Ni-Cheng Liang, MD, ATSF

Ni-Cheng Liang, MD, ATSF

Director of Pulmonary Integrative Medicine

Dr. Ni-Cheng Liang is a four-time “Top Doctor” in the annual San Diego Magazine “Physicians of Exceptional Excellence” survey for pulmonary diseases in 2017, 2019, 2021, and 2022.  She also is the youngest and first woman of color to receive the San Diego American Lung Association Lung Health Provider of the Year award in 2019.

She received her medical degree from University of Maryland in 2005 and completed her residency and Chief Residency in internal medicine as well as pulmonary fellowship at UC San Diego with board certifications in both.  She was recognized by Mindful Magazine as one of the Ten Powerful Women of the Mindfulness Movement in 2021.  She graduated from the University of Arizona Integrative Medicine Fellowship in 2022.  She practices general pulmonary integrative medicine and is also a mindfulness teacher for patients, physician trainees, and physicians.

Degrees and Education

  • Doctor of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 2001-2005
  • Bachelor of Science, Major: Exercise Science, Pre-Health Professions Concentration, Minor: Biology, Magna Cum Laude, George Washington University, Washington, DC, 1997-2001

 

Residencies

  • Chief Medical Resident, UCSD, San Diego, CA, 2008-2009
  • Resident, Internal Medicine, UCSD, San Diego, CA, 2005-2008

 

Fellowships

  • Fellow, Pulmonary Medicine, UCSD Medical Center, San Diego, CA, 2012-2013
  • UCSD Approved Leave of Absence, 2011-2012
  • Fellow, Pulmonary and Critical Care, UCSD Medical Center, San Diego, CA, 2009-2011

Board Certifications

  • Medical Board of California, Physician and Surgeon License, 2007
  • American Board of Internal Medicine, 2008
  • American Board of Internal Medicine Pulmonary Diseases, 2013
  • UCSD Advanced Resuscitation Program, 2016
  • Board Certified in Integrative Medicine, 2023

Academic Appointments

7/2018-Current Voluntary Assistant Professor of Medicine, UCSD

7/2017-4/2018 Executive Director, UCSD Center for Mindfulness

5/2015-6/2018 Medical Director, Pulmonary Services, University of California San Diego, Center for Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine

2/2014- 6/2018 Assistant Clinical Professor, UCSD Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine

9/2013-2/2014 Clinical Instructor, UCSD Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine

 

Research Experience

UCSD Academy of Clinician Scholars Kaiser Teaching Award, 2016-2018

Mobile Wellness for Healthcare Providers

Role: Curriculum Development, Principal Investigator

 

Actelion, Protocol AC-058C202  Curtin (PI), 2015-2017

A Phase 2, open-label, single-arm, intra-subject dose-escalation study to investigate the biological activity, safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of ponesimod in subjects with symptomatic moderate or severe chronic GVHD inadequately responding to first or second line therapy

Role: Sub-Investigator

 

Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction for Patients with Chronic Lung Disease, 2013-2017

Research Mentors: Andrew Ries, MD, Professor of Medicine, Associate Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs

Steven Hickman, PsyD, Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine, Director of UCSD Center for Mindfulness

Role: Principal Investigator

 

Astra-Zeneca, Ramsdell (PI), 2014-2016

(GALATHEA) A Randomized, Double-blind, Chronic Dosing (56 week) Placebo-controlled, Parallel Group, Multicenter, Phase III Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of 2 Doses of Benralizumab (MEDI-563) in Patients with Moderate to Very Severe Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) with a History of COPD Exacerbations

Role: Sub-Investigator

 

UCSD Academy of Clinician Scholars Kaiser Teaching Award, 2014-2015

Mindful Communication: Optimizing Physician Well-being for the Improvement of Communication with Patients

Role: Curriculum Development, Principal Investigator

 

NIH 5T32HL076126-05 6/30/2009-6/29/2010

Deuterium Exchange Mass Spectrometry Analysis of Fibrinogen

Research Mentors: Virgil L. Woods, MD, Professor of Medicine; Timothy A. Morris, MD, Professor of Medicine

 

Effects of Fibrinogen N-Disulfide Knot and N-Disulfide Knot II on Intracytosolic Calcium Levels in Human Pulmonary Artery Endothelial Cells

Research Mentors: Jason X. Yuan, MD, Professor of Medicine and Timothy A. Morris, MD, Professor of Medicine

 

Publications

Liang NC. Devereaux A. Patient Education/Information Series; Integrative Medicine (Complementary and Alternative Medicine) for the Lungs. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2017 June 1; 195(11): 21-22.

Liang NC. The changing natural history of COPD: summary from the American Thoracic Society Meeting 2016. J Thorac Dis 2016;8(Suppl 7):S553-555.

Liang NC, Truong KT, Afshar K. Key management considerations in sarcoidosis from the American Thoracic Society 20156 Conference. J Thorac Dis 2016;8(Suppl 7):S569-572.

Malhotra A, Liang NC. Introduction: American Thoracic Society International Meeting 2016. J Thorac Dis 2016;8(Suppl 7):S528-S529.

Guest Co-Editor: Journal of Thoracic Disease Vol 8, Suppl 7 July 2016. Co-edited 20 editorial articles summarizing key points from the American Thoracic Society 2016 International Meeting.

Liang NC, Empowering Patients with COPD: Self-Management and Mindfulness. California Thoracic Society Inspirations Newsletter. Dec 2015.

Marsh JJ, Chiles PG, Liang NC, Morris TA. “Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension-associated dysfibrinogenemias exhibit disorganized fibrin structure.” Thrombosis Research. 2013 Dec; 132(6):729-34.

Liang NC, Morris TA. “Pulmonary embolism and pregnancy.” Current Women’s Health Reviews. 2011 May; 7(2): 177-188(12).

Morris TA,Marsh JJ,Chiles PG,Magaña MM,Liang NC,Soler X,Desantis DJ,Ngo D,Woods VL Jr. “High prevalence of dysfibrinogenemia among patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension.”Blood.2009 Aug 27; 114(9):1929-36.

Liang, Ni-Cheng, Editor, UCSD Internal Medicine Residency Handbook, 2007-2008 edition.

Vidaver, R., et al. “Women subjects in NIH-funded clinical research literature: lack of progress in both representation and analysis by sex.” .Journal of Women’s Health and Gender-Based Medicine. 2000 Jun; 9(5):495-504. Acknowledgement.

1999 Research Assistant, Society for Women’s Health Research, Washington, D.C.

 

CME Peer Reviewer

2015 Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Virtual Clinic

University of California San Diego School of Medicine

 

2014 Raising Awareness of COPD: Diagnosis, Management, and Comorbid Conditions

University of California San Diego School of Medicine

Media Interviews

  • San Diego Union Tribune, Online News Segment, ”Med students learn the pains of aging”, Published online 1/31/2017
  • Channel 6 News, San Diego, News Segment on Mindfulness at UCSD, Aired 9/17/2015

 

Invited Presentations

COPD 2018: Comprehensive Management

2018 American Thoracic Society International Conference, Sunrise Seminar

San Diego, CA

 

Integrative Medicine: Special Focus on Mindfulness

2017 LAMposium, LAM (Lymphangioleiomyomatosis) Foundation Annual Meeting

Los Angeles, CA

 

Mindfulness for Wellness and Burnout Prevention

2017 American Association for Women Radiologists/American Society for Radiation Oncology

San Diego, CA

 

Mindfulness for Cancer Survivorship

2017 Young Survival Coalition

San Diego, CA

 

GOLD 2017 Update: Guidelines for COPD

2017 California Society for Respiratory Care

San Diego, CA

 

Mindfulness for Pediatrics Trainees: Residency and Oncology Fellowship

2017 UCSD Pediatrics Residency and Pediatrics Oncology Programs

San Diego, CA

 

Co-Chair ATS 2017 Scientific Symposium: From Research to Bedside: Optimizing Well-Being Through Integrative Therapy

2017 American Thoracic Society Conference

Washington, DC

 

Mindfulness for Wellness, Resilience, and Burnout Prevention

2017 Alliance for Academic Internal Medicine, Workshop Presentation

Baltimore, MD

 

Lung Transplantation

2017 UCSD School of Medicine, 2ndyear medical student pulmonary block

San Diego, CA

 

Mindful Leadership

2017 UCSD Health Leadership Academy

San Diego, CA

 

COPD: Diagnosis and Treatment

2016, 2017 UCSD Department of Family and Preventative Medicine Resident Conference

San Diego, CA

 

Recognizing and Managing Acute Exacerbations of COPD

Inhaler Device Training

Outpatient Case Discussion

2017 California Thoracic Society Meeting

Carmel, CA; San Diego, CA

 

American Medical Women’s Association Balancing Work and Life Panelist

2016 UCSD School of Medicine

San Diego, CA

 

How to incorporate Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction into the Practice of Medicine

2016 Sutter Health Physician Leadership Conference: Physician Burnout: Seeking a Solution

Fairfield, CA

 

Life after Residency: Preventing Physician Burnout

2016 San Diego County Medical Society: Life after Residency Seminar

San Diego, CA

 

Mindfulness for Physicians and Patients with Chronic Lung Disease

2016 UCSD Center for Mindfulness Research Symposium

San Diego, CA

 

Introduction to Mindfulness: Practice of Medicine Course

2017, 2016, 2015 UCSD School of Medicine

San Diego, CA

 

Physician Well-Being: Mindfulness for Preventing Burnout

2016 Scripps Mercy Medical Center Residency Conference

San Diego, CA

 

Physician Well-Being: Building Resilience with Mindfulness

2016 UCSD Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Conference

San Diego, CA

 

Role of Pulmonary Rehabilitation and Collaborative Self-Management in Reducing COPD Admissions

2016 California Society for Pulmonary Rehabilitation Conference

 

Integrative Medicine: A Holistic Approach for you

2016 Lam Foundation Southern California Meeting

San Diego, CA

 

Mind-Body Practices for Patients with Chronic Lung Disease: Special Focus on Mindfulness

2016 San Diego Psychiatric Society Meeting: Integrating Mental and Physical Health

San Diego, CA

 

Physician Well-Being Mindfulness Module: Witnessing Suffering

2016 UCSD Medicine-Pediatrics Residency Conference

San Diego, CA

 

GOLD Standards for COPD Exacerbations: Prevention and Treatment

2016 California Society for Respiratory Care- San Diego Conference

San Diego, CA

 

From Global to Personal: Reducing COPD Exacerbations and Readmissions: Strategies, Interventions, and Programs

2016 California Thoracic Society Meetings (1/2016, 10/2016)

Carmel and San Diego, CA

 

COPD Today California Thoracic Society 2016 Symposium: COPD a Team Approach

Societal and Economic Impact

2016 California Thoracic Society Meeting

Carmel, CA

 

Physician Well-Being: Special Focus on Mindfulness, Experiential Workshop

2016 UCSD Faculty Retreat

San Diego, CA

 

Integrative Medicine for COPD/Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency

2016 ATS/Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency Foundation Patient Seminar

San Diego, CA

 

Physician Well-Being: Mindfulness

2016 UCSD Department of Pediatric Medicine: Resident Noon Conference

San Diego, CA

 

Department of Emergency Medicine Grand Rounds: Physician Well-being: Special Focus on Mindfulness

2015 UCSD Department of Emergency Medicine

San Diego, CA

 

Integrative Medicine for Patients with Lung Disease

2015 Expert Panelist

UCSD Pulmonary Patient Seminar

 

Grand Rounds: COPD: Diagnosis and Management

2015 Annenberg Center for Health Sciences at Eisenhower Medical Center

Rancho Mirage, CA

 

Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction: Optimizing Well-Being for Medical Students and Physicians

2015 WGEA/WGSA/WOSR/WAAHP Regional Spring Meeting: Borders and Boundaries

San Diego, CA

 

Introduction to Pulmonary Medicine

2015 UCSD Muir’s Eventual Doctors

San Diego, CA

 

Integrative Medicine: A Holistic Approach for You

Presentation and Expert Panelist

2015 LAMposium, LAM (Lymphangioleiomyomatosis) Foundation Annual Meeting

Chicago, Illinois

 

Mindful Communication: Physician Well-Being Retreat

2014, Harbor UCLA Emergency Medicine Residency Retreat

Arrowhead, CA

 

Treatment and Prevention of COPD Exacerbations: Special Focus on Readmissions

2014 National Association of Directors of Nursing Administration Annual Meeting

San Diego, CA

 

GOLD Standards for the Diagnosis and Management of COPD

2014 UCSD Respiratory Care Conference

San Diego, CA

 

Pulmonary Horizons 1stand 2ndAnnual COPD Conference Expert Panelist

2014, San Diego, CA

2015, Miami, Florida- Program Committee

 

Meet the Experts, Patient/Family Forum: Integrative Medicine for Patients with Lung Diseases

2014 American Thoracic Society International Conference, Public Advisory Roundtable

San Diego, CA

 

Coccidioidomycosis and Non-Tuberculous Mycobacteria: You Can Have Ticks andFleas

Best Case Presentation Award, Most Unusual Case

2013 Coccidioidomycosis Study Group Meeting

Pasadena, CA

 

A Patient with Severe Emphysema

2013 California Thoracic Society Meeting

Carmel, CA

 

My experience as a cancer survivor and physician

2012-Current UCSD School of Medicine Clinical Foundations II – SOMC 236 AB

San Diego, CA

 

Human Pulmonary Artery Endothelial Cell Exposure toFibrin(ogen) Augments Intracellular Calcium Regulation in Response to Thrombin

2010 Seventh Annual Respiratory Disease Young Investigators’ Forum, San Antonio, TX

 

2011 Scholar Award, Western Region American Federation for Medical Research Meeting, Carmel, CA

 

Managing Death in the ICU: The Art of the End-of-Life Care Discussion

2008 Medical Grand Rounds, University of California San Diego

 

Back Pain, A Case of Multi-Drug Resistant Tuberculosis

2007 Infectious Disease Conference, University of California San Diego

 

A Case of Recurrent Urinary Tract Infections in a Patient with a Chronic Indwelling Foley Catheter

2006 Morbidity and Mortality Conference, VA Medical Center, San Diego, CA

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Dr. Ni-Cheng Liang was named as one of the 2017 “Top Doctors” in the annual San Diego Magazine “Physicians of Exceptional Excellence” survey for pulmonary diseases.  She is a Fellow of the American Thoracic Society.

2017 San Diego Top Doctor in Pulmonary Disease

2016 UCSD Academy of Clinician Scholars Kaiser Teaching Award

2016 National Center of Leadership in Academic Medicine Program Graduate

2015 AAMC Early Career Women Faculty Professional Development Seminar Participant

2014 UCSD Academy of Clinician Scholars Kaiser Teaching Award

2013 Coccidioidomycosis Study Group Meeting, Best Case Presentation, Most Unusual Case

2011 American Thoracic Society Travel Award, Assembly on Pulmonary Circulation Program Committee

2011 American Federation of Medical Research Henry Christian Award Recipient Scholar Award, Western Region

2011 American Federation of Medical Research

2010 Presenter, Seventh Annual Respiratory Disease Young Investigators’ Forum

2009 Poster Competition Finalist: American College of Physicians, National Scientific Meeting

2008 1st Place Award for Best Research Poster, Region III of the American College of Physicians

2005-2006 Intern of the Year Award University of California, San Diego Department of Medicine

2004-2005 Honors: 3rd Year Medicine Clerkship, Ambulatory Medicine, Medicine Sub-Internship, Nephrology, Cardiology, MICU Sub-Internship

2001 Distinguished Scholar Award, George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services

2001 All-American Scholar

2000-2001 Student Leadership Stipend Award

1998-2001 Golden Key National Honors Society

1997-2001 Presidential Academic Scholarship, George Washington University

1997-1999 National Society of Collegiate Scholars