MEET THE FELLOWS: Anitha Channabasavaiah
In a region like the Central Valley, where lung disease is prevalent, it makes sense to have a pulmonary medicine fellowship, Dr. Anitha Channabasavaiah says.
She’s one of three new UCSF Fresno pulmonary fellows who began work at Community Regional Medical Center this summer – the only pulmonary program nationwide to receive 2007 accreditation.
The sub-specialty of internal medicine will bring in three new fellows each year for the two-year program, with the goal of attracting more specialists to the Valley.
“Pulmonary medicine is a very scarce specialty in the Fresno area,” said Dr. Kathryn Bilello, director of the pulmonary fellowship. “We always have more referrals than we can accommodate at any one time.”
As part of a series of stories introducing the new fellows, MedWatch Today sat down to meet Dr. Channabasavaiah.
Hometown: Hassan, India
Dr. Anitha Channabasavaiah
Education: Mysore Medical College, Bronx-Lebanon Hospital Center (New York), UCSF Fresno
What got you interested in UCSF Fresno and Community?
I have been here through all different levels of this program, so I know everything about this program. Once I got here I loved it, so I stayed. It is very progressive, they were very receptive to what we wanted.
I think just the fact that this is a teaching program means we are a lot more on the cutting edge and up to date. We are quite up to date on what’s happening. It makes it a better place, and I’m sure for the patients too.
How did you decide on pulmonary medicine?
That was always something I wanted to do. I knew UCSF Fresno was working toward the fellowships. (She will specialize in COPD, asthma, bronchoscopy and managing ventilators, among other things)
There’s a shortage of doctors here, particularly pulmonary doctors. It makes sense to have a pulmonary fellowship in the Valley.
What got you interested in pulmonary?
I’ve always been interested in the physiology of the lung. The biggest positive factor is there are great mentors here too.
Like who?
It’s going to be hard for me to pick one or two people. Everybody is so approachable and very encouraging.
What does this fellowship mean to the Valley?
It is going to be very good because we do need more specialists in this area. This is just the beginning. Recruitment will be better. We will be able to do some really good research activities.
Is it exciting to be a part of a hospital that is aiming so high and making progress?
We have almost everything. There is nothing that we don’t have that other people have.
Are patients starting to realize they don’t have to go out of town to get world-class care?
The awareness is on the rise.
This story was reported by Eddie Hughes. He can be reached at eddieh@communitymedical.org.