Interventional Pulmonary Medicine, a relatively newer sub-specialty in Pulmonary Medicine is making new strides in the healthcare sector with the emergence of new treatments and technologies, especially in developing countries like India. However, a decade ago, the scenario for interventional pulmonology was not as it would seem right now. As a specialization, it was the road that was very less taken by medical students because of a lack of awareness, and this mode of treatment was not that prevalent a decade ago.

Dr Venkata Nagarjuna Maturu is one of the immensely experienced professionals in this domain who understood the potential of interventional pulmonology in his very early stages of education. He completed a DM degree in Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine from PGIMER, Chandigarh, one of the most reputed medical institutions in the country, and then focused on interventional pulmonology. With skills and specialization in this subject, he has been able to diagnose and cure many complex pulmonary diseases with minimally invasive interventions, avoiding complex surgical procedures, and this aspect of his treatment makes him stand out in this segment.

Dr Maturu is one of the most trusted and renowned pulmonologists currently practicing in India. He holds a D.M. degree in pulmonary medicine and is one of the very few experts working in this domain. He hails from a family of doctors and is the fourth generation doctor in his family. His father is still practicing in Vizianagaram and is one of the most recognized doctors in the state. Dr Maturu, after completing his education, has been practising in Hyderabad for the last 10 years. “In Hyderabad, I am working at the Yashoda Hospitals, Hitec City, which is a quaternary care referral centre, and one of the most advanced and largest corporate hospitals in the country with 2000 beds. Here, I am heading the departments of pulmonary medicine, sleep medicine, and interventional pulmonology”, mentioned Dr V. Nagarjuna Maturu.

Leading by Example

Dr Maturu has immense experience in the field of interventional pulmonology and is an expert in conducting complex procedures like navigational bronchoscopy, bronchoscopic thermal vapour ablation, central airway interventions, transbronchial lung cryobiopsies, and many more. We can see

that many new healthcare technologies are being introduced every year in this sector and Dr Maturu is one of the few doctors who is very well aware of them and also has expertise in educating about their functionality to others. He also strongly believes in the dissemination of knowledge and empowering others. He regularly organizes CMEs and workshops on training pulmonologists across the country on various aspects of pulmonology and is also an invited faculty for several regional, national, and international medical conferences.

His dedication to his duties is unparalleled as he believes in working harder and smarter to become successful in life. The reason why he is a respected personality in the medical sector is his dedication to his profession. He engages with various technology providers to provide suggestions as to how healthcare technologies can become better. He provides them with accurate industry knowledge and patient requirements which become helpful in creating new solutions.

“I have brought in many new technologies in the interventional pulmonology segment at Yashoda Hospitals. I have always believed in putting in the extra effort to stay ahead and to be updated. Being a leader of these departments is a big responsibility that can only be handled through dedication. I will be able to educate my colleagues and juniors only when I am completely equipped with the knowledge and expertise”, said Dr Maturu.

Dr Maturu has immense experience in the field of clinical and interventional pulmonology. He is an astute clinician and also an expert in conducting complex interventional pulmonary procedures. Precision Medicine and empathy-driven practice define his approach

Precision Medicine and empathy-guided practice

In whatever he does, Dr Maturu’s primary goal is to serve mankind. He delves deeper into the problems of patients and tries to understand the root cause of diseases. He has started the concept of “Precision Medicine” in Pulmonology, in which each patient is further classified based on his disease patterns, and the treatment is tailored to suit the person. Over the years he has started Precision Specialty Clinics for severe asthma, severe COPD, interstitial lung diseases, and bronchiectasis, and every year hundreds of patients benefit and improve with precision medicine. “What I follow is the formula of empathy-guided practice. It is only through the knowledge about the inner conditions and root causes of diseases, we will be able to better serve patients and provide them with better medical care. As a doctor, it is my primary duty to do what is best for the patients”, stated Dr Maturu.

Plans for the Future

Dr Maturu has gained significant trust and recognition in the healthcare segment of the country through dedication and accurate knowledge of his domain. Every year he aims and focuses on bringing one new technology and a new change in the field of pulmonary/interventional pulmonary medicine. In the year 2024, the team led by Dr Maturu focused on improving the diagnostic approach to lung nodules. The department introduced two pathbreaking technologies, namely Cone Beam CT scan and Archimedes, with which lung cancers can be diagnosed in the very early stages and patients can be cured of the cancer.

He has started India’s first “Lung Nodule Clinic” and also organized a two-day exclusive CME “Nodule Summit 2024” to increase awareness about the correct approach to the management of lung nodules. “In the year 2025, I plan on working with new technologies and implementing Artificial Intelligence applications in pulmonary medicine, as I strongly feel that when artificial intelligence complements human intelligence, the outcomes will be even better”, he concluded.