Dr. Elizabeth Klings stands as a national authority on sickle cell disease, pioneering clinical guidelines and leading groundbreaking research that has transformed the lives of people living with the often debilitating and stigmatizing condition. And she comes to sickle cell disease via a unique path: pulmonology, rather than hematology as is common. As director of the Pulmonary Hypertension Center and director of clinical research at the Center of Excellence in Sickle Cell Disease at Boston Medical Center (BMC)—the largest center of its kind in New England—she has dedicated over two decades to understanding and treating some of medicine's most complex conditions. Dr. Klings has led her work with a profound empathy for her patients and a commitment to delivering the most effective, cutting-edge care.
We talked with Dr. Klings to reveal the person behind the national accolades, and we learned about her journey to becoming a physician-scientist unraveling the intricate challenges treating these chronic conditions.
1. Why did you choose to specialize in pulmonary and critical care, focusing your career on the pulmonary complications of sickle cell disease?
During my residency training in Internal Medicine at Boston City Hospital—which eventually grew into Boston Medical Center—I became excited by providing the best possible care for patients who were critically ill in an intensive care unit. That led me to pursue subspecialty training in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine. It was during that fellowship training that I became interested in treating patients with pulmonary hypertension, high blood pressure in the blood vessels that connect the right side of the heart to the lungs. I began doing research in understanding why people with sickle cell disease developed pulmonary hypertension, which is how my interest in sickle cell disease began.
2. What brought you to BMC?
I came to Boston City Hospital, now BMC, after graduating from medical school at NYU in 1992. I did my residency in internal medicine and have been here ever since. I have been excited to be part of the growth of both our pulmonary hypertension and sickle cell centers.
3. What has kept you at BMC?
My patients. Because pulmonary hypertension and sickle cell disease are chronic conditions, in my pulmonary work, I work with patients longitudinally who have been in my care for years. To see my patients and be a part of their lives in this long-term capacity has been a tremendous privilege and a leading factor in my 32 years and counting at this institution.
4. What aspect of your role gives you the most satisfaction?
I really enjoy thinking about research questions and how to answer them to bring the most effective treatments to our patients. I love mentoring trainees and junior faculty from a research and clinical perspective. In my leadership roles, I enjoy creating new clinical and research programs. While implementing change can be difficult, the key is using a vision to create a program with buy-in from all of the members of the healthcare team.
5. How do you disconnect from work and recharge?
I enjoy many things outside of work, including travel, food, spending time with friends, and enjoying the outdoors. I have played team sports for my entire life, but I really tapped into that passion as an adult. Here in Boston, I played flag football for more than a decade and led a women’s softball team for nearly two decades. In my personal life and career, I think about teams in every aspect of leadership. As a leader, I ask myself, “What can I bring to the team?” A common theme that weaves throughout all of my passions is teamwork and a sense of shared accomplishment.
