Interventional Pulmonologist

Working Schedule

• Interventional Pulmonologists work full time, at least 40 hours a week with shifts extending longer when needed. They may also work on call to respond to emergencies.

Typical Duties

• Diagnose and treat problems, illnesses, and chronic lung diseases using various procedures or reviews of previous procedures
• Procedures may include: flexible bronchoscopy, bronchoalveolar lavage, biopsies of lung or lymph nodes, bronchial stents, balloon bronchoplasty, rigid bronchoscopy, pleurodesis, pleuroscopy, thoracentesis, indwelling pleural catheter, bronchoscopic thermoplasty, and foreign body removal
• Performing endobronchial ultrasound probes, electromagnetic navigation bronchoscopy, argon plasma coagulation, endobronchial cryotherapy and biopsy, laser treatment, microknife treatment, valve and stent placement
• Reviewing results of spirometry breathing tests, bloodwork, and sleep studies
• Examining chest X-rays, CT scans, and other scans for signs of airway compression or stricture, tumors, cancer, tuberculosis, amyloidosis, polychondritis, papillomatosis, granulomatosis, fibrosing mediastinitis, and other problems
• Assessing patients with chronic coughs or who are coughing up blood or have liquid build-up in their lungs 
• Tracheostomy tube placement

Additional Responsibilities

• Collaborate with healthcare team members to review findings and discuss treatment options
• Stay current on the latest trends, technologies, and procedures
• Train assistants or other aides, as applicable 
• Participate in the larger pulmonology community by attending events and publishing research or conducting peer reviews

Soft Skills

• Ability to explain complicated findings in understandable terms
• Active listening skills and attention-to-detail
• Analytical and objective
• Aptitude for critical thinking and problem solving 
• Compassionate and sensitive to the concerns of others
• Empathy and patience
• Investigative
• Professional demeanor
• Research skills
• Resilience and composure 
• Resourcefulness and leadership
• Sound judgment and decision-making, sometimes under pressure
• Strong technical reading skills

Technical Skills

• Critical thinking
• Knowledge of medical and electronic medical record software
• Deep familiarity with all applicable instruments and technologies used in the field (see Typical Duties above for a partial listing)
• Applicable understanding of biology and internal medicine  
• Knowledge of personal protective equipment usage

• Hospitals and healthcare settings
• Private clinics or doctors’ offices    
• Academic institutions

Interventional Pulmonologists have a lot riding on their shoulders and must maintain skills proficiency requiring training on new technology and techniques. Staying current allows them to offer the best patient care possible, through continual reading and learning, in addition to ongoing practice and collaboration with fellow healthcare professionals. 
 
Aside from the technical aspects of the job, workers in this field must be very good at explaining diagnoses and courses of treatment with patients and their families, in a way that they understand what actions to take. IP doctors must also take care to ensure their own safety when treating patients who may carry infectious diseases such as COVID-19, which can be readily spread via airborne droplets. 

Interventional Pulmonologists work in one of the many professions that will remain vital in the foreseeable future because of their highly specialized, life-saving skills. Lung cancer, which accounts for almost 3 million global deaths every year, continues to be a prevailing factor driving the need for pulmonology medical services and related equipment. Other health issues such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disorders are also on the rise, further contributing to the demand for Interventional Pulmonology. 
 
As the technology continues to advance, doctors in this field are increasingly able to help patients avoid more invasive surgeries, helping shorten recovery time and mitigate costs. In turn, this invites opportunities for further research which is often funded by the government and key corporate players in the market. Doctors should not only stay current but strive to be involved with advancing diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. 

Interventional Pulmonologists operate in a still relatively new sub-specialty of pulmonary medicine. They’re inquisitive and intrepid, ready to push the envelope to develop better ways to treat patients. Most likely this curiosity has long been part of their personality! 
 
They probably always had a keen interest in science and biology, as well as a desire to help others in their times of greatest need. In other words, compassion and empathy are huge motivational factors that drive many people into this emerging, cutting-edge line of work.