Ware Kuschner, M.D.

Professor of Medicine (Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine)

Academic Appointments

Professor - University Medical Line, Medicine - Pulmonary, Allergy & Critical Care Medicine

Administrative Appointments

Section Chief, Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, VA Palo Alto Health Care System (2010 - Present)
Associate Chief for PACCM Faculty Affairs, Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine (2018 - Present)
Medical Director, TeleQuit Smoking Cessation Program, Veterans Integrated Service Network 21, Veterans Health Administration (2006 - Present)
Chair, Clinical Bioethics Committee and Ethics Consultation Service, VA Palo Alto Health Care System (2001 - Present)
Chair, Research & Development Committee, VA Palo Alto Health Care System (2023 - Present)
Director, Board of Directors, Palo Alto Veterans Institute for Research (2023 - Present)
Member, Administrative Panel on Human Subjects in Medical Research, Panel 3, Stanford University (2008 - Present)
Member, Scientific Review Subcommittee, VA Palo Alto Health Care System (2008 - Present)

Honors & Awards

Director's Commendation, Pulmonary/Sleep Medicine Telehealth, VA Palo Alto Health Care System (2020)
William A. Nelson Award for Excellence in Health Care Ethics, Veterans Health Administration (2011)
Clean Air Award for Medical Research, Breathe California (2010)
Recognition Award for Distinguished Service, American College of Physicians (2009)
Excellence in Teaching, Stanford University School of Medicine (2008)
Outstanding Service Award, American Lung Association of San Francisco and San Mateo Counties (2006)
Faculty Teaching Award, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Stanford University (2002)
Faculty Teaching Award, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Stanford University (2000)
Cecile Lehman Mayer Research Award Finalist, American College of Chest Physicians (1996)
Individual National Research Service Award, NIH (1996)
Research Award, Foundation for Occupational Health and Research (1996)
Research Training Fellowship Award, American Lung Association of California (1996)
Research Award, Foundation for Fellows in Asthma Research (1995)
Walter Travel Fund Award, American Lung Association (1995)

Boards, Advisory Committees, Professional Organizations

Member, VA Executive Committee of Cooperative Study #595 “Pulmonary Health and Deployment to Southwest Asia and Afghanistan (2016 - Present)

Professional Education

Fellowship, University of California San Francisco, Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine (1996)
Residency, Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center, New York, NY, Internal Medicine (1992)
M.D., Columbia University, College of Physicians and Surgeons (1989)

Current Research and Scholarly Interests

My principal area of academic interest is occupational and environmental lung disease. I have conducted experimental research studying the acute effects of toxic inhalational exposures and observational research analyzing exposure-health effects relationships in selected populations. I have a secondary area of academic interest in medical ethics.

Clinical Trials

A Study Comparing the Efficacy, Safety and Tolerability of Fixed Dose Combination (FDC) of FF/UMEC/VI With the FDC of FF/VI and UMEC/VI; Administered Once-daily Via a Dry Powder Inhaler (DPI) in Subjects With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Not Recruiting
More
The study evaluates the efficacy of fluticasone furoate/umeclidinium bromide/vilanterol (FF/UMEC/VI) to reduce the annual rate of moderate and severe exacerbations compared with dual therapy of FF/VI or UMEC/VI in subjects with COPD. Published studies which assessed the use of an 'open' triple therapy (use of Inhaled Corticosteroid \[ICS\]/ Long-acting Muscarinic Receptor Antagonists \[LAMA\])/ Long Acting Beta-Agonist \[LABA\] delivered via multiple inhalers) in moderate-severe COPD patients, reported improvements in lung function, Health Related Quality of Life (HRQoL), hospitalization rates and rescue medication use, compared to dual therapy (ICS/LABA) or LAMA alone. These studies have also shown similar safety profile with dual or monotherapy doses for periods of up to one year. Given the clinical experience with FF, UMEC and VI, and that the associated risks with these compounds are anticipated from their known pharmacology, the potential benefit of a new therapy option in patients with moderate to severe COPD supports the further development of the closed triple combination (delivered via one inhaler). In the current study subjects meeting all inclusion/exclusion criteria will complete 2-week run-in period; 52 week treatment period and a 1-week safety follow-up period. Eligible subjects will be randomized to one of the following double-blind treatment groups FF/UMEC/VI 100 micrograms (mcg)/62.5 mcg/25 mcg once daily (QD), FF/VI 100 mcg/25 mcg QD, or UMEC/VI 62.5 mcg/25 mcg QD

Stanford is currently not accepting patients for this trial. For more information, please contact SPECTRUM, .
Lead Sponsor
Stanford Investigators
- Ware Kuschner, M.D.
View full details
A Study to Assess the Efficacy and Safety of PT009 Compared to PT005 on COPD Exacerbations Over a 52-Week Period in Subjects With Moderate to Very Severe COPD (Sophos) Not Recruiting
More
This is a Phase III randomized, double-blind, parallel group, multi-center, 52-week COPD exacerbation and lung function study with PT009 320/9.6 μg, PT009 160/9.6 μg and PT005 9.6 μg, all administered BID.

Stanford is currently not accepting patients for this trial. For more information, please contact SPECTRUM, .
Lead Sponsor
Stanford Investigators
- Ware Kuschner, M.D.
View full details

2025-26 Courses

Independent Studies
- Directed Reading in Medicine
  MED 299 (Aut, Win, Spr, Sum)
- Early Clinical Experience in Medicine
  MED 280 (Aut, Win, Spr, Sum)
- Graduate Research
  MED 399 (Aut, Win, Spr, Sum)
- Medical Scholars Research
  MED 370 (Aut, Win, Spr, Sum)
- Undergraduate Research
  MED 199 (Aut, Spr, Sum)

All Publications

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