Michael Krowka, MD Mayo Clinic Rochester, MN Alpha-1 Association Board of Directors

Profile:

Michael Krowka, MD is a Professor of Medicine, and the Vice Chair of the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, a position he has held since 2001.  He also chairs the Mayo Clinic Public Affairs Committee.  His chief interest lies in the study of Pulmonary hypertension associated with liver diseases. When asked why he chose to serve on the Alpha-1 Association Board, Dr. Krowka responded, “I have enjoyed my volunteer roles with the Alpha-1 community and physicians since the late 1980's. Most recently, I have served on and chaired the Education Materials Working Group (EMWG) for the Alpha -1 Foundation. As Vice-Chair of the Pulmonary Division at the Mayo Clinic (with clinical interests in pulmonary hypertension, lung volume reduction and lung transplantation), my clinical research derives from daily pulmonary consultation in the Mayo Liver Transplant Clinic, which allows me to see patients with  Alpha-1 issues from the liver transplantation perspective. Thus, the ongoing education of pulmonary and hepatology Fellows/Residents regarding alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency is a continued high priority and daily activity. Finally, I see the educational and research relationships between various lung and liver patient care and professional organizations as an important integration to be fostered via training our young physicians to explore innovative approaches to  Alpha-1 patient care.  In short, I hope to bring an additional educational emphasis to the Alpha-1 Association Board and contribute ideas that affect both the lung and liver aspects of alpha-1 antitrypsin patient care.