Paul Wolters

Paul Wolters, MD, is a Professor of Clinical Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), in the Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine. He is a leading expert in interstitial lung diseases, with a strong clinical and research focus on fibrotic lung disorders such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and scleroderma-associated ILD.

Dr. Wolters earned his MD from the University of Minnesota, completed internal medicine training at the University of Colorado, and pursued fellowship training in pulmonary and critical care at UCSF. His research program investigates the molecular pathogenesis of lung fibrosis, emphasizing epithelial cell dysfunction, telomere biology, senescence, and aging. His lab utilizes patient-derived samples and animal models to uncover disease mechanisms and identify novel therapeutic targets.

His research publications span high-impact journals including Nature, The New England Journal of Medicine, American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, and The Lancet. Key themes in his recent work include telomere dysfunction, MUC5B genetics, proteomic and molecular endotypes, and aging-related mechanisms in fibrosis. He is actively involved in multicenter consortia and clinical research networks, contributing to major advances in ILD classification, prognosis, and treatment.

Scientific Awards and Honors:

• Association of American Physicians (AAP), 2025
• Best Doctors in America Database, 2006–2021
• Michael S. Stulbarg Outstanding Teaching Award, UCSF, 2005
• American Lung Association Research Training Fellowship, 1998
• Foundation for Fellows in Asthma Research Award, 1997
• Finalist, Clinical Vignette Competition, ACP, 1994

Dr. Wolters is a dedicated mentor and educator, contributing to the training of numerous fellows and researchers in pulmonary medicine. He has no listed advisees in the provided text, but his collaborative network is extensive. He is not associated with a named lab or team in the text, but leads a research group focused on fibrotic lung disease mechanisms. His work continues to shape understanding and treatment of progressive fibrosing interstitial lung diseases.