Sandra G Adams, M.D.

Sandra G. Adams, MD, MS is a Professor of Medicine in the Pulmonary/Critical Care Division of UT Health in San Antonio. Dr. Adams is an internationally recognized leader and educator in obstructive and other lung diseases and adult education. She completed her undergraduate studies at McMurry College in Abilene, Texas in 1990 and received her Doctor of Medicine in 1994 from UTHSCSA. She completed her internal medicine residency in 1997 and pulmonary/critical care fellowship at UTHSCSA in 2001. Dr. Adams is an active member and leader in the international organization, CHEST and is Founder of the 501(c)(3) WipeDiseases Foundation.

• Professional Background

  Education

  • 2003 - MS - Clinical Investigation - University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
  • 1994 - MD - Medicine - University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
  • 1990 - BS - Biology with Chemistry Minor (Summa Cum Laude) - McMurry College
  • Postdoctoral Fellowship - Pulmonary Disease - University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
  • Postdoctoral Fellowship - Critical Care - University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
  • Residency - Internal Medicine - University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
  • Internship - Internal Medicine (Intern of the Year) - University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio

  Appointments

  • 9/2013 - Professor - The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, Medicine, San Antonio
  • 7/2001 - Staff Physician - South Texas Veterans Health Care System, Audie L. Murphy Division, Medicine, San Antonio

• Instruction & Training

  • 10/2012 - Present, Individual Instruction, American College of Chest Physicians
  • 10/2012 - Present, Individual Instruction, American College of Chest Physicians
  • 8/2012 - Present, Chest radiographs for Cardiologists, UTHSCSA and the STVHCS
  • 1/2012 - Present, Chest Radiographs for the Cardiologist (Post-graduate: Fellows), UTHSCSA
  • 2/2008 - Present, Harmful Effects of Smoking and Drugs on the Lungs, Patient focus groups: STVHCS and UHS
  • 7/2007 - Present, Diabetic Ketoacidosis for Interns, UTHSCSA / VA
  • 7/2007 - Present, Basics of Chest CT Interpretation: Combined Conference: Pulmonary Fellows and Faculty, UTHSCSA and STVHCS and SAMC
  • 7/2007 - Present, Basics of Chest Radiograph Interpretation: Combined Conference: Pulmonary Fellows and Faculty, UTHSCSA and STVHCS and SAMC
  • 7/2007 - Present, Management of Chronic Asthma for Residents, UTHSCSA / VA
  • 4/2007 - Present, Internal Medicine Board Review: Pulmonary Diseases (Parts 1-4), UTHSCSA
  • 3/2007 - Present, COPD: A New Look at an Old Disease and the GOLD Guidelines for Medicine Residents, UTHSCSA
  • 2/2007 - Present, Clinical Medicine III, The University of Texas Health Science Center
  • 2/2007 - Present, Clinical Medicine III, The University of Texas Health Science Center
  • 1/2007 - Present, Undergraduate Student Supervision, University Health System
  • 9/2006 - Present, Oxygen Delivery Devices: Which Device to Use and in What Setting for Interns and Residents, UTHSCSA
  • 8/2006 - Present, Feeding Tubes and Lines Confirmation of Placement by X-ray for Interns and Residents, UTHSCSA
  • 7/2006 - Present, 07/2006 - Present Overview of Pulmonary Medicine for Clinical Nurse Specialists, UTHSCSA
  • 6/2006 - Present, Chest Radiography for Practicing Clinicians, American College of Physicians Board Review Small Group Interactive Series: 1 hour CME
  • 10/2005 - Present, Critical Respiratory Care, The University of Texas Health Science Center
  • 10/2005 - Present, IV Sedation/Pain Control, The University of Texas Health Science Center
  • 8/2005 - Present, Adv Physical Diagnosis, The University of Texas Health Science Center
  • 7/2005 - Present, Recognition and management of complicated parapneumonic effusions for Residents, UTHSCSA
  • 7/2005 - Present, Pearls of Reading Chest Radiographs for Residents: 3 hours (Parts 1-3), UTHSCSA
  • 7/2005 - Present, Introduction to Reading Normal and Abnormal Chest CTs for Residents: 1 hour, UTHSCSA
  • 7/2005 - Present, Introduction to Reading Chest X-rays for Interns: 6 hours (Parts 1-6), UTHSCSA
  • 5/2005 - Present, Pulmonary Disease, The University of Texas Health Science Center
  • 1/2005 - Present, Managing COPD: The GOLD Guidelines for Medicine Residents, UTHSCSA
  • 9/2004 - Present, Rotation Student Supervision, UTHSCSA / VA / UHS
  • 4/2004 - Present, Physician Lecture Series for Respiratory Therapists, UTHSCSA
  • 7/2002 - Present, Post-Doctoral Student Supervision, UTHSCSA / VA
  • 8/2001 - Present, Emergency Management of Asthma: Medicine Interns and Residents, UTHSCSA
  • 7/2001 - Present, Post-Doctoral Student Supervision, UTHSCSA / VA / UHS
  • 7/2001 - Present, Post Graduate Rotation Supervision, UTHSCSA / VA / UHS
  • 7/2001 - Present, Pulmon/Critical Care-amva, The University of Texas Health Science Center
  • 7/2001 - Present, Clinical Chest Disease Consultation Service, The University of Texas Health Science Center
  • 7/2001 - Present, Clinical Chest Disease, The University of Texas Health Science Center
  • 7/2001 - Present, Clinical Chest Disease, The University of Texas Health Science Center
  • 7/2001 - Present, Special Topic, The University of Texas Health Science Center

• Research & Grants

  Grants

  Federal

  Funding Agency NIH Title Genetic Epidemiology of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Status Active Period 9/2007 - Present Role Co-Principal Investigator Grant Detail Genetic Epidemiology of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. The original local grant was approximately $1.2 million.
  Renewal - 7/1/2017-7/31/2018 Funding Agency NIH Title Depression and functional outcomes in COPD: Impact of genetics and inflammation Status Active Period 2/2010 - 11/2016 Role Co-Investigator Grant Detail I am the local PI for this two-center study. Depression is highly prevalent among patients with COPD and is associated with adverse clinical outcomes. The overall goal of this proposal is to examine the impact of inflammation and genetic risk factors on depression in patients with severe COPD, and to assess the combined effects of inflammation, genetics, and depression on changes in functional outcomes. There is increasing evidence that COPD is associated with systemic inflammation that impacts other organ systems. High levels of systemic inflammatory markers have also been linked to increased risk of depression in both healthy and chronically ill populations. The neurotransmitter serotonin which is involved in the pathophysiology of affective disorders is regulated by the serotonin transporter (SERT) that controls reuptake of serotonin at brain synapses. Recent studies report that SERT polymorphisms are associated with depression, suggesting that variants of this gene may be important in determining
  whether patients with COPD will develop depression
  during the course of their disease. The preliminary data linking SERT polymorphisms with depression and data suggesting a relationship between inflammation, depression and COPD strongly argue for a large scale prospective study to critically test these relationships.

  Therefore, the aims of this prospective study of patients with moderate to very severe COPD are to: 1) Examine the relationship between SERT polymorphisms with depression; 2) Examine the bi-directional longitudinal relationship between markers of systemic inflammation (CRP, IL-1ra, IL-6, IL-12, TNF-α, and IFN-γ) and depressive symptoms in COPD, and explore the role of exacerbations and SERT genotype in this relationship; and 3) Determine the relationship of depression, inflammation, and SERT genotype with decline in functional outcomes (six minute walk test distance, physical activity measured with accelerometers, dyspnea severity, and h

   

• Publications

  Abstract

  Bresnahan LZ, Bowen EO, Patterson JE, Adams SG. Transformational learning for care of chronic lung disease using interprofessional pedagogies. Selected for oral presentation at Society for Academic Continuing Medical Education to be presented in Scottsdale, AZ; 2017 May. Adams SG, Bowen EO, Bresnahan LZ, Hart MK, Patterson JE. COPD educational interventions improve clinical practice. Invited oral presentation (30 minutes) at Alliance for Continuing Education in Health Professions Annual Meeting in National Harbor, MD; 2017 Jan. Adams SG, et al. Web-based, interactive professional education in COPD (WipeCOPD) facilitates practice changes in primary care. Oral presentation at the World Congress on Continuing Professional Development conference (occurs every four years San Diego, CA; 2017 Jan. Adams SG. The interprofessional web-based interactive professional education in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (WipeCOPD) educational program facilitates actual behavioral changes in primary care clinics. Oral presentation at the Annual University of Texas; 2016 Feb. Bowen EO, Bresnahan LZ, Adams SG, Patterson JE. Patterson JE. Evidence of transformation learning through the use of interprofessional pedagogies. Poster presentation at Alliance for Continuing Education in Health Professions Annual Meeting in National Harbor, MD; 2016 Jan. Amalakuhan Bravein, Adams SG. Improving outcomes in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: the role of the interprofessional approach; 2015 Oct. (International Journal of COPD). Adams SG, Bresnahan LZ, Bowen EO, Patterson JE. Best in Class in Outcomes, Keynote Presentation entitled: COPD educational interventions improve clinical practice. Oral presentation at the Alliance Industry Summit (AIS) meeting in Philadelphia, PA; 2015 May. Adams SG, Hart MK, Bowen EO, Bresnahan LZ, Patterson JE. COPD continuing education improves quality in clinical practice. Oral presentation at CHEST 2015 Annual meeting in Montreal, Canada; CHEST 2015:148(4_MeetingAbstracts);470A; 2015 Jan. Abedi A, Velez MI, Restrepo MI, Anzueto AR, Adams SG. Severe Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) Secondary to Sirolimus-Induced Pneumonitis in a Non-Transplant Patient; 2014 May. (Proceedings of the American J of Resp and Crit Care Med). Zatikyan N, King P, Malave AJ, Adams SG. Symptoms with a Slippery Solution; 2014 May. (Proceedings of the American J of Resp and Crit Care Med). Adams SG, Fan VS, Nguyen HQ, Borson S, Kohen R, Matute-Bello M, Pagalilauan G, Anzueto AR. Clinical Outcomes in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease are Associated with Perception of Dyspnea more than Exacerbation Risk or Disease Severity Measured by Lung Function; 2013 Oct. (CHEST). Velez MI, Angel LF, Levine SM, Adams SG. "Spontaneous" Pneumothorax in a Patient with Severe Emphysematous Lung Disease; 2013 May. (American Thoracic Society International Meeting Abstracts; vol. 187, no. 1). Adams SG, Pitts J, Wynne J, Yawn B, Diamond E, Lee S, Dellert E, Hanania N. Impact of a Reproducible, Interactive Continuing Education Program on Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease on Clinical Practice of Healthcare Professionals; 2011 Oct. (CHEST; vol. 140, no. 4). Adams SG, Pitts, Jennifer, Yawn, Barbara P, Wynne, JoEllyn, Diamond, Edward J, Hanania, Nicola A. An Interactive Continuing Education Program on Best Practice Recommendations for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Care Improved Confidence, Knowledge, and Clinical Practice of Primary Care Clinicians; 2010 Oct. (CHEST; vol. 138, no. 4).

  Electronic/Web Publication

  Adams SG. WipeCOPD YouTube Channel: High-definition videos for patients: a. ?What is COPD? b. ?How to use an Aerolizer? c. ?How to use an Autohaler? d. ?How to use a Diskus? e. ?How to use a Flexhaler? f. ?How to use a HandiHaler? g. ?How to use a Metered D 2012 Jan. Available from: http://www.youtube.com/user/wipecopd?feature=results_main .

  Journal Article

  Nguyen HQ, Herting JR, Pike KC, Gharib SA, Matute-Bello G, Borson S, Kohen R, Adams SG, Fan VS. Symptom profiles and inflammatory markers in moderate to severe COPD. BMC Pulm Med.(1):173 2016 Dec;. Nguyen HQ, Herting JR, Pike KC, Gharib SA, Matute-Bello G, Borson S, Kohen R, Adams SG, Fan VS. Symptom profiles and inflammatory markers in moderate to severe COPD. BMC Pulm Med.3;16(1):173 2016 Dec;. Soni NJ, Reyes LF, Keyt H, Arango A, Gelfond JA, Peters JI, Levine SM, Adams SG, Restrepo MI. Use of ultrasound guidance for central venous catheterization: a national survey of intensivists and hospitalists. J Crit Care. 36:277-283. doi: 10.1016/j.jcrc.2016.07.014 2016 Dec;. Schure MB, Borson S, Nguyen HQ, Trittschuh EH, Thielke SM, Pike KC, Adams SG, Fan VS. Associations of cognition with physical functioning and health-related quality of life among COPD patients. Respir Med.114:46-52. doi: 10.1016/j.rmed.2016.03.005 2016 May;. Adams SG. Improving outcomes in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: the role of the interprofessional approach. p.1225-1232. (International Journal of COPD) 2015 Oct;. Fleehart S, Fan VS, Nguyen HQ, Lee J, Kohen R, Herting JR, Matute-Bello G, Adams SG, Pagalilauan G, Borson S. Prevalence and correlates of suicide ideation in patients with COPD: a mixed methods study. Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis. 10:1321-9. doi: 10.2147/COPD.S65507 2014 Dec;. Nguyen HQ, Fan VS, Herting J, Lee J, Fu M, Chen Z, Borson S, Kohen R, Matute-Bello G, Pagalilauan G, Adams SG. Patients with COPD with Higher Levels of Anxiety are More Physically Active Chest 2013 Jul;144(1):145-151. Fan VS, Gaziano JM, Lew R, Bourbeau J, Adams SG, Leatherman S, Thwin SS, Huang GD, Robbins R, Sriram PS, Sharafkhaneh A, Mador MJ, Sarosi G, Panos RJ, Rastogi P, Wagner TH, Mazzuca SA, Shannon C, Colling C, Liang MH, Stoller JK, Fiore L, Niewoehner DE. A Comprehensive Care Management Program to Prevent Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Hospitalizations Annals of Internal Medicine 2012 May;156(10):673-690. Hospenthal MA, Adams SG,. Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: The Overlap Syndrome Current Respiratory Medicine Reviews 2012 Apr;8(2):131-136. Maselli DJ, Adams SG, Peters JI. The role of anti-infectives in the treatment of refractory asthma Therapeutic Advances in Respiratory Disease 2011 Dec;5(6):387-396. Henao-Martinez AF, Fernandez JF, Adams SG, Restrepo C. Lung Bullae With Air-Fluid Levels, What Is the Appropriate Therapeutic Approach? Respir Care 2011 Oct;. Sonetti DA, Hospenthal AC, Adams SG. Integrated management strategies for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease Journal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare 2010 Sep;20(3):181-188. Adams SG, Anzueto A, Briggs DD, Leimer I, Kesten S. Evaluation of withdrawal of maintenance tiotropium in COPD Respir Med 2009 Oct;103(10):1415-1420. Adams SG, Anzueto AR. A pharmacotherapeutic approach to improving health-related quality of life for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease Clin Pulm Med 2009 May;16(3):115-126. Adams SG, Sanchez, J. Clinical Strategies in COPD RT Magazine 2007 May;:30-35. Adams SG, Smith PK, Allan PF, Anzueto AR, Pugh JA, Cornell JE. Systematic review of the Chronic Care Model in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease prevention and management Arch Intern Med 2007 Mar;167:551-561. Adams SG, Anzueto A, Pugh JA, Lee S, Hazuda HP. Mexican American elders have similar severities of COPD despite less tobacco exposure than European American elders Respir Med 2006 Nov;100:1966-1972. Adams SG, Anzueto A, Briggs DD, Menjoge SS, Kesten S. Tiotropium in COPD patients not previously receiving maintenance respiratory medications Respir Med 2006 Jan;100(9):1495-1503. Adams SG. Managing COPD to improve quality of life Drug Benefit Trends 2006 Jan;18(4):259-265. Adams SG, Pugh JA, Kazis LE, Lee S, Anzueto A. Characteristics associated with sustained abstinence from smoking among patients with COPD Am J Med 2006 Jan;119(5):441-447. Adams SG. Managing COPD: Acute Exacerbations. Part 2 J Respir Dis 2005 Jan;26:335-341. Adams SG. Managing COPD: How to deal with the most common problems. Part 1 J Respir Dis 2005 Jan;26:284-289. Adams SG, Anzueto AR. Antibiotic therapy in acute exacerbation of chronic bronchitis: The antibiotics. Part 2 Pulmonary Perspectives 2002 Jan;19:1-5. Adams SG, Anzueto A, Anzueto AR. Antibiotic therapy in acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis Semin Respir Infect 2000 Sep;15(3):234-247.

• Clinical

  Board Certifications

  • American Board of Internal Medicine/Pulmonary Disease
  • American Board of Internal Medicine/Critical Care Medicine