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
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