Overview

Overview

Cleveland Clinic is accredited as a Cystic Fibrosis (CF) Care Center from the US Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. The Cleveland Clinic Children’s Pediatric Cystic Fibrosis Program specializes in the diagnosis, management and treatment of individuals with CF and those suspected to have CF. Patients seen in our CF center not only have access to the most advanced outpatient and inpatient clinical care, but also CF-focused clinical research programs.

We partner closely with our accredited Adult CF Care Program for a smooth transition when pediatric patients are ready for adult care.

A Team Approach

Our multidisciplinary care team has greater than 150 years combined experience, in caring for CF patients of all ages. Members of the CF team may include representatives from many of the specialty areas listed below.

Program Director

The pediatric CF program is led by Nathan Kraynack, MD who has been involved in the care of pediatric patients with CF for more than 17 years. He is board-certified in pediatrics and pediatric pulmonary medicine. Dr. Kraynack cares for children and young adults with all forms of lung conditions, particularly children with Cystic Fibrosis, other forms of bronchiectasis and end stage lung disease.

Prior to joining Cleveland Clinic Children’s, Dr. Kraynack served as the head of a large accredited CF Center for almost ten years. Leading a multidisciplinary team of caregivers, they developed standardized protocols for cystic fibrosis care that had not previously been used and were associated with dramatic improvement in patient outcomes at their center. These protocols have since been adopted at other care centers nationally and internationally on at least three continents. His passion for standardized care has extended to nutritional protocols for patients with cystic fibrosis and the inpatient management for patients with cystic fibrosis.

Additional Program Highlights 

Comprehensive Cystic Fibrosis Newborn Screening Program (NBS)

Infants with high Immunoreactive Tripsynogen (IRT) and one or two mutations are referred to the Cleveland Clinic NBS program coordinator.

The NBS coordinator communicates with the primary care provider of a patient with a positive screening. Then, the family is contacted to set up testing. The NBS coordinator explains the appointment process including, the procedure for sweat testing, what testing is for, office visit with pediatric pulmonologist, and genetics counselor. An appointment is scheduled for the patient at that time.

World-renowned Quality Improvement Processes

Quality improvement committee is dedicated to consistently reviewing and improving CF care.

The CF quality improvement committee is responsible monitoring, assessing and improving the quality of patient care and operational processes delivered in the pediatric cystic fibrosis program. This plan supports the organizational mission to provide high quality care and to continuously improve our performance.

Download Our Free Cystic Fibrosis Treatment Guide

Our Team

Our Team

Our Doctors

Other Providers

  • Bette Klein, MS, RD
  • Tanya Lucik, BSN, RN
  • Kim Medina, RRT
  • Lauren Palange, Genetics Counselor
  • Amelia Robson, LISW
  • Dave Weaver BSN, RN, CCRC
Appointments & Locations What We Treat

What We Treat

Unique Cleveland Clinic Children’s Pediatric CF Collaborations

  • Cleveland Clinic Home Care - Ability to safely provide home intravenous antibiotics
  • Cleveland Clinic Specialty Pharmacy - Access to CF specific medications delivered directly to your home
  • Maternal Fetal Medicine - Comprehensive management including preconception planning, pregnancy management, and delivery
  • Infectious Disease - Experts in the management of non-tuberculous mycobacteria

Additional Resources

More resources can be found at the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s website.

Research & Clinical Trials

Research & Clinical Trials

Ongoing Pediatric Clinical Trials

Protocol #GS-US-205-1850

Randomized, Double-Blind, Phase 3B Trial to Evaluate the Safety and Efficacy of 2 Treatment Regimens of Aztreonam 75 mg Powder and Solvent for Nebulizer Solution / Aztreonam for Inhalation Solution (AZLI) in Pediatric Subjects with Cystic Fibrosis (CF) and New Onset Respiratory Tract Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) Infection/Colonization Aztreonam Lysine for Pseudomonas Infection Eradication 2 (ALPINE 2) Study; 11/2017-Present

Protocol #17-1683

Phase 3b, Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled, Parallel Group Study to Assess the Safety, Efficacy, and Tolerability of Tezacaftor/Ivacaftor (TEZ/IVA) in an Orkambi-experienced Population Who Are Homozygous for the F508del-CFTR Mutation

Cystic Fibrosis Lung Transplant Consortium

The CF Lung Transplant Consortium will establish a clinical and translational research network of CF lung transplant centers (CFLTCs). The centers facilitate the study of lung transplant for CF and other lung diseases to improve access, clinical care, and long term outcomes of individuals with CF who undergo lung transplant. For more information, please call 216.445.6671.