Ashraf Fawzy, MD, MPH

Dr. Fawzy is a pulmonary and critical care physician with expertise in the diagnosis and treatment of lung disease, particularly asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). He leads the Johns Hopkins Alpha-1 Clinical Resource Center, designated by the Alpha-1 Foundation to provide specialized care, education, and support for patients with alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, an inherited condition that can affect the lungs and liver. His clinical practice also includes care for critically ill patients in the Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU) at Johns Hopkins Hospital and Bayview Medical Center.

Dr. Fawzy joined the Johns Hopkins faculty in 2020 after earning his M.D. from Stony Brook University and completing his residency at Boston University Medical Center. His research focuses on improving patient monitoring, with particular expertise in pulse oximetry. He studies the accuracy and limitations of pulse oximeters and how differences in device performance across patient populations can affect the recognition of low oxygen levels and clinical decision-making. His broader goal is to improve the accuracy and reliability of patient monitoring so that all patients receive safe and effective care.

A second major area of Dr. Fawzy's research investigates the role of platelets in COPD and the potential for platelet-directed therapies such as aspirin to improve respiratory health. His work has examined how platelet activation relates to COPD flares and quality of life and the relationship between aspirin use and respiratory outcomes in COPD, including ongoing clinical research evaluating aspirin dosing and its effects on platelet activity. This work aims to better understand the contribution of platelets to COPD and whether targeting platelet activation may offer new approaches to preventing exacerbations and improving outcomes.

Johns Hopkins Alpha-1 Clinical Resource Center

View all trials by this principal investigator.

• Inaccurate pulse oximeter measurements delayed COVID treatment for people of color, National Public Radio
• Faulty Oxygen Readings Delayed Care to Black and Hispanic COVID Patients, Study Finds, New York Times
• FDA urged to move faster to fix pulse oximeters for darker-skinned patients, STAT News
• How Pulse Oximeters Lead to Delayed Care for Patients of Color, American Thoracic Society 'Breath Easy' Podcast

• Fawzy A, Putcha N, Aaron CP, Bowler RP, Comellas AP, Cooper CB, Dransfield MT, Han MK, Hoffman EA, Kanner RE, Krishnan JA, Labaki WW, Paine R, Paulin LM, Peters SP, Wise RA, Barr RG, Hansel NN. Aspirin Use and Respiratory Morbidity in COPD: A Propensity Score-Matched Analysis in Subpopulations and Intermediate Outcome Measures in COPD Study. CHEST. 2019; 155(3):519-527

• Fawzy A, Putcha N, Paulin L, Aaron CP, Labaki WW, Han MK, Wise R, Kanner RE, Bowler RP, Barr RG, Hansel NN. Association of thrombocytosis with COPD morbidity: the SPIROMICS and COPDGene cohorts. Respiratory Research. 2018; 19(1):20.

• Fawzy A, Wu TD, Wang K, Robinson ML, Farha J, Bradke A, Golden SH, Xu Y, Garibaldi BT. Racial and Ethnic Discrepancy in Pulse Oximetry and Delayed Identification of Treatment Eligibility Among Patients with COVID19. JAMA Internal Medicine. 2022; 182(7):730-738

• American Thoracic Society