I chose to specialize in interventional pulmonology because it offers the opportunity to perform hands-on procedures that directly help patients, and it involves innovative research into new treatments for lung disease. Interventional pulmonology began to emerge as a medical specialty as I was finishing medical school, so I had the chance to work with pioneers who built the specialty into what it is today”a hybrid of pulmonary medicine and thoracic surgery, in which we perform minimally invasive procedures to diagnose and treat people with cancers of the chest. I evaluate patients at NYU Langone Pulmonary and Critical Care Associates and Perlmutter Cancer Center, diagnosing and treating people who have lung cancer, malignant pleura mesothelioma”a rare cancer affecting the membranes lining the lungs”and pleural effusion, which is a buildup of fluid between those membranes. I diagnose and manage cancers and benign disorders affecting the large airways of the lungs: the trachea and bronchi. I also perform staging procedures to determine the degree of advancement of a persons condition.When someone first comes to my office, we sit down and have an in-depth discussion about his or her medical history. I talk to family members and friends to obtain detailed background information about my patients experiences. When I have this information, I use a physical exam, imaging tests, and discussions with other NYU Langone specialists to create a specific diagnostic, staging, or treatment