Best Pulmonologists in Tacoma
Updated December 24, 2024
Introduction to Pulmonology in Tacoma
Definition and importance of pulmonology
Pulmonology is a medical specialty focused on the diagnosis and treatment of diseases affecting the respiratory system. This field encompasses a wide range of conditions, from common ailments like asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) to more complex disorders such as lung cancer and pulmonary fibrosis.
Pulmonologists play a significant role in managing respiratory health, which is essential for overall well-being and quality of life. They are trained to handle various respiratory issues, including but not limited to bronchitis, pneumonia, sleep apnea, and occupational lung diseases. Their expertise is particularly valuable in Tacoma, where environmental factors and industrial history may contribute to respiratory concerns.
Overview of healthcare landscape in Tacoma
Tacoma boasts a robust healthcare system with several qualified pulmonologists serving the community. Based on the provided data, there are at least 20 pulmonologists practicing in the Tacoma area, offering residents a range of options for specialized respiratory care.
The city is home to several major medical centers and hospitals that provide comprehensive pulmonology services. Notable facilities include St. Joseph Medical Center, MultiCare Tacoma General Hospital, and St. Anthony Hospital. These institutions are equipped with advanced diagnostic tools and treatment options for respiratory conditions, ensuring that Tacoma residents have access to high-quality care close to home.
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List of Pulmonologists in Tacoma
American Board of Internal Medicine
LEBANESE UNIVERSITY / FACULTY OF MEDICAL SCIENCES / SCHOOL OF MEDICINE (Medical School, 2002)
English
MemorialCare Long Beach Medical Center
Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Hospital
Critical Care Medicine
Pulmonary Disease
Dr. Swapna Muppuri
5.0
Tacoma, WA
Sex
Female
Languages
English
American Board of Internal Medicine
Khazar University School of Medicine (Medical School, 2003)
English
St. Joseph Medical Center
St. Anthony Hospital
St. Francis Hospital
Critical Care Medicine
Pulmonary Disease
Internal Medicine
IO
Dr. Ifeoma Oriaku
5.0
Tacoma, WA
Sex
Female
Languages
English
American Board of Internal Medicine
Ross University School of Medicine (Medical School, 2016)
English
Temple University Hospital
Critical Care Medicine
Pulmonary Disease
Sleep Medicine
Internal Medicine
American Board of Internal Medicine
University of British Columbia (Fellowship Hospital)
University of Washington (Medical School)
University British Columbia Faculty Med (Fellowship Hospital, 1997)
University of Washington (Residency Hospital, 1993)
University of Washington (Internship Hospital, 1991)
University of Washington School of Medicine (Medical School, 1990)
English
St. Anthony Hospital
St. Francis Hospital
St. Clare Hospital
Pulmonary Critical Care Medicine
Pulmonary Disease
Sleep Medicine
JK
Dr. James Kirsch
5.0
Tacoma, WA
Sex
Male
Languages
English
American Board of Internal Medicine
University of California, Irvine School of Medicine (Medical School, 1988)
English
MultiCare Tacoma General Hospital
Critical Care Medicine
Pulmonary Disease
Sleep Medicine
Internal Medicine
Dr. Aparna Kadambi
5.0
Tacoma, WA
Sex
Female
Languages
English
American Board of Internal Medicine
UNIVERSITY OF MYSORE / ADICHUNCHANAGIRI INSTITUTEOF MEDICAL SCIENCE (Medical School)
English
St. Francis Hospital
Critical Care Medicine
Pulmonary Disease
Internal Medicine
TM
Dr. Thomas Mann
5.0
Tacoma, WA
Sex
Male
Languages
English
American Board of Internal Medicine
UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER / CANCER CENTER (Medical School, 2005)
English
Pulmonary Disease
JT
Dr. James Taylor
5.0
Tacoma, WA
Sex
Male
Languages
English
American Board of Internal Medicine
University of California at Berkeley (Medical School, 1982)
English
MultiCare Tacoma General Hospital
Pulmonary Disease
Internal Medicine
American Board of Internal Medicine
University of California San Diego (Fellowship Hospital)
University of California San Diego (Residency Hospital)
Albert Einstein College of Medicine (Medical School, 2000)
English
Dutch
St. Anthony Hospital
St. Clare Hospital
Pulmonary Critical Care Medicine
Pulmonary Disease
Internal Medicine
American Board of Internal Medicine
Metro Health Medical Center (Fellowship Hospital, 2013)
Government Kilpauk Medical College|Kilpauk Medical College (Medical School, 1999)
English
Hindi
Tamil
St. Joseph Medical Center
Pulmonary Disease
CA
Dr. Charles Anderson
4.3
Tacoma, WA
Sex
Male
Languages
English
American Board of Internal Medicine
University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine (Medical School, 1986)
English
Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center
St. Anthony Hospital
St. Clare Hospital
Critical Care Medicine
Pulmonary Disease
Sleep Medicine
Internal Medicine
University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (Fellowship Hospital, 2005)
Michael Reese Hospital (Residency Hospital, 2002)
Bangalore Medical College, Rajiv Gandhi University Of Health Sciences (Medical School, 1995)
English
Hindi
Kannada
Oriya
Punjabi
Spanish
Urdu
Vietnamese
Regional Medical Center of San Jose
Santa Clara Valley Medical Center
Good Samaritan Hospital
Pulmonary Disease
Critical Care Medicine
Pulmonary Critical Care Medicine
American Board of Internal Medicine
Oregon Health & Science University (Medical School, 2003)
English
St. Anthony Hospital
St. Joseph Medical Center
St. Clare Hospital
Pulmonary Critical Care Medicine
Critical Care Medicine
Pulmonary Disease
Dr. Saleh Ismail
3.0
Tacoma, WA
Sex
Male
Languages
English, Arabic
American Board of Internal Medicine
American University of Beirut Faculty of Medicine (Medical School, 2000)
English
Arabic
Overlake Medical Center & Clinics
Pulmonary Critical Care Medicine
Critical Care Medicine
Pulmonary Disease
Sleep Medicine
American Board of Internal Medicine
UNIVERSIDAD HEBREA ARGENTINA BAR ILAN / FACULTAD DE CIENCIAS BIOLOGICAS (Medical School, 2012)
English
Thomas Hospital
Baptist Medical Center South
Critical Care Medicine
Pulmonary Disease
Internal Medicine
RE
Dr. Robert Enquist
1.0
Tacoma, WA
Sex
Male
Languages
English
American Board of Internal Medicine
University of Washington (Medical School, 1970)
English
Pulmonary Disease
Internal Medicine
CK
Dr. Clyde Koontz
N/A
Tacoma, WA
Sex
Male
Languages
English
University of Washington (Medical School, 1971)
English
Cardiovascular & Pulmonary Diseases
Critical Care Medicine
Pulmonary Disease
NK
Dr. Neeti Kanodra
N/A
Tacoma, WA
Sex
Female
Languages
English
American Board of Internal Medicine
Barisal Medical College (Medical School)
Medical University of South Carolina (Fellowship Hospital, 2016)
Washington Hospital Center (Internship Hospital, 2010)
English
St. Joseph Medical Center
St. Anthony Hospital
Critical Care Medicine
Pulmonary Disease
Internal Medicine
LJ
Dr. Leslie Jette-Kelly
N/A
Tacoma, WA
Sex
Female
Languages
English
American Board of Internal Medicine
English
Providence St. Peter Hospital
Critical Care Medicine
Pulmonary Disease
KM
Dr. Kantha Medepalli
N/A
Tacoma, WA
Sex
Female
Languages
English
American Board of Internal Medicine
Northeast Ohio Medical University (Medical School)
English
St. Joseph Medical Center
Swedish Cherry Hill Campus
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Critical Care Medicine
Pulmonary Disease
Internal Medicine
MK
Dr. Michael Kelly
N/A
Tacoma, WA
Sex
Male
Languages
English
American Board of Internal Medicine
Baylor University (Medical School, 1989)
English
St. Francis Hospital
Critical Care Medicine
Pulmonary Disease
Internal Medicine
Dr. Arvind Vasudevan
N/A
Tacoma, WA
Sex
Male
Languages
English
American Board of Internal Medicine
Kasturba Medical College of Mangalore (KMC) (Medical School)
English
St. Joseph Medical Center
St. Francis Hospital
St. Clare Hospital
Critical Care Medicine
Pulmonary Disease
Internal Medicine
DR
Dr. Dilreet Rai
N/A
Tacoma, WA
Sex
Female
Languages
English
American Board of Internal Medicine
English
Ben Taub Hospital
Critical Care Medicine
Pulmonary Disease
Internal Medicine
BM
Dr. Blake Mann
N/A
Tacoma, WA
Sex
Male
Languages
English
American Board of Internal Medicine
University of South Alabama Frederick P. Whiddon College of Medicine (Medical School)
English
Virginia Mason Medical Center
Swedish Issaquah Campus
Critical Care Medicine
Pulmonary Disease
Internal Medicine
Dr. Praful Tewari
N/A
Tacoma, WA
Sex
Male
Languages
English
American Board of Internal Medicine
English
St. Joseph Medical Center
St. Anthony Hospital
St. Francis Hospital
Critical Care Medicine
Pulmonary Disease
Internal Medicine
DL
Dr. David Lee
N/A
Tacoma, WA
Sex
Male
Languages
English
American Board of Internal Medicine
University of Washington (Fellowship Hospital, 1976)
Boston Medical Center (Internship Hospital, 1973)
Saint Louis University School of Medicine (Medical School, 1972)
English
St. Joseph Medical Center
St. Anthony Hospital
Pulmonary Disease
Internal Medicine
CC
Dr. Christian Conlon
N/A
Tacoma, WA
Sex
Male
Languages
English
American Board of Internal Medicine
English
Pulmonary Disease
Internal Medicine
BW
Dr. Barry Weled
N/A
Tacoma, WA
Sex
Male
Languages
English
American Board of Internal Medicine
College Crit Care Med (Fellowship Hospital)
Fitzsimons Army Medical Center (Fellowship Hospital, 1977)
Walter Reed Army Medical Center (Internship Hospital, 1973)
University of Washington School of Medicine (Medical School, 1972)
English
Pulmonary Disease
Internal Medicine
BD
Dr. Bruce Davidson
N/A
Tacoma, WA
Sex
Male
Languages
English, Amharic
American Board of Internal Medicine
ECLECTIC MEDICINE UNIVERSITY (Medical School, 1992)
English
Amharic
Wallowa Memorial Hospital
Providence St. Peter Hospital
Pulmonary Disease
Internal Medicine
Choosing a Pulmonologist in Tacoma
Factors to consider when selecting a pulmonologist
Board certification and credentials
- Review of American Board of Internal Medicine certifications
- Examination of additional subspecialty certifications
Experience and specializations
- Analysis of years in practice and areas of expertise
- Consideration of fellowship training and academic appointments
Hospital affiliations
- Evaluation of connections to reputable medical centers in Tacoma
- Consideration of access to advanced medical facilities
Patient reviews and ratings
- Examination of star ratings and review counts on Healthgrades
- Consideration of patient feedback and testimonials
Steps in the selection process
Researching potential doctors
- Utilizing online resources like Healthgrades
- Reviewing doctor profiles and educational backgrounds
Checking insurance coverage
- Verifying in-network status with insurance providers
- Understanding potential out-of-pocket costs
Scheduling initial consultations
- Preparing questions for the first appointment
- Evaluating the doctor's communication style and approachability
Top-Rated Pulmonologists in Tacoma
Dr. Richard Kahlstrom
Impressive Credentials and Experience
- 5.0 star rating with 7 reviews
- Extensive education background including University of Washington and University of British Columbia
- Board-certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine
Hospital Affiliations
- St. Anthony Hospital in Gig Harbor
- St. Francis Hospital in Federal Way
- St. Clare Hospital in Lakewood
Dr. John Verrilli
High Patient Satisfaction
- 4.8 star rating based on 16 reviews
- Specializes in Pulmonary Critical Care Medicine, Pulmonary Disease, and Internal Medicine
Language Proficiency
- Fluent in English and Dutch
- Enables effective communication with a diverse patient population
Dr. Rajesh Kandasamy
Extensive Patient Feedback
- 4.6 star rating from 19 reviews
- Specializes in Pulmonary Disease
Multilingual Capabilities
- Proficient in English, Hindi, and Tamil
- Able to serve a diverse patient base in Tacoma
Dr. James Kirsch
Highly Rated Specialist
- 5.0 star rating with 3 reviews
- Expertise in Critical Care Medicine, Pulmonary Disease, Sleep Medicine, and Internal Medicine
Local Medical Center Affiliation
- Affiliated with MultiCare Tacoma General Hospital
- Conveniently located for Tacoma residents
Additional Considerations for Choosing a Pulmonologist
Importance of communication and rapport
Value of a good doctor-patient relationship
- Discuss the impact of clear communication on treatment outcomes
- Highlight the importance of feeling comfortable with your pulmonologist
Encouraging patients to trust their instincts
- Emphasize the significance of feeling heard and understood
- Suggest evaluating the doctor's listening skills and empathy during initial consultations
Accessibility and location
Considering proximity to home or work
- Discuss the convenience factor in managing ongoing respiratory care
- Mention the importance of easy access for routine check-ups and emergencies
Evaluating office hours and availability for appointments
- Highlight the need for flexible scheduling options
- Suggest inquiring about wait times for appointments and emergency care
Technological capabilities and resources
Inquiring about advanced diagnostic tools and treatments
- Discuss the importance of up-to-date medical equipment
- Mention specific pulmonary function tests and imaging technologies
Considering participation in clinical trials or research
- Highlight the potential benefits of access to cutting-edge treatments
- Discuss how research involvement can indicate a doctor's commitment to advancing the field