Pulmonology
- Marcel L
- Dec 28, 2022
- 2 min read
What is Pulmonology?
Pulmonology is the study of the respiratory system, in a nutshell, anything that has to do with your breathing and your lungs, all the way from your nose to your lungs. This includes infections that affect your lungs such as COVID-19 or Influenza.
How do you become a Pulmonologist?
For your undergrad, you need to do your premed requirements (science courses, sociology courses etc.). Just like any doctor, you need to take the MCAT before continuing to medical school. Medical school is the same for every doctor, you have two years studying and then two years clinical where you work more hands on with real people and in a lab. Before your residency you need to get a license from the USMLE. The residency for a pulmonologist starts with a 3 year residency in Internal Medicine where you study the internal organs of the human body, all of them.. To be a pulmonologist, you need to take a 2 year fellowship in pulmonology where you study the respiratory system. After this fellowship, there is a board certification exam from the American Association of Internal medicine. After this very long process, you are now a pulmonologist.
What Do Pulmonologists treat?
Asthma, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), Chronic Bronchitis, Emphysema, Lung Cancer, Cystic Fibrosis/Bronchiectasis, Pneumonia, Pleural Effusion, Influenza, Covid-19, etc.
Do Pulmonologists have subspecialties?
Sleep-Disordered Breathing - Specializes in breathing disorders that happen while you are asleep
Interstitial lung disease - Specializes in lung diseases that happen from persistent scarring or inflammation.
Interventional Pulmonology - Specializes in lung cancer, airway disorders, and pleural diseases, essentially, anything that needs to be stopped midway (thus the name).
Lung transplantation- A lung transplant is a very complex procedure, in a nutshell, it replaces one of your most vital organs, your lungs, while at the same time, keeping you breathing through an external machine in a hotswap like manner.
Neuromuscular disease - This subspecialty specializes in disorders that are caused by respiratory muscle failure, such as your diaphragm is unable to move. These diseases are very complex and are incurable with the available technology today, so long time hospice care is needed. Due to the complex nature of the disease, a subspecialty is needed because of how much attention is required just to keep living.
Obstructive lung disease- This is a subspecialty of pulmonology that specializes in lung diseases that obstruct airways through swelling, mucus, and other obstructions. Some diseases that can cause obstructions in the airways are obesity, scoliosis, asbestosis.
Average Salary
The average salary of a pulmonologist is $344,000.
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