pneumologist

A pneumologist, often called a pulmonologist in many countries, is a physician who specializes in diseases of the respiratory system, including the lungs, airways, and chest. They diagnose and treat a wide range of conditions, from acute infections to chronic disorders, such as asthma, COPD, pneumonia, tuberculosis, lung cancer, interstitial lung disease, pulmonary hypertension, and sleep-related breathing disorders. They also manage respiratory failure and other disorders requiring ventilatory support.

Education and training typically begin with a medical degree, followed by residency in internal medicine and a fellowship in pulmonology. Certification or board eligibility in pulmonology is common, and many clinicians pursue subspecialty training in areas such as interventional pulmonology, pediatric pulmonology, or sleep medicine.

Practice and procedures: Pneumologists perform and interpret diagnostic tests such as spirometry, gas exchange studies, chest imaging, and bronchoscopy, and may arrange or conduct arterial blood gas analysis. They oversee inhaled therapies, oxygen therapy, and noninvasive ventilation, and in hospital settings coordinate care with intensive care teams for patients with respiratory failure. They may also participate in pulmonary rehabilitation and smoking cessation programs.

Setting and collaboration: Pneumologists work in hospital pulmonology departments, outpatient clinics, and academic or research centers. They collaborate with radiologists, thoracic surgeons, oncologists, infectious disease specialists, and respiratory therapists to diagnose and treat respiratory diseases.