Pulmonary Exercise and Physiology

The Pulmonary Physiology service provides comprehensive, state-of-the-art assessment of respiratory mechanics and function. Our mission is twofold: to assist the clinician in the diagnosis and prognosis of all forms of pulmonary-related diseases; and to assist the clinical investigator in the pursuit of understanding and defining pulmonary disease through research.

The Pulmonary Physiology service is staffed by board-certified allergists and pulmonologists, and a corps of respiratory therapists. The service boasts a wealth of experience in analyzing pulmonary physiology that dates back to one of the founding fathers of pulmonary function tests, Dr. Edward A. Gaensler. The service provides comprehensive evaluation of pulmonary function for Boston Medical Center and associated clinic and providers. A team of board-certified pulmonologists perform and interpret comprehensive cardiopulmonary stress tests to assist in the diagnostic work-up of challenging cases, to assess risk in patients prior to cardiothoracic surgery, and to monitor response to endurance training.

The Pulmonary Physiology service also participates in a number of ongoing interdepartmental clinical research studies. In this capacity, our intent is to use state-of-the-art pulmonary physiology to better define specific disease phenotypes as well as to evaluate the physiological response to investigative therapies. These studies are performed in the Pulmonary Function Laboratory.

Clinical Activities:

  • Assessment of all aspects of static and dynamic lung function including the following tests:
    • Spirometry and Flow-volume loops
    • Lung volumes
    • Diffusion capacity and arterial blood gas measurement
    • Bronchoprovication studies
  • Indirect calorimetry
  • Exercise oximetry
  • Comprehensive cardiopulmonary stress testing

Faculty with clinical and/or research specialty in Pulmonary and Exercise Physiology:

  • Michael Ieong, MD, Director of Pulmonary and Exercise Physiology
  • John Berk, M.D.
  • Christine Campbell-Reardon, M.D.
  • Helen Hollingsworth, M.D.
  • Elizabeth Klings, M.D.
  • Darrell Kotton, M.D.
  • Frederic Little, M.D.
  • George O’Connor, M.D.
  • Charles O’Donnell, Director, Respiratory Services
  • Alan Silva, RRT, RPFT
  • Arthur Theodore, M.D.

All staff pulmonologists provide interpretive services for basic pulmonary function tests 

For patients:

Pulmonary Physiology Lab
Boston Medical Center
One Boston Medical Center Plaza
Boston, MA
02118
617-638-6177