Winchester Center for Lung Disease

The history of our center dates back more than a century, when it was set up through a bequest from Sarah Winchester in memory of her husband, William Wirt Winchester, and their young daughter, both of whom succumbed to tuberculosis. This gift resulted in the establishment of the original Winchester Hospital in West Haven, dedicated to the care of patients with tuberculosis.

Today, the Winchester Center for Lung Disease at Yale New Haven Hospital is committed to the integration of cutting-edge patient care, education, and research across the full spectrum of pulmonary disorders. Our specialists are faculty members of the Yale School of Medicine Section of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, with national and international expertise in treating even the most challenging lung conditions.

The center is continually evolving to meet changing needs. Most recently, in response to COVID-19, the center developed a Post-COVID-19 Recovery Program, which offers pulmonary-focused, multidisciplinary evaluation and care for patients recovering from COVID-19.

In addition to our comprehensive general pulmonary practice, we offer the specialty center programs listed below. For more information about any of these programs, call the Winchester Center for Lung Disease at 203-495-2410.

Cystic fibrosis (CF) was previously thought of as a childhood disease, but is now considered a chronic disease because more adults in the U.S. are living longer with CF and maintaining good quality of life. The Adult CF Program provides team-based care for adults with CF on both an inpatient and outpatient basis. Our comprehensive program includes diagnosis, treatment, and counseling for sinus, pulmonary, gastrointestinal, liver, nutritional, endocrine, mental health, and reproductive issues.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is an inflammatory lung disease that blocks airflow from the lungs and makes it difficult to breathe. The COPD Program (including emphysema, chronic bronchitis, and asthma/COPD overlap syndrome) provides a personalized treatment plan for each patient to help manage their COPD. Whether patients have mild symptoms, need rehabilitation, or require assisted ventilation, we can help.

This program is focused on the leading innovative care and research for acute and chronic pulmonary infections. We also focus on the evaluation and management of chronic non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis (abnormal widening of the bronchi or their branches that can cause infection).

The Winchester Center for Lung Disease has evolved into a regional referral center for primary and secondary opinions of unexplained respiratory symptoms and complex pulmonary conditions. Our program offers in-clinic, telehealth, and e-consultations in collaboration with community physicians, primary care providers, and other subspecialists to diagnose and manage a wide range of lung diseases.

Pulmonary hypertension is a long-term condition caused by high pressure in the arteries of the lungs. If left untreated, pulmonary hypertension can lead to heart failure. Early and proper diagnosis is essential to slow the disease, and in some cases, potentially reverse damage to the lungs. In our comprehensive Pulmonary Vascular Disease (PVD) Program, we evaluate and treat not only pulmonary hypertension, but also blood clots in the lungs (pulmonary embolism), and unexplained chronic shortness of breath.

Our Sleep Medicine program offers diagnostic testing and treatment for those unable to get a restful night’s sleep. We care for patients with a broad spectrum of sleep disorders, and we evaluate, diagnose, and treat these disorders with a coordinated approach. Our program is accredited by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.

Tuberculosis (TB) is a bacterial infection that usually affects the lungs. The Winchester Center’s Tuberculosis Clinic is the regional referral center for TB; we receive referrals from physician offices, public health departments, and occupational health programs at many worksites. We actively perform community outreach in the New Haven area, screening and evaluating those who are at increased risk for TB. Symptoms of active TB include unexplained fevers or weight loss, persistent cough, and shortness of breath. We treat such cases with medications and evaluate hundreds of patients with latent TB infection each year.

The Yale Bronchiectasis and NTM Infections Program, led by Ashley Losier, MD, specializes in treating patients with chronic respiratory tract infections, including one of the most common, caused by nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM). The goal is to help patients with NTM infections gain access to new diagnostic techniques, therapies, and education that improve day-to-day living and quality of life.

Yale Center for Asthma and Airways Disease (YCAAD) treats patients who suffer from asthma and other chronic inflammatory airway diseases. These patients have chronic shortness of breath, wheezing, chest tightness, and/or cough. The center specializes in diagnosing and treating difficult cases, and offers patients access to progressive treatments for asthma and research trials for therapies that are not available elsewhere.

Interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) can cause both lung inflammation and scarring (fibrosis) that can be difficult to diagnose and treat. The Yale Interstitial Lung Disease Center of Excellence addresses the needs of patients suffering from these conditions. The center offers patients clinical expertise and support in multiple areas, including treatment of complex lung diseases, the opportunity to participate in clinical studies to improve conditions, and the chance to receive experimental therapy through clinical trials.