Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine
Irina Petrache, MD, Division Chief
What do we do?
The Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine at National Jewish Health is one of the largest specialty groups in the nation. Our pulmonologists diagnose and treat adults with complex lung (respiratory) diseases and sleep disorders. Patients are evaluated and treated by doctors in both clinic and hospital settings. Our pulmonology care programs are designed to improve quality of life and reduce long-term cost associated with health care.
Why National Jewish Health?
As the nation’s leading respiratory hospital for 125 years, our pulmonologists are widely recognized for excellence in diagnosing, treating and researching lung diseases and sleep disorders. We have unparalleled pulmonology expertise and internationally recognized doctors and scientists who bring their extensive experience and knowledge to the most challenging respiratory cases from around the world.
Our Section of Sleep Medicine and Section of Critical Care are an integrated part of the Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine.
Irina Petrache, MD
Multi-specialty Approach
Our pulmonologists work closely with other National Jewish Health doctors including cardiologists, gastroenterologists, rheumatologists, radiologists and pathologists to provide care that is thorough, multidisciplinary and tailored to the needs of each patient. Our doctors are specialists and they take the time to get to know our patients and really understand their conditions and concerns.
Advanced Diagnostic Services
In addition to having multiple specialties in one location, our patients benefit from having the most advanced imaging and pulmonary testing services on site.
- Institute for Advanced Biomedical Imaging® — Cutting-edge technology and world-renowned thoracic (chest) radiologists
- Pulmonary Physiology Services Laboratory— One of the largest and leading-edge pulmonary function laboratories in the country with unparalleled accuracy. Assessments and evaluations include:
- Lung function and efficiency
- Lung size, resistance, elasticity, compliance and specific conductance of the airways
- Complex metabolic exercise
- Exhaled nitric oxide, lung mechanic measurements and other special pulmonary physiology procedures that are unavailable at most facilities
- Vocal cord dysfunction at rest and during exercise
- Complex gastroesophageal reflux and laryngopharyngeal aspiration lung
- Pulmonary Hypertension (PH) Section –
- Outpatient and inpatient multidisciplinary assessment and treatment of PH and right heart dysfunction by specialized pulmonologists
- Phenotyping of pulmonary hypertension severity at rest and during exercise
- Access to clinical trials with the newest drugs to treat this heart-lung condition
- Multidisciplinary Sleep Medicine Programoffers
- At home and in-lab sleep testing with state-of-the-art technology
- Consultation with board certified sleep doctors
- Sleep mask-fitting program for a comfortable personalized experience
- Assessment and management of insomnia and other behavioral sleep conditions
Clinical Trials
We have a robust clinical trials program with more than 300 active clinical trials in progress. Our patients have access to the latest, most advanced clinical trials and effective treatments through research conducted here.
National Recognition – Special Designations
National Jewish Health is recognized by a variety of national organizations and has received the following designations of distinction for high-quality care and research in pulmonology; occupational and environmental health; critical care; and sleep medicine:
View National Recognition – Special Designations
Unique Centers
NTM Center of Excellence
Our NTM Center of Excellence serves the needs of patients, doctors, health-care providers and scientists. Its mission is to study NTM in a comprehensive manner and generate a catalog of physical, biological, chemical and genetic characteristics of these organisms; relate the phenotypic (physical, biological, and chemical) and genotypic (DNA) characteristics to the behavior of these species/strains of NTM in patients; test organism resistance and drug susceptibility to various strains of NTM; perform pharmacokinetic testing for patients undergoing drug treatment for NTM; and improve the education and training about NTM for health professionals and patients.
Center of Excellence for Silicosis and its Prevention
First of its kind in the nation, our Center of Excellence for Silicosis and its Prevention identifies at-risk construction workers and tailors diagnoses and treatments; works with government entities to create safety programs for employees; and helps educate industry professionals as they develop programs to keep workers safe.
Education
Pulmonary Fellows at the University of Colorado Denver rotate through Pulmonary Physiology Services at National Jewish Health to learn about pulmonary function testing, exercise testing and other specialized studies. Fellows may also see patients under the supervision of our pulmonoligists. Learn more about the Pulmonary Fellowship.
Research
We conduct research to advance the understanding and treatment of asthma, COPD and other pulmonary diseases. Learn about our research.
Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine
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Mark S. Aloia, PhD
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Evgeny V. Berdyshev, PhD
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David A. Beuther, MD, PhD, FCCP
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James P. Bridges, PhD
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Amy Cacace, MD
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Hong Wei Chu, MD
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Joseph Cooley, DO
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James D. Crapo, MD
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Azzeddine Dakhama, PhD
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Mohammad Dalabih, MD
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Gregory P. Downey, MD, FRCPC
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Evans Fernández, MD, MS
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David M. Ferraro, MD
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James H. Finigan, MD
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Stephen K. Frankel, MD, FCCM, FCCP
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Fernando Jose Fuentes, MD, FACP, FCCP, DABFM
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Marjorie Patricia George, MD
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Anthony N. Gerber, MD, PhD
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Kristen Glisinski, MD
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Nir M. Goldstein, MD, FCCP
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Ann Granchelli, MD
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Vamsi P. Guntur, MD, MSc
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Katherine Hisert, MD, PhD
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Tristan J. Huie, MD
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Patrick S. Hume, MD, PhD
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Yoko Ito, MD, PhD
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William J. Janssen, MD
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Rebecca C. Keith, MD
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Matthew Koslow, MD
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Tim Lahm, MD, ATSF
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Teofilo L. Lee-Chiong Jr, Jr, MD
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Gabriel C. Lockhart, MD
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Steven E. Lommatzsch, MD
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Sherstin T. Lommatzsch, MD
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Kenneth E. Lyn-Kew, MD
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Sean Maddock, MD
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Susan M. Majka, PhD
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Barry J. Make, MD
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Adriel J. Malavé, MD
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Kenneth C. Malcolm, PhD
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Vipin Malik, MD
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Laurie A. Manka, MD
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Richard J. Martin, MD
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Robert J. Mason, MD
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Alexandra McCubbrey, PhD
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Hilda Metjian, MD, FCCP
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Michael P. Mohning, MD
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Kara Mould, MD, MPH
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Christine Nguyen, DO
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Jerry A. Nick, MD
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Mari Numata-Nakamura, MD, PhD
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James K. O'Brien, MD, FACP, FCCP
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J. Tod Olin, MD, MSCS
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Claudia Onofrei, MD, MSc
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Irina Petrache, MD
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Kevin Rurak, MD
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Milene Saavedra, MD
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Howard Saft, MD, MS
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Robert A. Sandhaus, MD, PhD, FCCP
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Sarah Sasse, PhD
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Elaine M. K. Schwartz, MD, FCCP
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Michael D. Schwartz, MD, FCCM
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Joshua J. Solomon, MD
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Amanda Stephens, MD
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Evan L. Stepp, MD
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Jeff Swigris, DO, MS
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Jennifer L. Taylor-Cousar, MD, MSCS
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Sheila Tsai, MD
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Dennis R. Voelker, PhD
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Ryan Webster, MD
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Michael E. Wechsler, MD, MMSc
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Catherine Wittman, MD
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Chen-Shan Julia Woodcock, PhD
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James Woodrow, MD
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Zulma X. Yunt, MD
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Daniel Zank, MD
Nurses & Medical Staff
- LyNette Rasmussen, NP
- Katherine Rosen, RN, MSN, ANP-C
- Vanessa Castro, PA
- Cori Fratelli, RN, MSN, FNP-C
- Danielle Pohlit, PA-C
- Jackie Homra, FNP-C
- Hayley Heinz, RN, FNP
- Jenna Summers, FNP-C
Programs and Services
Conditions We Treat
- Airway Obstruction
- Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency
- Asthma Overview
- Autoimmune Lung Diseases
- Chronic Bronchitis
- Chronic Cough
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
- Chronic Respiratory Failure
- Cystic Fibrosis (CF)
- Dyspnea (Shortness of Breath)
- Emphysema
- Eosinophilic Lung Diseases
- Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis
- Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD)/Pulmonary Fibrosis
- Lung Nodules
- Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM)
- Pleural Effusion
- Pneumonia
- Pulmonary Embolism
- Pulmonary Hypertension (PH)
- Respiratory Failure
- Sleep Disorders
- Tracheobronchomalacia
- Unexplained Hypoxia
Education
Pulmonary Fellows at the University of Colorado Denver rotate through Pulmonary Physiology Services at National Jewish Health to learn about pulmonary function testing, exercise testing and other specialized studies. Fellows may also see patients under the supervision of our faculty. Learn more about the Pulmonary Fellowship.
Research
Our division conducts research to advance the understanding and treatment of asthma, COPD and other pulmonary diseases. Learn about our research.