Dr. Boushey received his M.D. degree from the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) in 1968. He completed his residency training in Internal Medicine at UCSF and at the Beth-Israel Hospital of Harvard Medical School. He then pursued specialty training in Pulmonary Medicine at Oxford University and at UCSF. He joined the UCSF faculty in 1974 and, except for a year’s sabbatical at the University of Paris (Cochin Hospital), has remained there for his entire career. He served as Vice-Chair of the Department of Medicine and Chief of the Medical Service (1989-1995) and recently as Chief of the Division of Allergy/Immunology and Director of the Asthma Clinical Research Center.
Dr. Boushey’s research has focused on methods for assessing airway mucosal inflammation (e.g., sputum induction), on examining the effects of new, specifically targeted therapies (e.g., monoclonal anti-IgE antibody, cell adhesion molecule inhibitors), on comparing existing therapies (inhaled corticosteroids, long-acting beta-agonists, and leukotriene antagonists, given alone or in combination), and on defining the mechanisms by which viral respiratory infection alters upper and lower airway function.
Dr. Boushey’s current academic interests include clinical research on the pathogenesis and treatment of asthma, focusing especially on the role of viral respiratory infections in triggering asthma exacerbations. He serves also on editorial boards, expert panels, and advisory committees. He is a past-President of the American Thoracic Society 2003-2004 and is currently the Chair of the ATS Foundation.
