Thomas J. Kufel MD
Thomas J. Kufel
MD
Clinical Associate Professor
Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences
Specialty/Research Focus
Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine
Professional Summary:
My clinical responsibilities include care of inpatient and outpatient veterans at the Buffalo VA Medical Center.
My clinical interests include diagnosis and management of a broad range of pulmonary and sleep disorders including hemoptysis, chronic cough, dyspnea, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, interstitial lung disease, pulmonary hypertension, sleep apnea, insomnia, restless leg syndrome and narcolepsy. I serve as the section chief of pulmonary, critical care and sleep medicine and as the director of the pulmonary function laboratory at the Buffalo VA Medical Center where I perform pulmonary function tests (PFTs) to evaluate a patient‘s respiratory status.
I am a pioneer in the use of telemedicine and use electronic communications to evaluate patients with sleep disorders. I am in the process of expanding the use of this technology in the care of pulmonary patients — particularly those patients with suspected lung cancer.
Education and Training:
- MD, Medicine, University at Buffalo (1986)
Employment:
- Medical Director, Respiratory Care, VA Western New York Healthcare System (2011-present)
- Director, Pulmonary & Cardiopulmonary Exercise Laboratory, Pulmonary & Cardiopulmonary Laboratory, VA Western New York Healthcare System (1997-present)
- Clinical Assistant Professor, Medicine, University at Buffalo (1995-present)
- Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine, Medicine, University at Buffalo (1995-present)
- Chief of Medicine, Medicine, VA WNYHS (2015–2016)
- Sleep Center Medical Director, VA Western New York Healthcare System (2011–2014)
- Director, Intensive Care Unit, Intensive Care Unit, VA Western New York Healthcare System (2000–2003)
Grants and Sponsored Research:
- July 1997–December 1999
Respiratory muscle fatigue in patients with chronic heart failure
AHA, New York State Affiliate
Role: Co-Investigator
$70,000 - June 1997–June 1998
Pulmonary rehabilittion in patients with COPD
VA/VISN2 Network
Role: Principal Investigator
$6,000
Journal Articles:
- Porhomayon J, Akinnusi M, Kufel TJ, Popescu GK, El Solh AA. Effects of dietary weight loss on obstructive sleep apnea: a meta-analysis. Sleep Breath. 2013; 17(1).
- El Solh AA, Vermont L, Homish GG, Kufel TJ. The effect of continuous positive airway pressure on post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms in veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder and obstructive sleep apnea: a prospective study. Sleep Med. 2017; 33.
- Jaoude P, Kufel T, El-Solh AA. Survival Benefit of CPAP Favors Hypercapnic Patients with the Overlap Syndrome. Lung. 2014.
- Troitino A, Labedi N, Kufel T, El-Solh AA, El Solh AA. Positive airway pressure therapy in patients with opioid-related central sleep apnea. Sleep Breath. 2013.
- Akinnusi M, Jaoude PE, Kufel TJ, El Solh AA. Toll-like receptor activity in patients with obstructive sleep apnea. Sleep Breath. 2012.
- Mador MJ, Kufel TJ, Magalang UJ, Rajesh SK, Watwe V, Grant BJ. Prevalence of positional sleep apnea in patients undergoing polysomnography. Chest. 2005; 128(4).
- Haas C.E., Brazeau D., Cloen D., Booker, B.M., Frerichs V., Zaranek C., Frye, R. F., Kufel TJ. Cytochrome P450 mRNA expression in peripheral blood lymphocytes as a predictor on enzyme induction.. European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology. 2005.
- Haas C.E., Lin L., Cloen D., Kufel TJ, Moon R., Frerichs V.. Transdermal absorption of Omeprazole in healthy volunteers.. Journal of Am Pharm Assoc. 2005; 45.
- Mador MJ, Bozkanat, E, Aggarwal, A, Shaffer, M, Kufel TJ. Endurance and strength training in patients with COPD. Chest. 2004; 125.
- Mador MJ, Deniz O, Aggarwal A, Kufel TJ. Quadriceps fatigability after single muscle exercise in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2003; 168(1).
- Mador MJ, Bozkanat, E, Kufel TJ. Quadriceps fatigue after cycle exercise in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease compared with healthy controls. Chest. 2003; 123.
- Kufel TJ, Pineda LA, Junega RG, Hathwar R, Mador MJ. Diaphragmatic function after intense exercise in congestive heart failure patients. Eur Respir J. 2002; 20(6).
- Kufel TJ, Pineda LA, Mador MJ. Comparison of potentiated and unpotentiated twitches as an index of muscle fatigue. Muscle Nerve. 2002; 25(3).
- Mador MJ, Khan S, Kufel TJ. Bilateral anterolateral magnetic stimulation of the phrenic nerves can detect diaphragmatic fatigue. Chest. 2002; 121(2).
- Jeffery Mador M, Kufel TJ, Pineda LA. Quadriceps and diaphragmatic function after exhaustive cycle exercise in the healthy elderly. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2000; 162(5).
- Mador MJ, Kufel TJ, Pineda LA. Quadriceps fatigue following cycle exercise in patients with COPD. Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med.. 2000; 161.
- Jeffery Mador M, Kufel TJ, Pineda L. Quadriceps fatigue after cycle exercise in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2000; 161(2 Pt).
- Mador MJ, Kufel TJ, Pineda LA, Sharma GK. Diaphragmatic fatigue and high-intensity exercise in patients with chronicobstructive pulmonary disease. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2000; 161(1).
- Mador MJ, Wendel T, Kufel TJ, Mador M. Effect of acute hypercapnia on diaphragmatic and limb muscle contractility. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 1997; 155(5).
- Mador MJ, Magalang UJ, Kufel TJ. Twitch potentiation following voluntary diaphragmatic contraction. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 1994; 149(3 Pt).
- Mador MJ, Magalang UJ, Rodis A, Kufel TJ. Diaphragmatic fatigue after exercise in healthy human subjects. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1993; 148(6 Pt).
- Mador MJ, Kufel TJ. Effect of inspiratory muscle fatigue on inspiratory muscle relaxation ratesin healthy subjects. Chest. 1992; 102(6).
- Mador MJ, Kufel TJ. Reproducibility of visual analog scale measurements of dyspnea in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1992; 146(1).
Books and Book Chapters:
- Kufel TJ. Acute Bronchitis, Book Chapter, Lung Biology in Health and Disease, Vol. 232 - Respiratory Infections. 2010.
- Kufel TJ, Grant BJB. Arterial blood gas monitoring:respiratory assessment. In: Principles and Practice of Intensive Care Monitoring, MJ Tobin, ed. McGraw-Hill, New York. 1997.
Professional Memberships:
- Western New York Pulmonary & Critical Care Society; Member (1992–present)
- American Thoracic Society; Member (1989–present)
Presentations:
- "What's new in COPD & The nuts and bolts of CPCP & BiPAP" , VAMC, In-house nursing staff (1995)
- "Respiratory muscle fatigue in elderly subjects" Pulmonary Research Conference, VAMC, Pulmonary & Critical Care (1995)
Service Activities:
- VA Network 2:Specialty Peer Review & Credentialing; Member (2003–present)
- Member, Academic Medical Services Executive Counsel; Member (2002–2003)
- Research & Development Committee Member/VAMC; Member (2001–2002)
- Ethics Consultation Team Member/VAMC; Member (1999–2003)
- COPD Quality of Life Program/VAMC; Member (1999–2000)
- Hospital Coordinator, 2nd Yeaar Medical Students; Clinical Practice of Medicine (1998–1999)
- Ethics Committee Member/VAMC; Member (1998–2003)
- Hospital Coordinator, 3rd&4th year internal medicine clerkships (1997–2001)
- Manuscript Reviewer/Am.Journal of Respiratory & Critical Care Medicine; Reviewer
- Manuscript Reviewer/Intensive Care Medicine Journal; Reviewer
- Manuscript Reviewer/Journal of Applied Physiology; Reviewer
- Manuscript Reviewer/Journal Title: Chest; Reviewer