Rafael E.de la HozMD, MPH, MSc, ATSF, FACP, FCCP

Pulmonology • New York, NY

Occupational & Environmental Lung Disease

Professor, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

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Office
1 Gustave L Levy Place
SCOH/WTC HP CCE Box 1059
New York, NY 10029
Phone+1 212-241-1652

Fax+1 212-241-5516
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Summary

Dr. de la Hoz has had a longstanding career and research interest in clinical occupational respiratory toxicology, occupational obstructive lung diseases, and pneumoconioses. Since 2002, Dr. de la Hoz has followed and characterized the types of bronchial disease associated with occupational toxicant exposures at the WTC disaster site. From his initial clinical descriptions, he moved to the investigation, as the principal investigator of a project on the correlation of symptoms, pulmonary functional, and qualitative and quantitative chest CT scan findings in the WTC occupational cohort followed at Mount Sinai Medical Center.

Panel discussion: Irritants and Airborne Pollutants in Adult Asthma - ERS Respir

26-October-2023 Discussion of clinical, epidemiological, and mechanistic aspects of irritant- and pollutant-induced airway injury and resulting asthma.

Occupational COVID-19

Educational material produced by and for the European Respiratory Society (September 2021)

Education & Training

New York University-Graduate School of Arts and SciencesMSc, Environmental Health Sciences, 1995 - 2000
Yale University-School of Epidemiology and Public HealthMPH, Chronic Disease Epidemiology, 1990 - 1993
Yale University School of MedicineOccupational and Environmental Medicine, 1990 - 1992
University of British Columbia Faculty of MedicineFellowship, Pulmonary Medicine, 1988 - 1990
University of Miami/Jackson Health SystemResidency, Internal Medicine, 1985 - 1988
Univ del Rosario Sch of MedClass of 1982, MD, Class standing: First
Universidad Nacional de Colombia, School of Medicine-, Medicine, 1976 - 1977

Certifications & Licensure

NY State Medical License 1993 - 2024
FL State Medical License 1987 - 2000
CT State Medical License 1991 - 1993
American Board of Internal Medicine Internal Medicine
American Board of Preventive Medicine Occupational Medicine

Awards, Honors, & Recognition

Occupational Medicine Top Doctor, New York Metro Area Castle Connolly Medical Ltd., 2015-2024
Cullman Family Award for Excellence in Physician Communication The Joseph F. Cullman, Jr. Institute for Patient Experience at Mount Sinai, 2020, 2023
Top Doctor, Occupational Medicine New York Magazine, 2021
Downs International Health Travel Fellowship Yale School of Epidemiology and Public Health, 1993
Medical Studies Scholarship Electrificadora del Atlántico (Colombia), 1976-1982
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Clinical Trials

WTC Chest CT Imaging Archive Start of enrollment: 2012 Sep 01
Active, not recruiting

Publications & Presentations

Journal Articles

Cluster analysis of World Trade Center related lower airway diseases
de la Hoz RE, Jeon Y, Doucette JT, Reeves AP, San José Estépar R, Celedón JC, J Occup Environ Med 2024;66:179-184, 2/2/2024
Postoperative CT surveillance in the evaluation of local recurrence after sub-lobar resection of neoplastic lesions of the lung
Xu D, de la Hoz RE, Steinberger SR, Doucette JT, Pagano MA, Wolff A, Chung M, Jacobi A, Clin Imaging 2024;106:110030, 12/26/2023
Association of World Trade Center (WTC) occupational exposures, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and asthma COPD overlap (ACO)
de la Hoz RE, Shapiro M, Nolan A, Sood A, Cone JE, Lucchini RG, Celedón JC, Lung 2023;201:325-334, 9/19/2023
On the association of chemical pollutant exposures and disordered sleep outcomes [Letter]
de la Hoz RE, Sleep Med Rev 2023 [in press], 9/18/2023
Occupational lung disease: when should I think of it and why is it important?
Feary J, Lindström I, Huntley C, Suojalehto H, de la Hoz RE, Breathe (Sheff) 2023;19:230002, 6/20/2023
World Trade Center Health Program best practices diagnosing and treating chronic rhinosinusitis
de la Hoz RE, Shohet MR, Arch Environ Occup Health 2023;78:212-215, 6/19/2023
World Trade Center Health Program best practices for the diagnosis and treatment of fibrosing interstitial lung diseases.
de la Hoz RE, Johannson KA, Arch Environ Occup Health 2023;78:232-235, 6/19/2023
World Trade Center Health Program best practices for diagnosing and treating chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Cone JE, de la Hoz RE, Arch Environ Occup Health 2023;78:229-231, 6/19/2023
Transmission and risk factors of COVID-19 among health care workers
Alghader MRM, Valvi D, de la Hoz RE, Semin Respir Crit Care Med 2023Alghader MRM, Valvi D, de la Hoz RE. Transmission and risk factors of COVID-19 among health care workers. Semin Respir Crit Care Med 2023;44:340-348, 5/10/2023
Lung cancer incidence among World Trade Center rescue and recovery workers
Sigel KM, de la Hoz RE, Markowitz SB, Crowley L, Kong CY, Todd AC, Wisnivesky JP, Cancer Med 2022;11:3136-3144, 8/20/2022
Change in asthma is associated with change in PTSD in World Trade Center Health registrants, 2011 to 2016
Friedman SM, Alper H, de la Hoz RE, Osahan S, Farfel M, Cone JE, Int J Environ Res Public Health 2022;22:7795, 6/25/2022
Violence-related distress and lung function in two longitudinal studies of youth
Gaietto K, Han Y-Y, Forno E, Bacharier L, Phipatanakul W, Guilbert T, Cabana M, Ross K, Blatter J, Acosta-Pérez E, Miller G, de la Hoz RE, Rosser F, Durrani S, Canino ..., Eur Respir J 2022;59:2102329, 5/16/2022
Time to a negative SARS-CoV-2 PCR predicts delayed return to work after medical leave in COVID-19 infected health care workers
Villarreal J, Nieto SV, Vázquez F, del Campo MT, Mahillo-Fernández I, de la Hoz RE, J Occup Environ Med 2021;63:970-974, 7/30/2021
Association of quantitative CT lung density measurements with divergent FEV1 trajectories in WTC workers
Liu X, Reeves AP, Antoniak K, San José Estépar R, Doucette JT, Weber J, Jeon Y, Xu D, Celedón JC, de la Hoz RE, Clin Respir J 2021;15:613-621, 6/15/2021
COVID-19 as an occupational disease
Carlsten C, Gulati M, Hines S, Rose C, Scott K, Tarlo SM, Torén K, Sood A, de la Hoz RE, Am J Ind Med 2021;64:227-237, 1/15/2021
PAP adherence and nasal resistance: a randomized control trial of CPAPflex vs. CPAP
Sunderram J, Ayappa I, Lu SE, Wang H, Black K, Twumasi A, Sanders H, Harrison D, Udasin I, Chitkara N, de la Hoz RE, Carson JL, Rapoport DM, Ann Am Thorac Soc 2021;18:668-677, 11/17/2020
Mental health, long-term medication adherence, and the control of asthma symptoms among persons exposed to the WTC 9/11 disaster
Brite J, Friedman S, de la Hoz RE, Reibman J, Cone J., J Asthma 2020;57:1253-1262, 9/30/2020
Asthma-COPD overlap in World Trade Center Health Registry enrollees, 2015-2016
Haghighi A, Cone JE, Li J, de la Hoz RE, J Asthma 2021;58:1415-1423, 8/27/2020
Association of low FVC spirometric pattern with WTC occupational exposures
de la Hoz RE, Shapiro M, Nolan A, Celedón JC, Szeinuk J, Lucchini RG, Respir Med 2020;170:106058, 6/6/2020
Return-to-work guidelines for the COVID-19 pandemic
Rueda Garrido JC, Vicente Herrero MT, del Campo MT, Reinoso Barbero L, de la Hoz RE, Delclos G, Kales S, Fernández Montero A, Occup Med (Lond) 2020;70:300-305, 6/1/2020
Quantitative CT evidence of airway inflammation in World Trade Center workers and volunteers with low FVC spirometric pattern
Weber J, Reeves AP, Doucette JT, Jeon Y, Sood A, San José Estépar R, Celedón JC, de la Hoz RE, Lung 2020;198:555-563, 4/1/2020
The prevalence of pulmonary nodules on computed tomography in World Trade Center rescue and recovery workers
Sigel KM, Xu D, Weber J, Wisnivesky JP, Celedón JC, de la Hoz RE, Ann Am Thorac Soc 2020;17:125-128, 1/2020
Thyroid function in health care workers exposed to ionizing radiation
Luna-Sánchez S, Del Campo MT, Morán JV, Fernández IM, Checa FJS, de la Hoz RE, Health Phys 2019;117:403-407, 10/1/2019
Increased pulmonary artery diameter is associated with reduced FEV1 in former World Trade Center workers
de la Hoz RE, Jeon Y, Reeves AP, San José Estépar R, Liu X, Doucette JT, Celedón JC, Nolan A, Clin Respir J 2019;13:614-623, 7/25/2019
Association of obesity with quantitative chest CT measured airway wall thickness in WTC workers with lower airway disease
de la Hoz RE, Liu X, Celedón JC, Doucette JT, Jeon Y, Reeves AP, San José Estépar R, Lung 2019;197:517-522, 6/28/2019
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Books/Book Chapters

Modern Occupational Diseases Diagnosis, Epidemiology, Management and Prevention
Chapter: Occupational Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Page 104 - 127Szeinuk J, de la Hoz REEditors: Bang KM.Bentham Science Publishers, SingaporeEdition 1st,2022
Parkes' Occupational Lung Disorders
Chapter: Occupational Lung Carcinogens
Page 241 - 257Field RW, de la Hoz REEditors: Newman Taylor A, Cullinan P, Blanc P, and Pickering A.CRC Press, Boca Raton, FLEdition 4th,2016
Environmental and Occupational Medicine
Chapter: Dysbarism
Page 1309 - 1325de la Hoz RE, Krieger BEditors: Rom WN, Markowitz SB.Wolters Kluwer/Lippincott, PhiladelphiaEdition 4th,2007
Occupational, Industrial, and Environmental Toxicology
Chapter: Longshoremen, stevedores, and dock workers
Page 216 - 221de la Hoz RE, Szeinuk JEditors: Greenberg MI, Hamilton R, Phillips S.Harcourt, PhiladelphiaEdition 2nd,2003
Environmental and Occupational Medicine
Chapter: Dysbarism
Page 1359 - 1375de la Hoz RE, Krieger BEditors: Rom WN.Lippincott-Raven, PhiladelphiaEdition 3rd,1998
Tuberculosis
Chapter: Silicosis and Tuberculosis
Page 525 - 530de la Hoz REEditors: Rom WN, Garay SM.Little, Brown & Co, BostonEdition 1st,1996
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Abstracts/Posters

Effects of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) on sleep duration and variability in World Trade Center {WTC) responders [Abstract]
Ravi SS, Romero Castillo HM, De Resende A, Legard A, Martillo K, Varga A, R. O, Parekh A, Black K, Rapoport DM, Mullins A, de la Hoz RE, Lu S-E, Sunderram J, Ayappa I, Submitted to the 2024 SLEEP Conference, Houston, TX, 6/1/2024
Correlation between reduced lung attenuation in quantitative CT imaging and lung function trajectory in World Trade Center (WTC) disaster responders [Abstract]
Weber J, San José Estépar R, Doucette JT, Celedón JC, de la Hoz RE, 2023 European Respiratory Society International Congress, Milan, Italy, 9/11/2023
Cardiopulmonary coupling in World Trade Center (WTC) Responders and a Sleep Clinic population [Abstract]
Mullins A, Ravi SS, Parekh A, Kam K, Tolbert T, Black K, de la Hoz RE, Thomas RJ, Varga AW, Rapoport DM, Sunderram J, Ayappa I, XVII Symposium on Sleep and Breathing 2023, Auckland, NZ, 6/17/2023
Effect of obstructive sleep apnea and insomnia on cognitive impairment in World Trade Center (WTC) responders [Abstract]
Ravi SS, Mullins AE, Resende A, Kim DH, De Legard A, Romero-castillo H, Parekh A, Black K, Rapoport DM, de la Hoz RE, Udasin IG, , Sunderram J, Ayappa I, Lu S, Sleep 2023, Indianapolis, IN, 6/7/2023
Occupational exposures and interstitial lung abnormalities and disease in World Trade Center workers and volunteers [Abstract]
Johnson-Crooks J, Doucette JT, Weber J, San José Estépar R, Celedón JC, de la Hoz RE, American Thoracic Society 2023 International Conference, Washington, DC, USA, 5/22/2023
Sleep disorders and chronic rhinosinusitis in World Trade Center (WTC) responders and a Sleep Clinic population [Abstract]
Mullins A, de la Hoz RE, Sunderram J, Parikh A, Rapoport DM, Ayappa I, American Thoracic Society 2023 International Conference, Washington, DC, USA, 5/22/2023
Investigating adverse respiratory health effects after a major disaster: the World Trade Center experience [Abstract]
de la Hoz RE, ICOH 2022 International Congress, Saf Health Work 2022;13:S23, 2/7/2022
Quantitative CT adiposity metrics as predictors of reduced expiratory flow in WTC workers and volunteers [Abstract]
de la Hoz RE, Liu X, Reeves AP, Doucette JT, Weber J, San José Estépar R, Celedón JC, 2021 European Respiratory Society International Congress, Eur Respir J 2021;58 (Suppl 65):PA1901, 9/8/2021
Cluster analysis of World Trade Center (WTC) related lower airway diseases [Abstract]
de la Hoz RE, Jeon Y, Doucette JT, Weber J, Reeves AP, San José Estépar R, Celedón JC. Cluster analysis of World Trade Center (WTC) related lower airway diseases [Abst..., 2021 European Respiratory Society International Congress, Eur Respir J 2021;58 (Suppl 65):PA3350, 9/8/2021
Association of COPD and asthma COPD Overlap (ACO) with World Trade Center (WTC) occupational exposure intensity [Abstract]
de la Hoz RE, Shapiro M, Nolan A, Sood S, Cone JE, Lucchini RG, Celedón JC, Abstracts of the 2021 European Respiratory Society International Congress, Eur Respir J 2021;58 (Suppl 65):PA3353, 9/7/2021
Change in body mass index and expiratory flow in World Trade Center workers [Abstract]
Alruwaily A, Sood A, de la Hoz RE, Liu X, Doucette JT, Jeon Y, Celedón JC, 2020 European Respiratory Society International Congress, Eur Respir J 2020;56 (suppl 64):3848, 9/5/2020
Spirometric transition probabilities in former World Trade Center (WTC) workers and volunteers [Abstract]
de la Hoz RE, Weber J, Sood A, Doucette JT, Celedón JC, 2020 American Thoracic Society International Conference, Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2020;201:A7133, 5/18/2020
Obstructive sleep apnea and upper airway sensation in World Trade Center responders - Role of chronic rhinosinusitis [Abstract]
Osorio C, Romero Castillo H, Cepeda C, Do Santos A, Ko L, Parekh A, Black K, Lu S, Burschtin O, Udasin I, de la Hoz RE, Rapoport DM, Ayappa IA, Sunderram J, 2020 American Thoracic Society International Conference, Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2020;201:A7134, 5/18/2020
Obesity modifies the effect of WTC exposure on quantitative chest CT measured airway wall thickness [Abstract]
Liu X, de la Hoz RE, Doucette JT, Jeon Y, Celedón JC, San José Estépar R, 2018 European Respiratory Society International Congress, Eur Respir J 2018;52(Suppl 62):PA1207, Paris, France, 9/2018
Quantitative chest CT (QCT) measurements in World Trade Center (WTC) workers and volunteers with accelerated air flow decline [Abstract]
de la Hoz RE, San José Estépar R, Doucette JT, Wisnivesky JP, Lynch DA, 2016 European Respiratory Society International Congress, Eur Respir J 2016;48 (Suppl 60):PA2244, London, UK, 9/8/2016
Chest CT scan findings among former workers and volunteers at the World Trade Center disaster site [Abstract]
de la Hoz RE, Bienenfeld LA, Carson DA, Lynch D, Wisnivesky JP, Doucette JT, 2016 American Thoracic Society International Conference, San Francisco, CA, 5/2016
Spirometric trajectories in lung disease longitudinal surveillance of former workers and volunteers at the World Trade Center disaster site
de la Hoz RE, Bienenfeld LA, Doucette JT, Zafar S, Carson DA, Luna-Sánchez S, 2016 American Thoracic Society International Conference, San Francisco, CA, 5/2016
Quantitative chest CT measurements in World Trade Center workers and volunteers [Abstract]
de la Hoz RE, Doucette J, San José Estépar R, Henschke CI, Yankelevitz DF, 2015 European Respiratory Society International Congress, Eur Respir J 2015;46(Suppl 59):PA2269, Amsterdam, Netherlands, 9/2015
Assessment of end-expiratory air trapping vs. inhomogeneous attenuation by chest CT scan [Abstract]
de la Hoz RE, San Jose R, Henschke CI, Yankelevitz D, Mendelson DM, Deschamps A, Reeves AP, Yip R, Zhao S, 2014 American Thoracic Society International Conference, Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2014;189(IC):A2385, San Diego, CA, 5/2014
A quantitative method based on residual mass to assess expiratory chest CT scan mosaic gas distribution [Abstract]
San Jose Estepar R, Reeves AP, Yankelevitz D, Henschke CI, Mendelson DM, de la Hoz RE, 2014 Computer Assisted Radiology and Surgery Congress, Fukuoka, Japan, 1/1/2014
Sleep disordered breathing among former World Trade Center (WTC) rescue workers and volunteers [Abstract]
de la Hoz RE, Mallea JM, Kramer SJ, Bienenfeld LA, Aurora RN, 2011 European Respiratory Society International Congress, Eur Respir J 2011;38(Suppl55):P4206, Amsterdam, Netherlands, 9/2011
Clinically significant endoscopic and pH studies for acid reflux in symptomatic World Trade Center rescue and recovery workers and volunteers [Abstract]
de la Hoz RE, Alba G, Chokhavatia S, Crane M, 2011 American College of Gastroenterology meeting/2011 meeting Health Impact of 9/11: the First Decade, Washington DC, 2011; New York, 2011, 1/1/2011
Weight gain among former World Trade Center workers and volunteers [Abstract]
de la Hoz RE, Napier CO, Mbadugha OL, 17th Annual Medical Student Research Day/J Gen Intern Med, 2012 meeting of the Society of General Internal Medicine, New York, 2011, Orlando, 2012, 1/1/2011
Oscillometric abnormalities in former World Trade Center rescue and recovery workers and volunteers [Abstract]
de la Hoz RE, Lessnau K, Lowenstein S, 2009 European Respiratory Society International Congress, Vienna, Austria, Eur Respir J 2009;34 (Suppl 53):P1050, 9/1/2009
Snoring and obstructive sleep apnea among former World Trade Center (WTC) rescue workers [Abstract].
de la Hoz RE, Aurora RN, Landsbergis P, Hatfield B, Bienenfeld LA, Afilaka A, Herbert R, 2008 European Respiratory Society International Congress, Eur Respir J 2008;32(Suppl 52):1208, Berlin, Germany, 9/2008
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Other

Occupational chronic airway disease among World Trade Center workers and volunteers
de la Hoz RE, Lung Health Professional Magazine
1/1/2011
COPD and GERD
Annan E, Glen C, de la Hoz RE, Raskin J, Lung Health Professional Magazine
1/1/2011
Clinical Guidelines for Adults Exposed to the WTC Disaster
de la Hoz RE, City Health Information
1/1/2008

Grant Support

Disturbed Sleep and Cardiovascular Outcomes in WTC Responders (co-I, PI: Sunderram)National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health2023–2026
Role of Sleep Apnea in Cognition and Alzheimer's Disease Biomarkers in WTC Responders (co-I, PI: Ayappa))National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health2021–2026
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in WTC Workers: Diagnoses and Transitions (PI)National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health2018–2026
Metabolomics of World Trade Center Lung Injury: Biomarker Validation and Longitudinal Assessment (co-I, PI: Nolan)National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health2017–2026
Pulmonary Diseases in WTC Workers: Symptoms, Function and Chest CT Correlates (PI)National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health2012–2026
Beneficial Effects of Tailored Light Intervention on Metabolic Syndrome on WTC Responders, Recovery Workers, and Volunteers (co-I, PI: Alsalman))National Institute for Environmental Health Sciences2022–2023
Optimizing Lung Cancer Screening in World Trade Center Rescue and Recovery Workers (co-I, PI: Sigel/Wisnivesky))National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health2018–2021
Exploring Mechanisms of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) in WTC Responders (co-I)National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health2018–2021
Cytochrome P 450 Dependent Oxidase And EmphysemaNational Heart, Lung, And Blood Institute1996–1999
Cytochrome P 450 Dependent Oxidase And EmphysemaNational Heart, Lung, And Blood Institute1995

Committees

Associate Editor, Breathe, Editorial Board 2023 - Present
Secretary, European Respiratory Society, Environment and Epidemiology Assembly 2023 - Present
Member, European Respiratory Society, Education Council 2023 - Present
Associate Editor, Respiratory Research, Editorial Board 2021 - Present
Member, NIOSH/World Trade Center Health Program Clinical Care Essentials Working Group 2021 - Present
Member, American Thoracic Society, Environmental, Occupational and Population Health, Program Committee 2020 - Present
Member, National Occupational Research Agenda- Respiratory Health Cross-sector Council 2016 - Present
Member, Archives of Environmental and Occupational Health, Editorial Board 2015 - Present
Member, European Respiratory Society, Science Council, College of Experts 2015 - Present
Member, ATS Terrorism and Inhalation Disasters Section, Executive Committee 2008 - Present
Chair, European Respiratory Society, Occupational and Environmental Health Group 2020 - 2023
Member, American Thoracic Society, Program Review Subcommittee 2018 - 2020
Secretary, European Respiratory Society, Occupational and Environmental Health Group 2017 - 2020
Chair, International Commission on Occupational Health, Scientific Committee on Respiratory Disorders 2015 - 2022
Member, ICOH Working Group on the Implementation of the Global Strategy of Occupational Health for All-Asbestos Ban and Asbestos-related Diseases Elimination 2015 - 2022
Secretary, International Commission on Occupational Health, Scientific Committee on Respiratory Disorders 2012 - 2015

Research History

Principal Investigator, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in WTC Workers: Diagnoses and TransitionsThe goal of this proposal is to characterize the transitions into chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) among former workers and volunteers at the WTC disaster site.2017 - Present
Principal investigator, Pulmonary Diseases in WTC Workers and Volunteers: Symptoms, Function, and Chest CT Imaging CorrelatesInvestigation of qualitative and quantitative chest CT scan measurements to characterize the chronic lower airway diseases temporally associated with occupational WTC exposures, and investigate the adverse impact of obesity on those diseases.2012 - Present
Principal Investigator, Clinical Presentation of Adverse Health Effects of Occupational Exposures at the World Trade Center Disaster SiteThis project endeavors to describe the range of adverse health effects (particularly upper and lower airway disease, sleep disordered breathing, and gastroesophageal reflux disorders) presented by the workers and volunteers at the WTC disaster site in 2001-2002.2003 - Present

Professional Memberships

American College of Physicians - ACP
Fellow
American College of Chest Physicians - ACCP
Fellow
American Thoracic Society - ATS
Fellow
International Commission on Occupational Health - ICOH
Member
European Respiratory Society - ERS
Member and Secretary (2023-2026) Assembly on Environment and Epidemiology
Asociación Colombiana de Neumología y Cirugía del Tórax
Honorary Member