E. Leonard Riley, MD

Professional Background

Dr. Riley is an Assistant Professor of medicine at the University of Kansas Medical Center and Kansas City Veterans Affairs Medical Center who is board-certified in pulmonary disease and critical care medicine. His clinical interests include diagnosing and managing people with alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Dr. Riley received his medical degree from Ross University and proceeded to complete his Internal Medicine Residency training at the University of Kansas Medical Center. He then completed his Pulmonary and Critical Care Fellowship at the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida.

• BS, Biochemistry and Biophysical Sciences, University of Houston, Houston, Texas
• MD, Medicine, Ross University, Commonwealth of Dominica
• Residency, Internal Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas
• Residency, Chief Resident - Internal Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas
• Clinical Fellowship, Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida

• Board Certification - Critical Care Medicine, American Board of Internal Medicine
• Board Certification - Internal Medicine, American Board of Internal Medicine
• Board Certification - Pulmonary Disease, American Board of Internal Medicine
• Medical license, Florida Department of Health
• Medical license, Kansas State Board of Healing Arts

• American College of Chest Physicians, Member, 2017 - Present
• American Thoracic Society, Member, 2017 - Present

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Research

Overview

Dr. Riley's main research interests are investigating ways to improve testing, detection, and clinical outcomes for individuals with alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (AATD). He has published several articles and has multiple projects to improve testing, understanding the disparities in people who are tested for AATD, and their clinical outcomes. Additionally, he serves as the clinical director for the AATD clinic at the Kansas City Veterans Affairs Medical Center and University of Kansas Medical Center.

• Impact of a Multicenter Best Practice Alert to Improve AATD Testing and Detection, Alpha-1 Foundation, PI

• Riley Leonard, Fredenrich Robert, Bearce Matthew, Govindan Sushant, Schaffer Richard, Campos Michael, Lascano Jorge. 2025. Epidemiology of Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency in the Veterans Health Administration. Annals of the American Thoracic Society
• Campos Michael, Riley Leonard, Lascano Jorge, Garnet Brian, Sandhaus Robert. 2025. High BMI and COPD Outcomes in Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency. CHEST pulmonary, 3 (1), 100-113. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2949789224000795
• Riley Leonard, Brunson Cory, Eydgahi Soroush, Brantly Mark, Lascano Jorge. 2023. Development of a Risk Score to Increase Detection of Severe Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency. European Respiratory Journal Open Research, 9 (5), 00302-2023
• Riley Leonard, Sriram Aryaman, Brantly Mark, Lascano Jorge. 2023. Testing Patterns and Disparities for Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency. American Journal of Medicine, 136 (10), 1011-1017
• Kokturk Nurdan, Khodayari Nazli, Lascano Jorge, Riley Leonard, Brantly Mark. 2023. Lung Inflammation in alpha-1-antitrypsin deficient individuals with normal lung function. Respiratory Research, 24 (1), 40
• Campos Michael, Hagenlocker Brian, Lascano Jorge, Riley Leonard. 2023. Impact of a Computerized Clinical Decision Support System to Improve COPD Diagnosis and Testing for Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency . Annals of American Thoracic Society, 20 (8), 1116-1123
• Lascano Jorge, Riley Leonard, Kohdarayi Nazli, Brantly Mark. 2023. Augmentation Therapy Modulates Systemic Inflammation in Individuals with Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, 10 (3), 308
• Riley Leonard, Lascano Jorge. 2022. Labelling Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency in the medical record - A call to action. Respiratory Medicine, 193 (106749)
• Riley Leonard, Lascano Jorge. 2021. Gender and racial disparities in lung transplantation in the United States. Journal of Heart Lung Transplant, 40 (9), 963-969
• Riley Leonard, Lascano Jorge. 2020. Clinical outcomes and survival following lung transplantation in patients with Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency. Respiratory Medicine, 172 (106145)