Hector Gutierrez

Dr. Gutierrez is Professor, Raymond K. Lyrene Chair and Director, Division of Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine; Director, COA/UAB Cystic Fibrosis Care Center; McWane Initiative Leader (Medical Quality at Children's); Scientist, Gregory Fleming James Cystic Fibrosis Research Center (CFRC); Associate Scientist, UAB Center for Outcomes and Effectiveness Research and Education (COERE) and Associate Scientist, UAB Minority Health Research Center (MHRC). Dr. Gutierrez leads an academic environment centered on the training and acquisition of high-quality medical teams caring for cystic fibrosis, including clinical and research fellows as well as multidisciplinary team members. He has expertise, leadership, and training in healthcare delivery and quality improvement methodologies and uses cystic fibrosis care as a model to improve the quality and value of clinical care, which ultimately results in longer survival. He is currently investigating the development of an integrated model for comprehensive CF care that will ensure bidirectional communication between patients/families and the care team. This patient and healthcare provider support system will provide continuity of interaction outside of the clinical setting, albeit safeguarding the integrity of the clinical microsystem and the family system of care resulting in the collaborative setting of goals that are important to the family and therefore more attainable. His research objectives are to implement and investigate quality improvement, outcome measurement, and management of both clinical and non-clinical processes. Other interests include clinical evaluation and management of general pulmonary disorders, including asthma, cystic fibrosis, technology-dependent respiratory conditions and pulmonary infections.