Division of Respiratory Medicine

Peter W. Heymann, M.D. photo 

Our division provides care for children with allergic and pulmonary (lung) diseases. We are a major referral center in Virginia and the Mid-Atlantic region for children with:

  • Asthma and other restrictive lung diseases
  • Cystic Fibrosis
  • Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia (BPD)
  • Pulmonary Hypertension
  • Lung Transplantation
  • Sleep Disorders of Breathing (including Obstructive Sleep Apnea)
  • A variety of other pulmonary and allergic diseases

Physicians in the division are board certified in either Pediatric Pulmonology and/or Allergy & Immunology.


Clinical Services

Allergy Referrals

Appointments/Referrals to Dr. Heymann:
Phone: 434-924-5321
Fax: 434-243-6618

Location:
UVA Asthma and Allergic Diseases Center
3rd Floor, Northridge Medical Office Building
2955 Ivy Road (250 West)
Charlottesville, VA 22903

Pulmonary Referrals

Appointments/Referalls to Drs. Gaston, Froh, Hunt, and Yu, and Gabrielle Ford FNP

Phone: 434-924-5321
Fax: 434-924-6618

Clinic Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00AM-5:00PM

Locations:
Pulmonary Clinics and Dr. Hunt's Allergy/Pulmonary Clinic:
4th Floor, Primary Care Center
UVA Medical Center
1221 Lee Street, Charlottesville, VA 22908

UVA Cystic Fibrosis Center
Kluge Children's Rehabilitation Center
2270 Ivy Rd (Route 250 West)
Charlottesville, VA 22903

Offers a team approach to pediatric cystic fibrosis care including physicians, respiratory therapists, nutritionists and educational consultants.

Phone: 434-924-2250
Fax: 434-243-9403

Clinic Hours: Tuesday, 8:00AM-5:00PM

Faculty, Fellows & Staff

Peter W. Heymann, M.D
Benjamin M. Gaston, M.D.
Deborah K. Froh, M.D.
John F. Hunt, M.D.
Pearl L. Yu, M.D.
Gabriele Ford, FNP (Sleep Center)

Nico Vehse, M.D., Fellow
Amy Stallings, M.D., Fellow

Lauren Ahrens, R.N. (Cystic Fibrosis)
Jackie M. Brown, R.N. (Pulmonary)
Deborah D. Murphy, R.N. (Allergy)
Patricia Wilkinson, R.R.T

Fellowship Programs

Allergy

Director: Peter Heymann, M.D.
Contact: Sandra Turner-Purvis
Phone: 434-924-0408

Pulmonology

Director: John F. Hunt, M.D.
Contact: Jane Shannon
Phone: 434-924-1820

Patient Education

Health Information

Research Activities

Division faculty have well established research programs devoted to improving the health of children with respiratory diseases. Most investigations in the division are funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), including collaborative studies of viral induced attacks of wheezing in infants and children.

Several studies by Drs. Heymann, Hunt, and Gaston are focused on infections caused by rhinovirus which is associated with over half of the asthma attacks experienced by children, especially those who are allergic.

A team of investigators, headed by Dr. Gaston, is involved in detailed studies of S-nitrosothiol chemistry and the production of nitric oxide (NO) in the airways. This novel research is leading to new findings regarding the evaluation and treatment of airway inflammation, bronchoconstriction, and the impairment of oxygenation in children and adults with asthma, cystic fibrosis, and other lung diseases.

Dr. Hunt's laboratory has discovered rapid and significant reductions in airway pH (acidification) which occur in children and adults during attacks of asthma and other causes of lung inflammation. Learning about the determinants of airway pH changes and how pH measurements (simply done by collecting small amounts of exhaled breath condensate) can be used to monitor asthma holds great promise for improving management and developing new treatments.

The division is also involved with research to help children with Cystic Fibrosis (Drs. Froh and Gaston) and in helping children with obstructive sleep apnea, especially those who are overweight (Dr. Yu).

Administration

Department of Pediatrics
P.O. Box 800386
Charlottesville, VA 22908-0386

Allergy/Pulmonary Medicine
Phone: 434-982-3654
Fax: 434-243-6618

Cystic Fibrosis
Phone: 434-924-2250
Fax: 434-243-9403

Division Chief
Peter W. Heymann, M.D.
Professor of Pediatrics|

Administrative Assistant
Wendy Haney