Katrina Steiling, MD Hear my name
Associate Professor
Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine
Medicine
Pulmonary, Allergy, Sleep & Critical Care Medicine

MD, Boston University School of Medicine
MSc, Boston University
BS, Boston College

Pronouns: she/her/hers



Dr. Steiling is a Pulmonary/Critical Care physician investigator with expertise in program implementation and health disparities research. She completed her fellowship training in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at Boston University Medical Center, and concurrently completed a Master of Science in Bioinformatics through the Boston University College of Engineering. She has devoted her career improving the effective detection and treatment of lung diseases caused by cigarette smoking.

Dr. Steiling’s research career began with a focus on biomarker development for smoking-induced lung diseases such as lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Using the airway field of injury hypothesis, which posits that cigarette smoking induces molecular changes throughout the respiratory tract, she studied alterations in the airway transcriptome that reflect the presence, susceptibility, and progression of smoking-induced lung diseases. Her laboratory used whole-genome expression profiling of the bronchial airway epithelium to describe the relationship between upper and lower airway gene expression, and leveraged this information to develop clinically relevant biomarkers of lung cancer and COPD, and other diseases that affect the lung.

Dr. Steiling transitioned her research focus and used the skills gained in large-scale genomics research to develop, implement, and study lung cancer screening and lung nodule evaluation programs. She implemented and oversees two large clinical programs related to lung health at Boston Medical Center, a tertiary urban safety-net hospital that provides most care to low-income, underserved and vulnerable patient populations. She developed, implemented, and directs the Lung Cancer Screening Program, which brings together multi-disciplinary expertise to provide evidence-based low-dose CT screening to high-risk patients. She also developed and directs the Lung Nodule Clinic, a sub-specialty clinic that provides patient-centered evidence-based care for incidental pulmonary nodules detected in high-risk settings. Her current research is an outgrowth of her passion to mitigate health disparities through the development and implementation of lung cancer screening and lung nodule evaluation programs that serve diverse patient populations. Her research in this area has led to high-impact publications describing significant racial, socioeconomic, and intersectional disparities in lung cancer screening and lung nodule management.

Dr. Steiling sees patients in the Lung Nodule Clinic, multi-disciplinary Thoracic Oncology Clinic and attends in the Medical Intensive Care Unit at Boston Medical Center.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility

I am deeply committed to a diverse, equitable, and inclusive approach to clinical medicine, research, and education. I entered Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine and cross-trained in Bioinformatics knowing that these fields are overwhelmingly male dominated. My commitment to advocating for diverse and inclusive training environments is fueled both by my experiences and data showing that this approach fosters excellence and innovation. Ensuring equitable access to exceptional care has been a key driver of my clinical and research endeavors throughout my career. I am proud to have been affiliated with Boston Medical Center, the largest safety net hospital in New England, since I began my medical education in 1998. I have published extensively on health equity considerations in lung cancer screening and lung nodule management.

Implementation and evaluation of lung cancer screening in a safety net setting:
1. Muñoz-Largacha JA*, Steiling K*, Kathuria H, Charlot M, Fitzgerald C, Suzuki K, Litle VR. Initial Surgical Experience Following Implementation of Lung Cancer Screening at an Urban Safety Net Hospital. Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, 2018; 155(6):2674-2681. * co-first authors
2. Iacarrino J, Steiling K, Wiener RS. Lung Cancer Screening In A Safety-Net Hospital: Implications Of Screening A Real-World Population Versus The National Lung Screening Trial. Ann Am Thorac Soc, 2018; 15(12):1493-1495.
3. Gazourian L, Regis SM, Pagura EJ, Price LL, Gawlik M, Lamb C, Rieger-Christ KM, Thedinger WB, Sanayei AM, Long WP, Stefanescu CF, Rizzo GS, Patel AS, Come CE, Thomson CC, Pinto-Plata V, Steiling K, McKee AB, Wald C, McKee BJ, Liesching TN. Qualitative Coronary Artery Calcification Scores and Risk of All Cause, COPD, and Pneumonia Hospital Admission in a Large CT Lung Cancer Screening Cohort. Respir Med, 2021; 186:106540.
4. Singh S, Pavesi F, Steiling K, Asokan S, Espinosa C, Cabral HJ, Burks EJ, Meister A, Akpoviroro O, Buck A, Drozdowicz K, Litle VR, Suzuki K. Risk Factors for Lung Cancer in an Underrepresented Safety-Net Screening Cohort. Clin Lung Cancer, 2022; 23(2):e165-170

Health disparities in lung cancer screening
1. Steiling K, Loui T, Asokan S, Nims S, Moreira P, Rebello A, Litle VR, Suzuki K. Age, Race, and Income are Associated with Lower Screening Rates at a Safety Net Hospital. Ann Thorac Surg, 2020; 109(5):1544-1550.
2. Poulson MR, Kenzik KM, Singh S, Pavesi F, Steiling K, Litle VR, Suzuki K. Redlining, Structural Racism, and Lung Cancer Screening Disparities. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg, 2022; 163(6):1920-1930.
3. Lui A, Siddiqi N, Tapan U, Mak KS, Steiling K*, Suzuki K*. Black race remains associated with lower eligibility for lung cancer screening using 2021 US Preventive Services Task Force Recommendations among lung cancer patients at an urban safety net hospital. J racial and Ethnic Health Disparities, 2023; 10(6):2836-2843. * co-senior authors
4. Kearney L, Nguyen T, Steiling K. Disparities across the continuum of lung cancer care: a review of recent literature. Curr Opin Pulm Med, 2024; 30(4):359-367.

Evaluation of inequities in pulmonary nodule management
1. Steiling K, Kathuria H, Echieh CP, Ost DE, Rivera MP, Begnaud A, Celedon JC, Charlot M, Dietrck F, Duma N, Fong KM, Ford JG, Gould MK, Holguin F, Perez-Stable EJ, Tanner NT, Thomson CC, Wiener RS, Wisnivesky J. Research Priorities for Interventions to Address Health Disparities in Lung Nodule Management: An Office American Thoracic Society Research Statement. Am J Respir Crit Care Med, 2023; 207(6):e31-46.
2. Akpoviroro O, Asokan S, Steiling K, Rebello A, Burks EJ, Litle VR, Suzuki K. Lung cancer risk in suspicious lung nodules with negative positron emission tomography scan. Ann Thorac Surg, 2021; S0003-4975(21):01261-3.
3. Iacarrino J, Steiling K, Slatore CG, Drainoni MK, Wiener RS. Patient Characteristics Associated With Adherence To Pulmonary Nodule Guidelines. Respir Med, 2020; 171:106075.

Patient-centered innovations to reduce health disparities in lung nodule management and lung cancer screening
1. Crable EL, Feeney T, Harvey J, Grim V, Drainoni ML, Walkey AJ, Steiling K, Drake FT. Management Strategies to Promote Follow-Up Care for Incidental Findings: A Scoping Review. J Am Coll Radiol, 2021; 18(4):566-579.
2. Kathuria H, Gunawan A, Spring M, Aijaz S, Cobb V, Fitzgerald C, Wakeman C, Howard J, Clancy M, Foreman AG, Truong V, Steiling K, Lasser K, Bulekova K, Wiener RS. Hospitalization as an opportunity to engage underserved individuals in shared decision-making for lung cancer screening: results from two randomized pilot trials. Cancer Causes Control, 2022; 33(11):1373-1380.
3. Jansen E, Bolivar J, Auguste S, Clancy M, Kearney L, Henderson L, Steiling K, Cordella N. Population Health Nurse-Driven Lung Cancer Screening. NEJM Catal Innov Care Deliv, 2024; 5(5).
4. Kearney LE, Jansen E, Kathuria H, Steiling K, Jones KC, Walkey A, Cordella N. Efficacy of Digital Outreach Strategies for Collecting Smoking Data: Pragmatic Randomized Trial. JMIR Form Res, 2024; 9(8):e50465.

Member
Boston University
BU-BMC Cancer Center


Member
Boston University
Pulmonary Center


Member
Boston University
Evans Center for Interdisciplinary Biomedical Research


Member
Boston University
Bioinformatics Graduate Program


Member
Boston University
Genome Science Institute




Nasal Transcriptomic Biomarkers for the Diagnostic Evaluation of Lung Nodules Found by LDCT Screening
08/01/2014 - 07/31/2018 (Subcontract PI)
Lahey Clinic, Inc. Am Thorac./LUNGevity


Characterizing Molecular Subphenotypes of chronic obstructive Pulmonary Disease
09/15/2015 - 09/15/2016 (PI)
The CHEST Foundation


Nasal Biomarker for the Early Detection of Lung Cancer in Patients with COPD
03/01/2014 - 09/30/2015 (PI)
Center for Integration of Medicine and Innovative Technology


Boston University Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) Program KL2
05/01/2012 - 04/30/2014 (Co-Investigator of Sub-Project / SP)
PI: David M. Center, MD
NIH/National Center for Health Research Resources
3KL2TR000158-05S1

Airway Genomic Biomarkers for the Early Detection of Lung Cancer
07/01/2011 - 06/30/2013 (PI)
American Association for Cancer Research


Airway Genomic Biomarkers for the Early Detection of Lung Cancer
07/01/2011 - 06/30/2012 (PI)
AACR (American Association for Cancer Research )


The Patient Navigation Program at Boston Medical Center
07/01/2022 - 12/31/2024 (PI)
American Cancer Society


Title


Yr Title Project-Sub Proj Pubs

Publications listed below are automatically derived from MEDLINE/PubMed and other sources, which might result in incorrect or missing publications. Faculty can login to make corrections and additions.

iCite Analysis       Copy PMIDs To Clipboard

  1. Lee MM, Zuo Y, Steiling K, Mizgerd JP, Kalesan B, Walkey AJ. Clinical risk factors and blood protein biomarkers of 10-year pneumonia risk. PLoS One. 2024; 19(7):e0296139.View Related Profiles. PMID: 38968193; PMCID: PMC11226120; DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0296139;
     
  2. Kearney L, Nguyen T, Steiling K. Disparities across the continuum of lung cancer care: a review of recent literature. Curr Opin Pulm Med. 2024 Jul 01; 30(4):359-367.View Related Profiles. PMID: 38411202
     
  3. Kearney LE, Jansen E, Kathuria H, Steiling K, Jones KC, Walkey A, Cordella N. Efficacy of Digital Outreach Strategies for Collecting Smoking Data: Pragmatic Randomized Trial. JMIR Form Res. 2024 Feb 09; 8:e50465.View Related Profiles. PMID: 38335012; PMCID: PMC10891497; DOI: 10.2196/50465;
     
  4. Steiling K, Kathuria H. Occupational Benzene Exposure: An Unrecognized Threat for Lung Cancer Development. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2024 Jan 15; 209(2):128-130.View Related Profiles. PMID: 38029296; PMCID: PMC10806424; DOI: 10.1164/rccm.202311-2023ED;
     
  5. Steiling K. Evaluating the Impact of Race-Neutral Interpretation of Preoperative Pulmonary Function. Ann Am Thorac Soc. 2024 Jan; 21(1):32-34. PMID: 38156898; PMCID: PMC10867907; DOI: 10.1513/AnnalsATS.202309-834ED;
     
  6. Lee MM, Zuo Y, Steiling K, Mizgerd JP, Kalesan B, Walkey AJ. Clinical risk factors and blood protein biomarkers of 10-year pneumonia risk. medRxiv. 2023 Dec 09.View Related Profiles. PMID: 38105941; PMCID: PMC10723561; DOI: 10.1101/2023.12.07.23299678;
     
  7. Feeney ME, Steiling K. Successful management of suspected propofol dependence with phenobarbital in an adult patient with COVID-19. Am J Health Syst Pharm. 2023 Sep 22; 80(19):1309-1314. PMID: 37368792
     
  8. Steiling K, Kathuria H, Echieh CP, Ost DE, Rivera MP, Begnaud A, Celedón JC, Charlot M, Dietrick F, Duma N, Fong KM, Ford JG, Gould MK, Holguin F, Pérez-Stable EJ, Tanner NT, Thomson CC, Wiener RS, Wisnivesky J. Research Priorities for Interventions to Address Health Disparities in Lung Nodule Management: An Official American Thoracic Society Research Statement. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2023 Mar 15; 207(6):e31-e46.View Related Profiles. PMID: 36920066; PMCID: PMC10037482; DOI: 10.1164/rccm.202212-2216ST;
     
  9. Liu A, Siddiqi N, Tapan U, Mak KS, Steiling KA, Suzuki K. Black Race Remains Associated with Lower Eligibility for Screening Using 2021 US Preventive Services Task Force Recommendations Among Lung Cancer Patients at an Urban Safety Net Hospital. J Racial Ethn Health Disparities. 2023 Dec; 10(6):2836-2843.View Related Profiles. PMID: 36441493
     
  10. Kathuria H, Gunawan A, Spring M, Aijaz S, Cobb V, Fitzgerald C, Wakeman C, Howard J, Clancy M, Foreman AG, Truong V, Wong C, Steiling K, Lasser KE, Bulekova K, Wiener RS. Hospitalization as an opportunity to engage underserved individuals in shared decision-making for lung cancer screening: results from two randomized pilot trials. Cancer Causes Control. 2022 Nov; 33(11):1373-1380.View Related Profiles. PMID: 35997854; DOI: 10.1007/s10552-022-01620-8;
     
Showing 10 of 50 results. Show More

This graph shows the total number of publications by year, by first, middle/unknown, or last author.

Bar chart showing 50 publications over 16 distinct years, with a maximum of 6 publications in 2021

YearPublications
20071
20083
20092
20112
20133
20144
20155
20161
20172
20183
20193
20204
20216
20223
20233
20245
In addition to these self-described keywords below, a list of MeSH based concepts is available here.

Lung Cancer
Screening, Cancer
Pulmonary Nodule, Solitary
Patient Navigation
Health Equity

Available to Mentor as: (Review Mentor Role Definitions):
  • Co-Mentor or Peer Mentor
  • Project Mentor
  • Research / Scholarly Mentor
Contact for Mentoring:
  • Email (see 'Contact Info')

75 E. Newton St Evans Building
Boston MA 02118
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