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Apostolos Perelas, MD
Specialty
Department
Internal Medicine
Locations
9000 Stony Point Parkway
Richmond, VA 23235
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1001 E. Leigh Street
Richmond, VA 23219
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Education
Medical School
University Of Athens School of Health Sciences
Internship
Albert Einstein Medical Center
Residency
Albert Einstein Medical Center
Fellowship
Cleveland Clinic
Biography
Apostolos Perelas, M.D. is part of a team at VCU Health that has helped the academic medical center become one of the destinations for the treatment of interstitial lung disease (ILD).
ILD is a term describing a group of conditions that cause lung scarring and inflammation, the most important being idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, also known as IPF. The disease is characterized by hardening and scarring of the lung resulting in loss of function. This could be the result of infection, inflammation, radiation or it could occur at random for reasons we are not able to identify.
“There is never a dull day in my practice. Dealing with interstitial lung disease is intellectually stimulating — like trying to solve a puzzle where some of the pieces may be missing,” says Perelas, who joined VCU Health in 2019 and serves as an associate professor in the Department of Pulmonary Disease and Critical Care Medicine at the VCU School of Medicine. “But by combining patient history, physical examination, laboratory tests, imaging and often biopsies, we can understand the causes of the fibrosis and come up with a rational plan to address the potential causes and reduce the risk of progression.”
After graduating from the University of Athens Medical School in Athens Greece, and serving his military and community, he moved to the USA. Perelas completed his internship and residency in internal medicine at Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia. There, he served as chief resident before moving on to the Cleveland Clinic Foundation for a fellowship in pulmonary and critical care medicine with a focus on interstitial lung disease.
VCU Health is the only Central Virginia health system and one of only three in Virginia credentialed as a Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation Care Center Network member, a recognition given by the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation signifying a leading center of care for the disease. VCU is also recognized as one of two centers in Virginia by The LAM Foundation, which focuses on the treatment of lymphangioleiomyomatosis, a cystic lung disease.
“We have built a truly multidisciplinary program that incorporates diverse specialties such as pulmonology, thoracic radiology, pathology and rheumatology that caters to the needs of patients,” Perelas says. “We take pride in caring for a diverse population from Central and Eastern Virginia and work closely with our network of referring physicians to advance the care of patients with interstitial lung disease.”
In some patients with pulmonary fibrosis, a lung transplant may be an option. Such a transplant is a major and complex procedure yet one that can improve the quality of life for eligible patients. With his knowledge of the disease and pulmonary system, Perelas also serves the VCU Health Hume-Lee Transplant Center and works closely with its lung surgeons and care teams.
Beyond patient care, Perelas’ research as part of his professorship with the School of Medicine targets the interplay between metabolism and pulmonary disease. He has co-authored dozens of peer-reviewed articles and presented research and abstracts at conferences worldwide.
“Research is a cornerstone of the lung and ILD programs at VCU, where we are exploring the mechanisms behind progressive lung scarring,” he says. The work is led by Dr. Patricia J. Sime, chair of the Department of Internal Medicine and world-renowned fibrosis researcher. The lab focuses on a variety of scarring lung conditions, with a particular focus on how the mechanical forces in the lung may promote the development of scarring.
Perelas is also committed to advancing patient care through clinical trials, offering patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, systemic sclerosis interstitial lung disease and progressive fibrotic lung disease the opportunity to participate in cutting-edge research.
Perelas is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine and has additional certifications from ABIM in Pulmonary Disease and Critical Care medicine. He is also a member of the American Thoracic Society, American College of Chest Physicians, American Medical Association and Hellenic Pharmacologic Society.
Advice to patients:
“Never be afraid to ask questions. There is no such thing as a stupid question.”
