Respirologist and researcher joins institute

Dr. Doug Helmersen, MD, a respirologist and researcher, is the newest member of the Libin Cardiovascular Institute. 

Helmersen’s clinical and research speciality is pulmonary vascular disease, a broad term for any condition that impacts the blood vessels in the lungs, such as pulmonary hypertension and pulmonary embolism. 

Pulmonary vascular disease is closely linked with the heart and heart disease, and Helmersen works closely with cardiologists in both his clinical and research work. 

Helmersen’s research focus is largely on clinical trials. He heads a program that conducts both trials aimed at learning more about the patients and populations affected by pulmonary vascular disease (observational) and those designed to evaluate and bring forward new and more effective treatments (interventional).  

In Helmersen’s 25 years in the field, there has been a large increase in options for patients.  

“I began my career when there weren’t many treatments for pulmonary vascular diseases,” says Helmersen. “Patients young and old were suffering… and dying prematurely from right heart failure during that era.

“The past three decades have seen a tremendous expansion of new treatments, many of which have led to improvements in both patient’s functioning and survival. Even though there is still much work to be done, the research breakthroughs in this area seem to be increasing. The future looks promising.”

Helmersen received his medical degree at the University of Calgary. He stayed at the university to complete an internal medicine residency and respirology fellowship. From there, he completed an advanced fellowship in pulmonary hypertension and lung transplantation at the University of California, San Diego.

His desire to spend his clinical career in the field of pulmonary vascular disease was motivated by the breadth and severity of problems the lungs can have. His research questions are often a result of his own clinical practice. 

Helmersen, along with six pulmonary medicine physicians and a team of allied health members, comprise the Southern Alberta Pulmonary Hypertension Program. The group provides specialized care to patients from throughout southern Alberta. 

The underlying causes of pulmonary vascular disease are diverse, and can include genetics, immune system diseases, exposures (ie. Methamphetamine), pulmonary emboli and congenital heart disease (CHD). 

Because of the connection with congenital heart disease, Helmersen works in a collaborative multidisciplinary clinic works with congenital heart physicians. 

He is excited to join the Libin Cardiovascular Institute. 

“I already work closely with many Libin members, and I am excited to form other collaborations to further my research,” he says. 

Helmersen is a clinical associate professor in the Division of Transplant Medicine and Respirology in the Dept. of Medicine at the Cumming School of Medicine.