Dr. Pichurko completed his medicine training and chief medical residency at the University of Illinois in Chicago in 1981. After a fellowship in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, he stayed on as Clinical and Research Faculty at the Peter Bent Brigham Hospital (now the Brigham and Women's Hospital) Harvard Medical School in Boston. There he was introduced to Cystic Fibrosis by Dr. Mary-Ellen Wohl, the renowned Director of Pulmonary Medicine at Boston's Children's Hospital. In 1989, he assumed the position of Chief of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at Sinai Hospital and Director of its Pulmonary Fellowship Program. In December 1997, he began his tenure as Pulmonary Section Chief and Strategic Director of Critical Care at Providence Hospital. In its August 1999 edition- US News and World Report named Providence among the top 50 Respiratory Disease Programs nationally. Individually, he is listed in the "Guide to America's Top Doctors" in Pulmonary Disease.

Dr. Pichurko is an investigator of mechanisms of Asthma and of airway dysfunction in Cystic Fibrosis. His earlier work in defining the role of leukotrienes (LT) in the asthmatic response was a forerunner to the development of current leukotriene blockers and merited a co investigator ( EJ Corey) who synthesized the LT a Nobel Prize in Chemistry. An investigation into the effect of pleural pressure on Diffusion Capacity Measurements in Pulmonary Function Testing was awarded the ACCP Investigators Award. Dr. Pichurko is an Associate Professor of Medicine at Wayne State University.

Dr. Organek received his pulmonary training at the University of Illinois in Chicago; where he developed his interest and expertise in control of ventilation and sleep-related respiratory disorders. Subsequently, he returned to Detroit where he assumed the position of Chief of Pulmonary Medicine at Mt. Carmel Mercy Hospital. He joined the staff of Providence Hospital in 1990 where he continues to the present as a member of the Pulmonary Section.

Dr. Organek is known to our Cystic Fibrosis group through his service as Associate Director since 1998. He has participated in our Spring Summit; and in local and national CF meetings. His dry wit and respiratory expertise have made Dr. Organek a welcome addition and a strong asset to our program.

Cheri is Administrative support of the CF Center and Dr. Pichurko. She has worked in this capacity for 6 years, both at Providence and Sinai Hospitals. Her ever smiling face and willingness to help is a great asset to the CF Center.

Julie completed her Master of Public Health in April 1999 at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI. She is an active member of Michigan Dietetic Association and is elected as the Media Representative for 2001-2004. She has been with Providence Hospital and Cystic Fibrosis Center since January 2000. She is our Chief Clinical Dietitian and Chief Editor for our monthly News letter, Living Your Best Life.

Michelle received her Master's in Social Work at the University of Michigan in 1982, as well as a Certificate in Gerontology. She has been employed at Providence Hospital for the past 10 years in both Medical and Psychiatric Social Work. Additional experience includes work with children and older adults. She has been the Chief Social Worker of the CF Center since May 2000.