Cystic Fibrosis Center

The comprehensive, accredited Washington University Cystic Fibrosis Center at St. Louis Children's Hospital, Barnes-Jewish Hospital, and affiliate centers, has one major goal -- to cure cystic fibrosis (CF).

Dedicated to the treatment of patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) for almost a half century, the Cystic Fibrosis Center at Washington University Medical Center and St. Louis Children’s Hospital continues to thrive.  The Cystic Fibrosis Clinical Center and affiliated clinics are premier clinical and research programs.  Its commitment to excellence in patient care, teaching and research was recognized by our Division’s inclusion as one of America’s best pulmonary services, according to Parents magazine and the US News & World Report Best Hospitals ranking.  

During the past academic year, the Cystic Fibrosis Clinical Center saw more than 500 cystic fibrosis patients, most live within a 50-mile radius of St. Louis.  We also attract patients from other states, including Arkansas, Kansas, Kentucky, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas. Located in the St. Louis Children’s Hospital, the Pediatric Cystic Fibrosis Clinical Center now follows 250 children and adolescents regularly. We are involved in the care of cystic fibrosis patients from across the United States who have been referred for or have survived lung or liver transplantation.  The Center clinical staff remains stable, supported by nurse coordinators, dietitians, social workers, physical therapists, respiratory therapists and other ancillary health personnel.  A full complement of medical subspecialty and surgical consultants is available, many of whom are actively involved in the program.

Pediatric Cystic Fibrosis Clinical Center

The Pediatric Cystic Fibrosis Clinical Center continues to grow.  Thomas Ferkol, MD, and Peter Michelson, MD, are co-directors of the Cystic Fibrosis Center.

Patients with cystic fibrosis under 21 years of age receive their routine care at St. Louis Children’s Hospital, which are regularly scheduled in the Pediatric Ambulatory Clinics on Thursday afternoons. Patients may be seen at other times as clinically indicated. Children colonized with Burkholderia cepacia complex are only seen on Friday afternoons. Individual physicians, who have primary responsibility for their patients, attend the clinic with the support of two cystic fibrosis nurse coordinators, dietician, clinical social worker, and respiratory therapists.

When necessary, children with cystic fibrosis are admitted to the St. Louis Children’s Hospital 7 East Respiratory Unit, a newer, 20-bed, state-of-the-art pediatric ward, under the care of pediatric residents and pulmonary fellows with attending supervision from the Division of Pediatric Allergy, Immunology and Pulmonary Medicine. Patients colonized with Burkholderia species are housed on a separate pediatric ward.

Contacting Us

• Phone for the Pediatric Clinical Center, Pediatric Research Center and TDN: 314.454.2353
• All calls received during working hours, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., are answered by the department’s secretary.
• Urgent calls are promptly transferred to our cystic fibrosis nurse specialists.
• Non-urgent calls are forwarded to individual phone mailboxes, and answered within 24-hours by:
  • Nurse
  • Dietitian
  • Physical therapist
  • Social worker