June 3, 2022 –  The University of Florida Health joins the Erdheim-Chester Disease Global Alliance Referral Care Center network in Gainesville, Florida.

The Erdheim-Chester Disease (ECD) Global Alliance is proud to announce a new emerging ECD Referral Care Center located at the University of Florida (UF) in Gainesville.  Dr. Ali Ataya, who specializes in pulmonary and critical care medicine, is the lead ECD physician at this center.  Dr. Ataya is the director of the rare lung disease program at UF and sees patients with rare diseases to include Langerhans and non-Langerhans disorders such as ECD. 

“As a large tertiary referral center with experience in treating rare diseases, UF is pleased to be a referral site for patients with ECD.  We are happy to provide ECD patients in Florida, and the surrounding area, with a center where they can receive coordinated care,” Dr. Ataya stated about joining the ECD Care Center Network. 

ECD can affect many different organs of the body and for this reason, patients need to receive coordinated care across medical specialties. 

The ECDGA recognizes 35 centers of excellence across the globe. Each institution is required to communicate and collaborate with other centers to ensure patients are receiving the most up-to-date treatment options and best care available. ECD Referral Care Center physicians are also available to provide consultation to local doctors when patients are unable to travel.

For more information on the ECD Referral Care Center network and how to contact them, please visit www.erdheim-chester.org/care-centers/.