
- The RIGID & Robotics: Hands-on Course in Interventional Pulmonology
- When: September 18, 2026
- Where: Houston, Texas
- Program Director: Tarek Dammad, MD, MD
- Learning Objectives:
Recognize and manage Central Airway Obstruction in both benign and malignant disease Learn and practice the interventions/procedures based on evidence-based practice, technique and outcomes Demonstrate the ability to perform RAB with advanced imaging guidance - Website:ย https://learn.
houstonmethodist.org/RIGID- 2026
- Agenda:7:15 am: Registration, breakfast and exhibits
8:00 am: Opening remarks and Introductions: Tarek Dammad, MD
8:15 am: Case Presentations, Panel Discussion, Interactive Learning of Rigid Bronchoscopy, Ablative Therapy and Airway Stenting
Speakers: Tarek Dammad and Michela Bezzi
9:00 am: Robotic-Assisted Bronchoscopy, Advanced Imaging, Case Presentations, Panel Discussion and Interactive Learning
Speakers: Audra Schwalk
9:30 am: Break
9:45 AM: HANDS-ON WORKSHOP MORNING SESSIONS
Station One (Group 1): Robotic Assisted Bronchoscopy, Ion with Portable Cone Bean CT
Faculty: Audra Schwalk
Station two (Group 2): Robotic Assisted Bronchoscopy, Galaxy with advanced imaging
Faculty: Sonali Sethi, Waren Naselsky
Station Three (Group 3): Robotic Assisted Bronchoscopy, Monarch with Portable Cone Beam CT
Faculty: Fernando Santa-Cruz, Pushan Jani
Station Four (Group 4):ย RIGID Bronchoscopy, Intubation, maneuvering, Dilation Techniques, foreign body removal
Faculty: Colin Gillespie, Michela Bezzi
Station Five (Group 5): RIGID Bronchoscopy, Mechanical Resection, LASER and Silicone Airway Stenting
Faculty: Jose Pablo Diaz-Jimenez, Catherine Oberg
Station Six (group 6): RIGID Bronchoscopy with Electrosurgery and SEMS Airway stenting
Faculty: Ashutosh Sachdeva, Ray Chihara
11: 00 am Hands-on sessions repeats (Groups rotation)
12:00 pm: Lunch and exhibit
1:00 pm: Hands-on session
2:00 pm: Hands-on session
3:00 pm: Hands-on session
4:00 pm: Hand-on session
5:00 pm: Post course evaluation, closing remarks and adjourn
Procedures learned:
RIGID Bronchoscopy
LASER Photocoagulation and Ablation
Electrosurgery (APC, Electrocautery, Electro Knife and Cryo)
Silicone Stents, T-Tubes and SEMS Placement
Robotic Assisted Bronchoscopy coupled with Cone Beam CT and Tomosynthesis
Fiducial markers placement
Cryo Biopsies via RAB
Cryo Spray
