The Department of Medicine

Rajiv Dhand, MD, FCCP, FACP, FAARC, FRSM

Professor
Division of Pulmonary Medicine
Section of Critical Care Medicine

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3621-2422

Research Focus

Dr. Dhand is an internationally recognized researcher in the area of aerosolized medicine particularly with regard to the delivery of medications designed to treat chronic obstructive lung disease. Recent initiatives include (1) a critical analysis of the microbiome of nebulizers and related respiratory devices, which may lead to a change in the way in which we re-use tubing and aerosol chambers, and (2) the development of a tool that can be used to select the optimal inhaler device based on patient characteristics (i.e. a new approach to precision medicine applied to COPD treatment). Additionally, he is interested in muscle weakness and outcomes in patients admitted to the hospital.

Education

Medical School
Postgraduate Institute, Chandigarh, India, 1978
National Board of Examinations (New Delhi, India) Degree in Respiratory Medicine, 1979

Residency
Postgraduate Institute, Chandigarh, India

Postgraduate School
Research Associate, Virginia Mason Research Center
Research Associate, University of Washington-Seattle, WA

Fellowship
Pulmonary, Postgraduate Institute, Chandigarh, India
Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine, VA Medical Center, Boise, ID and University of Washington-Seattle, WA
Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine, Loyola University Medical Center, IL

Certifications

American Board of Internal Medicine
American Board of Internal Medicine, Pulmonary Disease
American Board of Internal Medicine, Critical Care Medicine

Professional Affiliations

Fellow, American College of Chest Physicians
Fellow, American College of Physicians
Fellow, American Association of Respiratory Care
Elected to America's Top Physicians

Books and Book Chapters

Dhand R. Inhaled Anticancer Agents. In: Advances in Pulmonary Drug Delivery. Boca Raton: CRC Press. Chapter 5, p. 67-92.

Current Publications

Duarte AG, Dhand R.
Aerosol therapy in the emergency department. J Aerosol Med Pulm Drug Deliv. 2026 Feb;39(1):38-56. doi: 10.1089/jamp.2025.17897.agd. Epub 2026 Feb 2.

Terry PD, Onar G, Ferris J, Heidel RE, Brophy N, Thapa K, Shali L, Worth H, Kumar G, Walker T, Dhand R.
A social determinants of health survey in an Appalachian East Tennessee Medical Center: Initial findings and correlations with physical and emotional states of health. PLoS One. 2025 Oct 9;20(10):e0332087. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0332087. eCollection 2025.

Terry PD, Wilson OL, Heaton ML, Triplett O, Heidel RE, Dhand R.
Accuracy of digital photographs for assessing inflammatory gum disease in epidemiologic studies. Front Oral Health. 2025 Sep 2;6:1667604. doi: 10.3389/froh.2025.1667604. eCollection 2025.

Subramanian J, Dhand R..
Inhaled chemotherapy. J Aerosol Med Pulm Drug Deliv. 2025 Apr;38(2):90-101. doi: 10.1089/jamp.2025.19211.js.

Terry P, Heidel RE, Wilson AQ, Dhand R.
Risk of long COVID in patients with pre-existing chronic respiratory diseases: A systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ Open Respir Res. 2025 Jan 30;12(1):e002528. doi: 10.1136/bmjresp-2024-002528.

Dhand R, Treat S, Ferris J, Terry PD, Walker T, Elder S, Church D, Dennis D, Faircloth B, Onar G, Heidel R.E, Biney I, Valdes M, Bhagat M, Fuerst N, Cusick S.
Safety, efficacy, and feasibility of nebulized long-acting bronchodilators vs short-acting bronchodilators in hospitalized patients with acute exacerbations of COPD: A phase IV, randomized, parallel-group clinical trial. Chest Pulm.. 2024,Volume 2, Issue 4,100105,ISSN 2949-7892,https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chpulm.2024.100105

Dhand R, Ferris J, Onar G, Terry P, Heidel ER, Nemykina Y.
Serum alpha-1 antitrypsin levels and phenotypes among patients with COPD and asthma seen at an academic tertiary pulmonary clinic in East Tennessee. CHEST. 2024,Volume 166, Issue 4, Supplement,Pages A4842-A4843,ISSN 0012-3692,https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chest.2024.06.2873

Dhand R, Hess MW, Yohannes AM.
Recalibrating perceptions and attitudes toward nebulizers versus inhalers for maintenance therapy in COPD: Past as prologue. Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis. 2024 Nov 28;19:2571-2586. doi: 10.2147/COPD.S491275. eCollection 2024.

Biney I, Ari A, Barjaktarevic IZ, Carlin B, Christiani DC, Cochran L, Drummond MB, Johnson K, Kealing D, Kuehl PJ, Li J, Mahler DA, Martinez S, Ohar J, Radonovich L, Sood A, Suggett J, Tal-Singer R, Tashkin D, Yates J, Cambridge L, Dailey PA, Mannino DM, Dhand R..
Guidance on mitigating the risk of transmitting respiratory infections during nebulization by the COPD foundation nebulizer consortium. Chest. 2024 Mar;165(3):653-668. doi: 10.1016/j.chest.2023.11.013. Epub 2023 Nov 15.

Terry PD, Dhand R..
The 2023 gold report: Updated guidelines for inhaled pharmacological therapy in patients with stable COPD. Pulm Ther. 2023 Jul 20. doi: 10.1007/s41030-023-00233-z. Online ahead of print.

Li J, Liu K, Lyu S, Jing G, Dai B, Dhand R, Lin HL, Pelosi P, Berlinski A, Rello J, Torres A, Luyt CE, Michotte JB, Lu Q, Reychler G, Vecellio L, de Andrade AD, Rouby JJ, Fink JB, Ehrmann S..
Aerosol therapy in adult critically ill patients: A consensus statement regarding aerosol administration strategies during various modes of respiratory support. Ann Intensive Care. 2023 Jul 12;13(1):63. doi: 10.1186/s13613-023-01147-4.

Terry PD, Heidel RE, Dhand R.
The association of preexisting severe asthma with COVID-19 outcomes. Curr Opin Pulm Med. 2023 May 1;29(3):215-222. doi: 10.1097/MCP.0000000000000954. Epub 2023 Mar 17.

Swanson CS, Dhand R, Cao L, Ferris J, Elder CS, He Q.
Microbiome-scale analysis of aerosol facemask contamination during nebulization therapy in hospital. J Hosp Infect. 2023 Apr;134:80-88. doi: 10.1016/j.jhin.2023.01.008. Epub 2023 Jan 20.

Hamilton M, Anderson M, Dhand R, Patmore O, Prime D, Taylor E..
In vitro drug delivery of a fixed-dose combination of fluticasone furoate/umeclidinium/vilanterol from a dry powder inhaler. J Aerosol Med Pulm Drug Deliv.

Swanson CS, Dhand R, Cao L, Ferris J, Elder CS, He Q.
Microbiome-scale analysis of aerosol facemask contamination during nebulization therapy in the hospital. J Hosp Infect. 2023 Jan 20:S0195-6701(23)00019-1. doi: 10.1016/j.jhin.2023.01.008. Online ahead of print.

Current Presentations

Nadkarni S, Dhand R, He Q, Walker T, Swanson CS, Wang C, Li R, Ferris J, Eads A, Church D, Holbert LA. Characterization of the microbiome on endotracheal tubes after short-term use by mechanically ventilated patients. Presented at American Thoracic Society (ATS) International Conference 2026; May 15, 2026; Orlando, FL.

Valdes M, Faradji D, Ferris J, Dhand R. Correlation of subjective perceived activity and weakness score (PAWS) with maximum inspiratory pressure (MIP), maximum expiratory pressure (MEP) and peak inspiratory flow rate (PIFR Presented at American Thoracic Society; 2023 May 19; Washington DC.