Maria N. Berdella, MD is the Co-Director of the Cystic Fibrosis Center in the Department of Pediatrics and Pulmonary Medicine at Beth Israel Medical Center. The center relocated from Saint Vincent’s Hospital and Medical Center in June 2010 and received full Accreditation from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation as well as a designation of a specialized center for Cystic Fibrosis Newborn Screening from the Department of Health. It is also a Designated Cystic Fibrosis Research Center. The Cystic Fibrosis Center has been in existence since 1977.

Dr. Berdella did her Pediatric and Post graduate training at Saint Vincents Hospital and Medical Center and has been Co-Director of the Center since 1998. She specialized in the care of patients with Cystic Fibrosis.

Dr. Berdella has been involved in many Cystic Fibrosis research trials to help move the science forward. She is currently the Principal Investigator at Beth Israel for Vertex 770, a new drug that targets the genetic defect in patients with Cystic Fibrosis, which has given great hope to this population of patients.

Dr. Berdella lectures on Cystic Fibrosis at many local and international meetings, is a member of the Newborn Screening Consortium for NY State and sits on the Board of the Cystic Fibrosis New York Chapter.

The Cystic Fibrosis Center is Co-Directed by Dr. Patricia Walker, who manages the many diverse adults at the CF Center as well as collaborating with all research trials. She is the Principal Investigator of PTC-124, which targets patients carrying a specific class of genetic mutations.

The multidisciplinary team needed to care for Cystic Fibrosis patients is present at Beth Israel and as a dedicated group of specialists, provides each Cystic Fibrosis patient with an individualized plan of care.

Specialty

Pediatrics; Pediatric Pulmonology

Medical School

Universidad Mundial Dominicana, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, 1986

Residency

Saint Vincent’s Hospital and Medical Center, New York, NY