The seven CHEST Networks will highlight the accomplishments of early career members during CHEST 2024 by handing out the inaugural Network Rising Star Awards. These awards recognize individual contributions in the areas of clinical care, education, research, and/or other scholarly activity and someone who has shown growth and potential within a particular Network and CHEST.

Each Network will celebrate its respective awardee during the concurrent Network Open Forums, Tuesday, October 8, from 11:15 am to 12:15 pm ET in the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center.

Hear from one of the Rising Stars their own words, below, and click here to read Q&As with the six other recipients.

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2024 Diffuse Lung Disease and Lung Transplant Network Rising Star

Bathmapriya Balakrishnan, MD, MS, FCCP

Staff Physician, Cleveland Clinic
Assistant Professor, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University

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What have been your main focuses in the field? Which contributions or accomplishments are you most proud of?

My background is in pulmonary and critical care medicine, with specific interest and training in interstitial lung disease and pneumoconiosis. My research has centered on risk stratification, characterization, and outcome measures for ILD patients. My work is currently focused on exploring the impact of early interstitial lung disease with pulmonary vascular abnormalities on patients’ exercise capacity, symptomatology, outcomes. I am most proud of my work with the Occupational and Environmental Health Section. I work with a highly invested and enthusiastic team to improve the recognition and explore solutions to common (and hidden) environmental and occupational hazards to pulmonary health.

What sparked your interest in the field? What excites you most about the future of this area and your involvement in it?

My patients are my greatest drivers. Caring for individuals with diverse backgrounds presents unique challenges and opportunities for me to learn, grow, and stay grounded. They provide context to my everyday struggles and inspire me to improve as a clinician, and as a person. The diffuse lung disease and lung transplant field is a very wide field; we are seeing growth in personalizing care for these group of patients. Phenotyping these patients by biomarkers and observing their disease trajectory, treatment response, and eventual outcomes is vital. I look forward to learning more about ways to improve care for my patients by exploring innovative methods in the near future.

What have the Networks and CHEST meant to you?

Almost all of my mentors are active CHEST members and leaders. Their willingness to contribute their time and share their experience has shaped the way I approach work (and life) challenges. Service to CHEST has enriched my professional life. I have found a perfect avenue to pay-forward by guiding fellows-in-training, and anyone who is planning to volunteer and contribute to CHEST. CHEST has always and continues to welcome new members with diverse professional backgrounds and tenures with the shared goal of improving lung health. CHEST annual meetings are perfect for networking and learning new perspectives from master clinicians, thought leaders, and researchers. It is a major event in my calendar!