Dr. Kulkarni's career journey exemplifies a deep commitment to advancing healthcare and improving outcomes for patients with interstitial lung diseases (ILDs). With her diverse medical training and experiences, she brings a unique perspective to her role as the Director of the Interstitial Lung Disease Program at The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB).
She received her medical training at Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute followed by a Master's in Public Health from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. She completed her residency in Internal Medicine at Wayne State University and subsequently, clinical and research fellowship in Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine at UAB. Her appointment as faculty within the Division, where she currently serves as Associate professor, reflects her dedication to advancing research and education in this field.
Dr. Kulkarni's leadership role in the ILD network at the American College of Chest Physicians and Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation underscores her commitment to promoting awareness, early diagnosis, and quality treatment of ILDs beyond her institution's walls. As a principal/co-investigator on clinical trials studying new therapeutics for ILDs and a specific interest in developing imaging biomarkers for ILD, she is at the forefront of translating research findings into improved patient care.