International Cystic Fibrosis

Training Network

A collaborative effort funded by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and led by the UAB/Children’s of Alabama CF Team

WELCOME!

Our mission is to establish, train, and support multidisciplinary Cystic Fibrosis Care Centers in developing countries by coaching on healthcare team function, established standards of care, and quality improvement, leading to improved patient outcomes and increased life expectancy of people with CF.

What is ICFTN?

The UAB CF team has successfully trained LMIC teams through the CF Training Network-Latin America (CFTN-LA). This training initiative has evolved into the International Cystic Fibrosis Training Network (ICFTN), a learning network that incorporates UAB's International Mentor Training Initiative (IMTI) and advanced data management solutions. This creates a comprehensive approach to improving CF care in resource-limited areas of the world.

Background of ICFTN

In 2014, Cystic Fibrosis clinical outcomes in Chile did not follow those of the general health outcomes and economic indicators that the country had achieved in the last decades and showed disproportionate morbidity and mortality.

What Do We Do?

Team Assessment and Education

The UAB clinical team has established an effective process for coordinating and implementing training. A clinical training core has been developed and standardized. First assessment of LA teams is accomplished by collecting a modified 5P evaluation.

How is ICFTN Funded?

Over the past 60 years, the CF Foundation has established itself as a leader in rare disease research and has earned a global recognition for the advancement of new CF therapies.

About ICFTN

For two decades, Dr. Hector Gutierrez has followed his passion for caring for children with Cystic Fibrosis at the pediatric CF center in Birmingham, Alabama. Using quality improvement methodology to change processes and improve outcomes, he has led his team to become CF care leaders. At the same time, he has pursued an effort to improve CF care in his native country of Chile and surrounding countries, where life expectancy for people with CF falls well below that of people in the US.  By implementing a training program that mentors CF healthcare providers in Chile and Argentina and gives them the tools they need to improve, people with CF in both countries are now living longer.

Our Team

We are a CF care team at a large CF center in the US. We have worked together for more than ten years improving the function of our multidisciplinary team and the outcomes of the patients we serve. We are trained and experienced in quality improvement methods and coaching others.

We have worked with international teams in South America for the last nine years, changing processes, changing outcomes, and empowering providers and patients. We love what we do and want to help others be successful.

Hector Gutierrez, MD

Hector is a pediatric pulmonologist, the UAB/Children’s of Alabama CF Center Director and the Leader and principal investigator for the CFTN.

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Cathy Mims, MSHQS, RN, BSN

Cathy is the CF Center Coordinator and Quality Improvement leader at the UAB/Children’s of Alabama pediatric CF center. She has been in the field of pediatric CF care since the year 2000.

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Stephanie Gamble, MPH, RRT, RCP

Stephanie is the lead respiratory therapist at the UAB/Children’s of Alabama pediatric CF center. She has been in the field of pediatric CF care since 2008. Stephanie is a patient educator and research facilitator for the center.

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Virginia Anderson, MS, RD, LD

Virginia has participated in improvement initiatives through the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation working with teams across the United States and led nutritional improvements at the CF Center in Birmingham.

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Staci Self, LICSW

Staci is a licensed clinical social worker with expertise in CF transition, quality improvement coaching, CF newborn screening and relationship-centered communication training. She has been a CF care provider since 1996.

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Our Partner Team

We are a large pediatric multidisciplinary CF center in Texas and one of the oldest accredited centers in the US. We continue to work to improve the care provided to our patients and families through extensive quality improvement and training. We have a very diverse population of CF patients that we follow and this has inspired us to work with other CF teams in Latin America in partnership with the UAB team. We love working with our partner teams in Latin America to improve outcomes and the overall well-being of CF patients and their care teams.

Fadel Ruiz, MD

Fadel is a Pediatric Pulmonologist and the CF Center Director at Baylor/Texas Children's Hospital.
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Pam Tuley, MSHA, RN, CPN

Pam is the CF Center Coordinator at the Baylor/Texas Children's Hospital Pediatric CF Care Center.
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Suzie Culhane, MPH, RD, CSP, LD

Suzie is a CF and lung transplant dietitian at the Baylor/Texas Children's Hospital Pediatric CF Center.
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Blair Alger, LCSW

Blair is a licensed clinical social worker with expertise in food insecurity among CF families and patients and CF transition.
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Lisa Traplena, CRT, CPFT

Lisa is an RT at Baylor/Texas Children's Hospital Pediatric CF Center. Lisa is a certified respiratory therapist and is also certified in pulmonary function testing.
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