A Pulmonologist’s Journey: Blending Expertise, Compassion, and Whole-Person Care
In 2006, I came to Denver to begin my fellowship in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at the University of Colorado. I remained in academic medicine at National Jewish Health for over a decade, where I helped establish a multidisciplinary Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Clinic and a Chronic Respiratory Failure Clinic for those with muscular dystrophies, late stage COPD, and other causes of a weakened diaphragm.
It was there that I found some of the most meaningful work of my career.
Caring for individuals living with ALS and supporting their families is both humbling and deeply connecting. ALS brings a wide spectrum of emotions, including fear, uncertainty, and grief, but also profound expressions of love, resilience, and connection. Being invited into that journey is a privilege I take very seriously. My work has focused on helping patients navigate respiratory challenges, anticipate changes, and maintain quality of life with dignity and clarity.
When the COVID-19 pandemic emerged in early 2020, I served on the front lines in hospitals across the country. At that time, we had limited therapies and no vaccines. What struck me most was the unpredictability of the disease. Some patients with significant underlying conditions survived, while others who were previously healthy did not.
It raised a question that stayed with me: how can physicians better support patients facing potentially life-threatening illness?
This question echoed what I had witnessed in ALS care and some cause of Chronic Respiratory Failure. Health and illness cannot always be explained by physiology alone. There are deeper layers such as resilience, environment, nutrition, movement, spirituality, and connection that shape outcomes in ways we are still working to understand.
These experiences changed the trajectory of my work.
I began to intentionally expand my approach, integrating evidence-based practices such as breathing techniques, nutrition, stress regulation, and mindfulness alongside conventional pulmonary care. I entered a fellowship program through the University of Arizona Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine to bring a more comprehensive, whole-person framework into my clinical practice.
At the same time, the pandemic highlighted a growing tension in modern healthcare. I found that the time and presence required to truly understand patients, especially those facing complex and life-altering illnesses, often conflicted with the constraints of insurance-driven systems.
In response, I founded Integrative Pulmonary Clinic. The clinic is built around a simple but essential principle: patients deserve time, attention, and care that considers the full picture of their health—the body, the mind, their values, and their environment. This approach is especially important in conditions like ALS, where thoughtful respiratory care, proactive planning, and emotional support all play a critical role.
Take the Next Step
If you or a loved one are navigating a chronic respiratory condition or seeking a more thoughtful and personalized approach to pulmonary care, I invite you to learn more about Integrative Pulmonary Clinic.
Schedule a consultation, explore our approach, or reach out with questions.
Appointments can be scheduled here without a referral.
Please join us at our next event: ALS and Breathing: A Guide for Patients and Families.
May 6, 2026: 6:00 PM MST
Fee: Free
Register here
Or later that same day:
May 6, 2026: 6:00 PM MST
Fee: Free
Register here
Who it’s for:
Anyone with ALS
Caregivers of those with ALS
Providers who care for ALS