Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia (PCD) Clinic

The physician specialists in the Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia (PCD) Clinic are committed to the diagnosis and management of children with PCD.

Nationwide Children's Hospital is ranked by U.S. News & World Report for Pulmonary Medicine.

About

Meet Our Team

Appointments

PCD Management

For the management of PCD, outpatient visits with a specialist are recommended about 2-4 times annually. Regular surveillance of respiratory cultures, as well as a chest X-ray every 2-4 years. It is also recommended that patients with PCD visit an ENT specialist.

Daily airway clearance and exercise
Inhaled medications to help expectorate mucus
Nasal sinus lavage
Standard vaccines
Annual flu vaccine

Pneumovax
Synagis (for the first winter)
Infection control protocols
Targeted antibiotic therapy with acute change in cough, sputum production, respiratory rate or work of breathing for respiratory exacerbations

Meet Our Team

Melissa B. Holtzlander

Melissa Holtzlander, MD, is an assistant professor of pediatrics at the Division of Pediatric Pulmonology at Nationwide Children's Hospital and The Ohio State University College of Medicine. She did her undergraduate training at Youngstown State University, and her postgraduate training at The Ohio State University College of Medicine. Dr. Holtzlander did her residency at Nationwide Children's Hospital, as well as a year of chief residency. She completed her fellowship at Nationwide Children's Hospital. Her clinical interests include the evaluation and management of children with a variety of respiratory illnesses, including asthma, PCD, chronic lung disease, interstitial lung disease, and ventilator dependency.

Nationwide Children's Hospital Medical Professional

Kavitha Kotha

Kavitha Kotha, MD, is a member of the Section of Pulmonary Medicine at Nationwide Children's and an assistant professor of Clinical Pediatrics at The Ohio State University College of Medicine. Dr. Kotha completed her fellowship in pediatric pulmonology at Cincinnati Children's Hospital and her residency at Children's Hospital Medical Center of Akron. Dr. Kotha earned her medical degree from the Northeast Ohio Medical University (formerly NEOUCOM) and her Bachelor of Science in natural sciences from the University of Akron.

Clinic Information

Appointments are by physician referral and can be scheduled on Thursdays.

Health care providers may fax referral information to Pulmonary Medicine at (614) 722-4755. Please specify the referral to “PCD Clinic.”

Patients and families may request a referral to the PCD Clinic from their primary care provider or specialist. A patient or family may call our office at (614) 722-4766 to let us know that you have requested a referral.