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:
- Fellowship, Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine, Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine State University of New York at Buffalo (1992)
- Residency, Chief Resident - Internal Medicine, Chief Resident - Internal Medicine State University of New York at Buffalo (1989)
- Residency, Internal Medicine, Internal Medicine State University of New York at Buffalo (1989)
- Internship, Internal Medicine, Internal Medicine State University of New York at Buffalo (1987)
- MD, Medicine, University at Buffalo (1986)
- BA, Bachelors, Canisius College (1982)
Employment:
- Medical Director, Respiratory Care, VA Western New York Healthcare System (2011-present)
- Director, Pulmonary & Cardiopulmonary Exercise Laboratory, VA Western New York Healthcare System (1997-present)
- Clinical Assistant Professor, Medicine, University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (1995-present)
- Chief of Medicine, VA WNYHS (2015–2016)
- Sleep Center Medical Director, VA Western New York Healthcare System (2011–2014)
- Director, Intensive Care Unit, VA Western New York Healthcare System (2000–2003)
Awards and Honors:
- Employee of the Month (2007)
- Employee of the Year (2007)
- Service Award (2005)
- Award for Excellence in Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine (2005)
- Spotlight Recognition Award (2003)
- Lieberman Award for Interest & Aptitude in Anesthesiology (1986)
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. (2013) Effects of dietary weight loss on obstructive sleep apnea: a meta-analysis. Sleep Breath (Mar), 17(1): 227-234.
- El-Solh AA, Homish GG, Ditursi G, Lazarus J, Rao N, Adamo D, Kufel T. (2017) A Randomized Crossover Trial Evaluating Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Versus Mandibular Advancement Device on Health Outcomes in Veterans With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. Journal of clinical sleep medicine : JCSM : official publication of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (Nov), 13(11): 1327-1335. doi:10.5664/jcsm.6808
- El Solh AA, Vermont L, Homish GG, Kufel TJ. (2017) 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 (May), 33: 145-150.
- Jaoude PE, Kufel TJ, El Solh AA, Jaoude PE. (2014) Survival Benefit of CPAP Favors Hypercapnic Patients with the Overlap Syndrome. Lung (Jan).
- Troitino A, Labedi N, Kufel T, El-Solh AA, El Solh AA. (2013) Positive airway pressure therapy in patients with opioid-related central sleep apnea. Sleep Breath (Sep).
- Akinnusi M, Jaoude PE, Kufel TJ, El Solh AA. (2012) Toll-like receptor activity in patients with obstructive sleep apnea. Sleep Breath (Dec).
- Wang LY, Cerny FJ, Kufel TJ, Grant BJ. (2006) Simulated obesity-related changes in lung volume increases airway responsiveness in lean, nonasthmatic subjects. Chest (Sep), 130(3): 834-840.
- Mador MJ, Kufel TJ, Magalang UJ, Rajesh SK, Watwe V, Grant BJ. (2005) Prevalence of positional sleep apnea in patients undergoing polysomnography. Chest (Oct), 128(4): 2130-2137.
- Mador MJ, Deniz O, Deniz O, Aggarwal A, Shaffer M, Kufel TJ, Spengler CM, Mador M. (2005) Effect of respiratory muscle endurance training in patients with COPD undergoing pulmonary rehabilitation. Chest (Sep), 128(3): 1216-1224.
- Haas CE, Brazeau D, Cloen D, Booker BM, Frerichs V, Zaranek C, Frye RF, Kufel T. (2005) Cytochrome P450 mRNA expression in peripheral blood lymphocytes as a predictor of enzyme induction. European journal of clinical pharmacology (Sep), 61(8): 583-93.
- Mador MJ, Kufel TJ, Magalang UJ. Rajesh SK, Watwe V, Grant BJ. (2005) Prevalence of Positional Sleep Apnea in Patients undergoing Polysomnography. Chest 128 (4);2130-7, 2005. (Jun)
- Haas C.E., Lin L., Cloen D., Kufel TJ, Moon R., Frerichs V. (2005) Transdermal absorption of Omeprazole in healthy volunteers. Journal of Am Pharm Assoc (Jan), 45: 473-478.
- Haas C.E., Brazeau D., Cloen D., Booker, B.M., Frerichs V., Zaranek C., Frye, R. F., Kufel TJ. (2005) Cytochrome P450 mRNA expression in peripheral blood lymphocytes as a predictor on enzyme induction. European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology (Jan)1432-1441.
- Mador MJ, Bozkanat, E, Aggarwal, A, Shaffer, M, Kufel TJ. (2004) Endurance and strength training in patients with COPD. Chest (Jan), 125: 2036-2045.
- Mador MJ, Deniz O, Aggarwal A, Kufel TJ. (2003) Quadriceps fatigability after single muscle exercise in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Am J Respir Crit Care Med (Jul), 168(1): 102-108.
- Mador MJ, Bozkanat E, Kufel TJ. (2003) Quadriceps fatigue after cycle exercise in patients with COPD compared with healthy control subjects. Chest (Apr), 123(4): 1104-11.
- Mador MJ, Bozkanat, E, Kufel TJ. (2003) Quadriceps fatigue after cycle exercise in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease compared with healthy controls. Chest (Jan), 123: 1104-1111.
- Kufel TJ, Pineda LA, Junega RG, Hathwar R, Mador MJ. (2002) Diaphragmatic function after intense exercise in congestive heart failure patients. Eur Respir J (Dec), 20(6): 1399-1405.
- Kufel TJ, Pineda LA, Mador MJ. (2002) Comparison of potentiated and unpotentiated twitches as an index of muscle fatigue. Muscle Nerve (Mar), 25(3): 438-444.
- Mador MJ, Khan S, Kufel TJ. (2002) Bilateral anterolateral magnetic stimulation of the phrenic nerves can detect diaphragmatic fatigue. Chest (Feb), 121(2): 452-458.
- Kufel TJ, Pineda LA, Junega RG, Hathwar R, Mador MJ. (2002) Does Diaphragmatic Fatigue Occur after High Intensity Exercise in Patients with Congestive Heart Failure? Eur Resp J. 20: 1399-1405, 2002. (Jan)
- Mador MJ, Kufel TJ, Pineda LA, Steinwald A, Aggarwal A, Upadhyay AM, Khan MA. (2001) Effect of pulmonary rehabilitation on quadriceps fatiguability during exercise. American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine (Mar), 163(4): 930-5.
- Jeffery Mador M, Kufel TJ, Pineda LA. (2000) Quadriceps and diaphragmatic function after exhaustive cycle exercise in the healthy elderly. Am J Respir Crit Care Med (Nov), 162(5): 1760-1766.
- Jeffery Mador M, Kufel TJ, Pineda L. (2000) Quadriceps fatigue after cycle exercise in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Am J Respir Crit Care Med (Feb), 161(2 Pt): 447-453.
- Mador MJ, Kufel TJ, Pineda LA. (2000) Quadriceps fatigue following cycle exercise in patients with COPD. Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. (Feb), 161: 447-453.
- Mador MJ, Kufel TJ, Pineda LA, Sharma GK. (2000) Diaphragmatic fatigue and high-intensity exercise in patients with chronicobstructive pulmonary disease. Am J Respir Crit Care Med (Jan), 161(1): 118-123.
- Mador MJ, Wendel T, Kufel TJ, Mador M. (1997) Effect of acute hypercapnia on diaphragmatic and limb muscle contractility. Am J Respir Crit Care Med (May), 155(5): 1590-1595.
- Mador MJ, Magalang UJ, Kufel TJ. (1994) Twitch potentiation following voluntary diaphragmatic contraction. Am J Respir Crit Care Med (Mar), 149(3 Pt): 739-743.
- Mador MJ, Magalang UJ, Rodis A, Kufel TJ. (1993) Diaphragmatic fatigue after exercise in healthy human subjects. Am Rev Respir Dis (Dec), 148(6 Pt): 1571-1575.
- Mador MJ, Magalang UJ, Rodis A, Kufel TJ. (1993) Diaphragmatic Fatigue after Exercise in Healthy Human Subjects. Am Rev Respir Dis. 148:1571-1575, 1993. (Jan)
- Mador MJ, Kufel TJ. (1992) Effect of inspiratory muscle fatigue on inspiratory muscle relaxation rates in healthy subjects. Chest (Dec), 102(6): 1767-1773.
- Mador MJ, Kufel TJ. (1992) Reproducibility of visual analog scale measurements of dyspnea in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Am Rev Respir Dis (Jul), 146(1): 82-87.
- Mador MJ, Krawza M, Alhajhusian A, Khan AI, Shaffer M, Kufel TJ. (1900) Interval training versus continuous training in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Journal of cardiopulmonary rehabilitation and prevention (Jan), 29(2): 126-32.
- Reddy R, Adamo D, Kufel T, Porhomayon J, El-Solh AA. (1900) Treatment of opioid-related central sleep apnea with positive airway pressure: a systematic review. Journal of opioid management (Jan), 10(1): 57-62.
Books and Book Chapters:
- Kufel TJ. (2010) Lung Biology in Health and Disease -Respiratory Infections, Volume 232. In: Acute Bronchitis, Book Chapter, Lung Biology in Health and Disease, Vol. 232 - Respiratory Infections. Informa Healthcare, 40-47.
- Kufel TJ, Grant BJB. (1997) In: Arterial blood gas monitoring:respiratory assessment.
Professional Memberships:
- American Academy of Sleep Medicine; Member (2011–present)
- Society of Critical Care Medicine; Member (1993–2003)
- Western New York Pulmonary & Critical Care Society; Member (1992–2005)
- American Thoracic Society; Member (1989–2005)
- American College of Chest Physician, Fellow; Member (1989–2003)
- American College of Physicians; Member (1987–2003)
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:
- Pulmonary, Critical Care & Sleep Medicine (6/1/10 - 7/1/15); Section Chief (2015–present)
- VA WNYHS Interim; Chief of Medicine (2015–2016)
- VA WNYHS Interim; Chief of Medicine (2015)
- Buffalo VAMC Sleep Center; Director (2011–present)
- Pulmonary Function Laboratory; Director (2008–present)
- VA Network 2:Specialty Peer Review & Credentialing; Member (2003–present)
- 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)
- Bylaws; Member (1998–1999)
- Pulmonary Function and Cardiopulmonary Exercise Laboratory Buffalo VAMC; Director (1997–2008)
- 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