her pulmonary and sleep medicine training at Montefiore Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, NY, and joined the division in June 2014. Dr. Nandalike’s clinical interest includes pediatric sleep medicine and pediatric flexible bronchoscopy. Dr. Nandalike’s research interest includes pediatric upper airway and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.
Rory Kamerman-Kretzmer, M.D.
Rory Kamerman-Kretzmer, M.D., who is board-certified in Pediatric Pulmonary Medicine, has interest in childhood interstitial and diffuse lung diseases (chILD) and pulmonary vascular conditions, cystic fibrosis (CF), the care of children dependent upon technology (such as long-term or home mechanical ventilation), and the use of flexible bronchoscopy to diagnose patients who have aerodigestive disorders.
Kim Jahnke, R.N., B.S.N.
Clinical Resource Nurse
Kimberly Jahnke, RN, BSN, has been with the Pediatric Pulmonary group since 2007. She had been a pediatric ICU nurse for over 12 years prior to joining our group. She has been active in the Cystic Fibrosis community through her participation in the Great Strides Walk as well as the CF Cycle for Life, both as a Team Leader and a participant. She describes herself as the “primary care nurse for a diverse pediatric patient population” of close to 400. She is passionate about creating a clinic environment that responds to the needs of the patient and the family. Creating and maintaining long term relationships with the families and patients with chronic illnesses she views as one of the most important aspects of her position.