NeumoMeet 2026 Brings Respiratory Specialists Together

Respiratory specialists gathered in the Dominican Republic for NeumoMeet 2026, a three-day scientific meeting that highlighted the growing need for pulmonologists and thoracic surgeons to work together when determining the most appropriate treatment for patients with complex respiratory diseases.

Organized by the Circle of Pulmonologists Graduated from Hospital Salvador Bienvenido Gautier (HSBG) and the Chapter of Thoracic Surgeons, both affiliated with the Dominican Society of Pulmonology and Thoracic Surgery (SDNCT), the October 2-4 meeting brought together national and international specialists to discuss changes in diagnosis, treatment and surgical care.

A More Coordinated Approach to Respiratory Care

A central theme of the meeting was the shift toward medical decisions tailored more closely to each patient’s condition and needs. Rather than relying on uniform treatment approaches, specialists examined how advances in diagnosis and treatment can support more individualized care.

Ángela Araujo, president of the Circle of Pulmonologists Graduated from HSBG, said the meeting reflected the changes taking place in respiratory medicine and the growing importance of adapting treatment decisions to individual patients.

That approach also extends to cases in which surgery may be required. Julio Jiménez, president of the Chapter of Thoracic Surgeons, emphasized the importance of communication between the two specialties when a patient’s condition calls for a surgical intervention.

The opening session was attended by Luis Peña Núñez, president of the Dominican Medical College (CMD), and Maribel Jorge, president of the Dominican Society of Pulmonology and Thoracic Surgery, who joined the organizers at the start of the scientific program.

From Severe Asthma to Lung Cancer

The scientific agenda covered a broad range of respiratory conditions and clinical situations. Specialists discussed severe asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, respiratory infections, interstitial and vascular lung diseases, smoking and lung cancer, alongside therapies and strategies designed to improve patient management.

Biological therapies, vaccination strategies and personalized treatments were also examined as part of the broader discussion about how respiratory medicine is adapting to increasingly specific patient needs.

Thoracic surgery featured prominently as well. Sessions addressed trauma, chest drainage, chest wall reconstruction, pediatric thoracic surgery and diseases affecting the mediastinum, as well as the assessment of patients before surgery.

Other discussions focused on pleuropulmonary complications and tuberculosis cases that may require surgical treatment, areas in which coordination between respiratory and surgical specialists can be particularly important for treatment planning.

Technology and Artificial Intelligence in Lung Care

Technology was another major component of the meeting. Participants examined advances in the evaluation of pulmonary nodules, screening strategies and molecular testing, as well as the potential role of new technologies and artificial intelligence in the diagnosis and management of lung diseases.

The discussions placed these tools within a broader transformation of respiratory care, where earlier detection, more detailed patient information and increasingly targeted treatments are changing how specialists approach complex diseases.

Recognizing Respiratory Medicine Leaders

NeumoMeet 2026 also recognized the professional careers of Bienvenido Peña Jiménez and Héctor Enrique Castro Pérez, two physicians associated with the development of respiratory and surgical medicine in the Dominican Republic.

Peña Jiménez, a Dominican surgeon specializing in general, thoracic and cardiovascular surgery, received recognition for his professional career and contributions to medicine. Castro Pérez, a pulmonologist who serves as head of the Pulmonology Service at Hospital Salvador B. Gautier, was also honored for his trajectory and contribution to the specialty.

A Platform for the Next Generation

The meeting included a dedicated program known as NeumoMeet Next Generation, designed for residents in pulmonology and thoracic surgery. Young specialists presented clinical cases and original research while taking part in an academic competition involving medical residency programs.

The initiative provided residents with an opportunity to present their work while engaging with the latest developments in respiratory medicine and surgery. It also underscored the importance of preparing new specialists for a field increasingly shaped by multidisciplinary decision-making and technological advances.

By the end of the three-day meeting, collaboration between pulmonology and thoracic surgery had emerged as a central theme. The organizers’ focus on coordinated decision-making reflects the increasingly complex nature of respiratory diseases and the need for specialists to combine diagnostic, medical and surgical expertise when developing treatment strategies for patients.