The adult Cystic Fibrosis and Bronchiectasis Program at UT Southwestern and the Claude Prestidge Cystic Fibrosis (CF) Center at Children’s Medical Center Dallas received 2025 Quality Improvement Awards from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CFF).

A lifelong condition caused by one or more genetic mutations, cystic fibrosis affects the lungs as well as other organs, causing problems such as liver or digestive system disease, repeated infections, diabetes, and osteoporosis.

The UTSW programs provide holistic care for this rare and often debilitating illness and are the only clinics in the Dallas area accredited by the CFF. The award recognizes the team’s exemplary use of clinical data to drive improvement, robust trainee education, meaningful patient and family engagement in enhancing quality of care, and innovative communication strategies to overcome barriers to access.

“As one of only about 170 cystic fibrosis centers in the nation, we are especially honored to receive this recognition,” said Raksha Jain, M.D., Professor of Internal Medicine in the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine and Medical Director of the Cystic Fibrosis and Bronchiectasis Program. “It demonstrates our commitment to ongoing quality improvement as we strive to provide the best care possible to our patients.”

Physicians, nurses, and other health care professionals representing the adult Cystic Fibrosis and Bronchiectasis Program at UT Southwestern receive their Quality Improvement Award from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation at the 2025 North American Cystic Fibrosis Conference in October in Seattle.

Of notable initiatives, the program’s database adds to the national registry to track clinical metrics. The clinical team also created a patient advisory committee that meets monthly to provide input on ongoing quality improvement (QI) projects. The clinic’s patient population doubled from 2010 to 2017 and then again from 2017 to 2022 as people from areas well beyond Dallas sought to be a part of the program.

Among numerous honors for team excellence and quality of care, the Cystic Fibrosis and Bronchiectasis Program received a Leaders in Clinical Excellence Program Development Award in 2023. In 2018, the program was also recognized with a CFF Quality Improvement Award.

The pediatric CFF award recognizes the breadth and impact of the QI initiatives at the Claude Prestidge Cystic Fibrosis (CF) Center. The pediatric team undertakes about six QI projects a year, each aimed at enhancing care delivery and patient outcomes.

“Everyone participates in QI, from our clinic nurses and parent partners to our physician providers,” said Preeti Sharma, M.D., Clinical Associate Professor of Pediatrics and co-Director of the Center. “We take pride in having a diverse group participate in QI efforts.”

The Center is an active participant in the CF Learning Network (CFLN), the CF Foundation’s dedicated QI collaborative. The pediatric program also was awarded a CFF Quality Improvement Award in 2018.

“We continue to strengthen our efforts through structured training in QI methodology and tools,” said Meghana Sathe, M.D., Professor of Pediatrics and co-Director of the Center. “The partnership we have with CFLN empowers our team to drive meaningful change and contribute to the national CF care community.”