Pulmonary Medicine

Living the life you want can be challenging when breathing is difficult. At UMass Memorial Health, our specialized pulmonology team treats acute breathing issues and complex lung diseases. We provide the supportive care and lifelong disease management needed to live your best life.

Pulmonary Conditions We Treat

We quickly address acute lung issues and work with you to manage chronic (long-term) breathing problems. Our pulmonology experts diagnose and treat all types of respiratory conditions, including:

• Allergies
• Asthma
• Bronchitis
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
• Cystic fibrosis
• Emphysema
• Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
• Interstitial lung disease
• Lung cancer
• Pneumonia

Recognized Leaders in Pulmonology

Our pulmonary specialists are recognized leaders in their field. U.S. News & World Report recognizes UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester as High-Performing in pulmonology and lung surgery. The Will Rogers Foundation recognizes our fellowship-training program for new pulmonary physicians as a Program of Excellence.

Our Approach to Breathing Problems and Lung Disorders

The pulmonology team at UMass Memorial has the expertise and experience to precisely evaluate your symptoms and deliver advanced treatment to help ease those symptoms.

Our pulmonary medicine team provides:

Expert Assessment and Diagnosis

We consider every possibility when evaluating and diagnosing your respiratory symptoms. Innovative techniques and specialized experience enable us to provide your diagnosis quickly. We check your breathing and lungs using:

• Bronchoscopy: A thin, lighted tube allows us to examine your airways to evaluate and manage respiratory abnormalities.
• Cough clinic: We evaluate, diagnose and manage chronic cough.
• Esophageal pH testing: We insert a catheter (thin tube) into your esophagus (tube connecting your throat to your stomach). This measures how often stomach acid enters the esophagus and how long it stays there. This test helps us diagnose gastroesophageal reflux disease, which can cause respiratory symptoms.
• Exercise testing with pulmonary monitoring: We monitor your respiratory function, including oxygen usage and carbon dioxide production, during strenuous physical activity. 
• Pulmonary function testing: We monitor how well your lungs work before and during treatment. 
• Sputum culture: We test a sample of mucus collected when you cough to determine whether you have a lung infection.
• Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery: We use a thin tube and camera to diagnose lung conditions during this minimally invasive surgery.

Respiratory Treatments We Provide

We understand how chronic breathing and lung disorders can affect your quality of life. That’s why we offer the newest pulmonary treatments and create individualized treatment plans that work with your lifestyle. Our treatment for lung and breathing disorders includes:

• Home ventilation therapy: If you need to be on a ventilator for an extended period, we provide continuous mechanical ventilation support in your home.
• Positive airway pressure: People with obstructive sleep apnea receive breathing support using a CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) or BiPAP (bilevel positive airway pressure) machine.    
• Thoracic surgery: Our specialized surgeons use the newest surgical techniques, including robotic thoracic surgery, to treat lung and chest conditions.     
• Transtracheal oxygen therapy: We insert a small tube into your windpipe to deliver oxygen directly to your lungs.