Dr. Joseph Piccione Joins Pulmonary Team

Joseph Piccione, DO, MS, recently joined the Division of Pulmonary Medicine from Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, bringing his unique expertise in pediatric bronchology and aerodigestive disorders to the multidisciplinary CHOP Center for Pediatric Airway Disorders.

At the center — which is dedicated to improving health outcomes in children with aerodigestive disorders including tracheostomy dependence, congenital and acquired airway abnormalities, and recurrent aspiration — patients visit specialists from the divisions of Otolaryngology, Gastroenterology, and Pulmonology all on the same day.

Then the physicians — along with nurses, nurse practitioners, physical therapists, speech and swallowing therapists, nutritionists, and social workers, as appropriate — meet to discuss the best treatment plan for each patient, taking the child’s multisystem needs into consideration. Referring physicians are kept informed by the patient’s care team.

While in Cincinnati, Dr. Piccione also earned a master’s degree in clinical and translational research from the University of Cincinnati. His thesis work investigated risk factors for the development of bronchiectasis in children with recurrent pulmonary aspiration and was recently published in Pediatric Pulmonology.

Dr. Piccione, who was named pulmonary director of the center, has particular expertise in pediatric flexible bronchoscopy.

The Center for Pediatric Airway Disorders evaluates and treats children with complex disorders of the central airways and esophagus, such as tracheoesophageal fistula, vascular rings, and tracheomalacia and tracheal stenosis. Treatment options range from pharmacologic agents that stiffen the airways, such as bethanechol and ipratropium bromide, to physical therapy interventions such as airway clearance techniques, positive pressure masks, acapella devices, and continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), to various airway and vascular surgical techniques.