Board Members

Kapil Patel, MD, is an assistant professor of medicine, medical director of the TGH /USF Center for Advanced Lung Disease. Dr. Patel received his medical degree from Akademia Medyczna w Lublinie (Medical University of Lublin), Lublin, Poland. He then completed an internship and residency in internal medicine at Monmouth Medical center an affiliate of Drexel University. Following his training, he completed a pulmonary and critical care fellowship at the University Of Vermont College Of Medicine. Dr. Patel continued his training at Stanford University Medical Center to complete an additional fellowship in heart-lung and lung transplantation. Prior to joining USF Health and TGH in 2016, Dr. Patel previously served on faculty in the division of Pulmonary and Critical Care at Stanford University, University of Vermont College of Medicine, University of Maryland Medical Center, and Upper Chesapeake Medical Center. He has published and presented widely on pulmonary and critical care medicine, with special interest in lung transplant and interstitial lung disease. Board-certified in internal medicine with subspecialties in pulmonary and critical care. Dr. Patel’s clinical work focuses on lung transplant, interstitial lung disease, and adult cystic fibrosis.

Patrick L Pustay, Jr. AA, BSN, RN -, Nurse Manager, Advanced Organ Disease & Transplantation Institute

Tampa General Hospital

Business Specialty: Mr. Pustay is a Nurse Manager for the Center for Advanced Lung Disease and Lung Transplantation.

Associations: President of One Breath at a Time, Inc., Past board member for One Breath at a Time, Past Chairman for the One Breath at a Time Run for Lungs (a charity fun run to help support One Breath at a Time); President for the Krewe of Shamrock, Past board member for the Krewe of Shamrock, former President of U.T. Student Nurse Association; Former 2nd Vice President for the F1 Student Nurse Association.

Born and raised in Tampa Florida, I am a true native and Floridian at heart. I have been happily married to my husband Dennis Rodriguez since 1997. We have 2 beautiful children Anthony and Sophia. My career in nursing began early when I knew that I wanted to be a nurse in high school. I started my nursing career as a CNA 1986. My career as a CNA lasted till 1993 when I became a LPN. My career as a LPN began at at Tampa General Hospital on October 11, 1993, and I have never looked back since then. I have enjoyed working in many areas of all my nursing career to include working in:

Lisa attended the University of Pittsburgh and earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. After graduating in 1982, Lisa found a position at Presbyterian University Hospital in Pittsburgh –University of Pittsburgh Medical Center as it is called now. After a bit of time in Las Vegas Lisa looked for a place that had a great open heart program – and found Tampa General. In addition to obtaining a Master’s Degree in Nursing, Lisa has worked as a staff nurse on the transplant floor- 8A; has been a research nurse working with ventricular assist devices; a heart transplant coordinator and currently a lung transplant coordinator.

Nicole Davis has been a pre lung transplant coordinator at Tampa General Hospital for the past five years. Prior to becoming a coordinator she worked as a nurse on the transplant floor for five years. During this time she has obtained her national certification as a transplant nurse (CCTN) and transplant coordinator (CCTC). She has represented Tampa General as a liaison board member for the International Society of Heart and Lung Transplant (ISHLT). She recently assisted in writing a chapter about Lung Transplant to be published by the MGH Psychiatry Academy. She obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Nursing and Master’s in Public Health from East Carolina University.