The RIGID & Robotics: Hands-on Course in Interventional Pulmonology

  • 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

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