Our Doctors

Pulmonary Disease Specialist & Sleep Medicine Physician

"Making a difference in the lives of others has always been important to me. It's what drove me toward a career in medicine and, later, in pulmonology and sleep medicine. I'm proud to have the training, experience, and advanced capabilities to be effective in this endeavor.

I'm very passionate about my work because lung and sleep disorders have a very real and significant impact on people's lives — many people's lives. While there are many subtleties in getting to the bottom of these problems, it's my mission to provide the most complete, most well-rounded care possible. It's how I measure my success as a physician.

Ultimately, I believe my most important function — and duty — as a physician is to always strive for excellence. For me, this is a combination not just of training and experience, but of personal commitment and compassion.

Whether he or she has a pulmonary disease, lung cancer, or a sleep disorder, every person who walks into my office deserves my heartfelt best. I truly care about helping people, and it's important to me that the people in my care can see this in everything I do."

Credentials

• Board Certified: Internal Medicine, Pulmonary Diseases, Sleep Medicine
• Board Eligible: Critical Care Medicine
• Fellow: American College of Chest Physicians (FCCP)
• Fellowship: Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Washington University, St. Louis, MO
• Residency: Internal Medicine, University of Illinois Medical Center & West Side Veterans Hospital, Chicago, IL
• Internship: Internal Medicine, University of Illinois Medical Center & West Side Veterans Hospital, Chicago, IL
• MD: University of Illinois Abraham Lincoln School of Medicine, Chicago, IL
• BA: Psychology, Cum Laude, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN
• Director: Medical Intensive Care Unit, John Codman Veterans Administration Medical Center, (1988-89)
• Hospital Affiliation: SSM St. Joseph Health Center

Member:

• American Medical Association
• American Thoracic Society
• American Academy of Sleep Medicine
• Society of Critical Care Medicine

Pulmonary Disease Specialist & Sleep Medicine Physician

"It's no secret that breathing well and getting a good night's sleep play a vital role in your health. And they are especially important when breathing becomes difficult or your sleep cycle is compromised.

For me, specializing in the diagnosis, treatment, and management of lung problems and sleep disorders is the essence of being a doctor. By applying the knowledge and skill I've gained through training and years of experience, I am able to provide proper care — often for people who haven't been able to get the help they need.

I believe honesty and commitment are two essential parts of good medicine. Lung disorders and breathing-related symptoms require careful diagnosis and individualized treatments. But, as an experienced board-certified pulmonologist, it still comes down to caring for people. That's why I will always be honest with you and treat you with the same dedication I would give to my own family.

I'm proud to have earned a reputation for excellence in the specialized treatment of lung diseases and sleep difficulties. But I am more proud to have been able to make a meaningful difference for so many people. It's why I became a physician in the first place.”

Credentials

• Board Certified: Internal Medicine, Pulmonary Diseases, Sleep Medicine
• Fellow: American College of Chest Physicians (FCCP)
• Fellow: American Academy of Sleep Medicine (FAASM)
• Fellowship: Pulmonary Diseases, St. Louis University, St. Louis, MO
• Residency: Internal Medicine, University of Kansas, Kansas City, KS
• Internship: Internal Medicine, University of Kansas, Kansas City, KS
• MD: University of Kansas School of Medicine, Kansas City, KS
• BA: Biology & Chemistry, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS
• Researcher: Principal investigator for more than 175 clinical trials for a wide range of pulmonary disorders and therapies
• Assistant Clinical Professor: Internal Medicine, St. Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
• Hospital Affiliation: SSM St. Joseph Health Center

Member:

• American Thoracic Society
• American Medical Association
• Missouri State Medical Association
• National Association for Medical Direction of Respiratory Care (NAMDRC)
• St. Charles-Lincoln County Medical Society

Honors/Awards:

• First Prize, Affiliates Forum, American College of Chest Physicians (1985)
• Life & Breath Award, American Lung Association of Eastern Missouri (2000)
• St. Louis Best Doctors, St. Louis magazine (2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012)