General Practitioners

• Arthritis
  Many different diseases can cause pulmonary hypertension. The initial goal of the pulmonologist will be to screen for the presence of these underlying disorders. Pulmonary hypertension can be caused by autoimmune disorders such as scleroderma, lupus, mixed connective tissue disease, or rheumatoid arthritis. Other causes include lung diseases such as emphysema/COPD, sleep apnea, pulmonary fibrosis, and pulmonary embolism (blood clots in the lungs). Cardiac diseases such as congestive heart failure, cardiomyopathy, hypertension, birth defects, and heart valve disorders are other common causes of pulmonary hypertension. Also, some cases of pulmonary hypertension are due to genetic predisposition, “idiopathic” (meaning the cause is not known), weight loss drugs, amphetamines, or HIV. In order to screen for the above conditions, your doctor will perform a detailed history and physical examination. Often extensive testing is then needed to screen for the above conditions.
• Medical Weight Loss
  Cancer is a condition where cells in the body start dividing out of control. Lung cancer is one of the most common and most deadly types of cancer. Often people can have lung cancer and not even know it. Symptoms such as cough, chest pain, coughing up blood, or weight loss often do not occur until the cancer is in an advanced stage. Over 80% of lung cancer is caused by smoking. Unfortunately, unlike other cancers like colon cancer, there is not screening test for lung cancer. Patients are often referred to our clinic for an evaluation of an abnormal chest x-ray or CT scan. Evaluation may include follow-up scans or biopsy including bronchoscopy. A bronchoscopy is when we take a small camera to look inside the lung to take samples. We work in close association with the medical oncologists and radiation oncologists to provide accurate diagnosis and aggressive treatment. The physicians at Lynchburg Pulmonary Associates also offer a variety of interventions to help with symptoms of lung cancer including opening up airways, controlling bleeding and treating fluid (pleural effusion) caused by lung cancer.
• Primary Care
  Erin joined Lynchburg Pulmonary Associates in 2016, after completion of her Masters of Science in Nursing as an Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner from South University. She previously worked as a critical care nurse for five years in the Cardio Thoracic Intensive Care Unit at Lynchburg General Hospital. Erin is also board certified in cardiac vascular and critical care nursing. She completed her undergraduate studies at the Lynchburg General Hospital School of Nursing and Liberty University, where she obtained her nursing diploma and Bachelor of Science in nursing. Her special interests include COPD, critical care, and nutrition.
• Smoking Cessation
  Lynchburg Pulmonary Associates is dedicated to help those who need extra attention when it comes to trying to stop smoking. It is our dream that this would be an easy task, however as you may already know it is anything but. Our team has designed this site to help you customize the best way that will allow you to achieve smoking cessation.
• Sleep Disorders
  Many chronic sleep disorders are related to breathing difficulties. Lynchburg Pulmonary can help diagnose and treat many of the conditions that can contribute to insomnia (the inability to sleep regularly).
• Emergency Care
  Rebecca Ferguson is a native to the Lynchburg area and joined LPA in 2020. She completed her Masters of PA Medicine and Doctorate of Medical Science degrees from University of Lynchburg. She spent the first few years of her career practicing at a local Urgent Care enjoying the diversity of general medicine. She now works in the pulmonary and sleep clinics and rounds on pulmonary, critical care and sleep patients at Lynchburg General Hospital. She has a special interest in COPD, Asthma and Sleep.
• Bronchitis
• Pneumonia

Internists

• Internal Medicine
  Dr. Milam trained at the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine and the Medical University of South Carolina before coming to Lynchburg in 1988. He serves as Centra’s medical director for sleep disorders and is past president of the Virginia Thoracic Society. He is board certified in internal medicine, pulmonary diseases, sleep medicine and critical care and is experienced in clinical research. He is currently the Medical Director of the Sleep Disorders Center at Centra and the Medical Director of the Respiratory Therapy Department at Central Virginia Community College and Liberty University.
• Colon Cancer
• Lung Cancer
  We provide outpatient evaluation and management for pulmonary (lung) disorders such as asthma, COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease), interstitial lung disease, lung cancer, and pulmonary hypertension.

Psychiatrists

• Stress Management
• Depression
• Insomnia
• Anxiety

Endocrinologist

• Diabetes Care

Radiologist

• Ultrasound
  Pulmonary hypertension is an elevation in the blood pressure within the pulmonary arteries (the blood vessels that deliver blood from the right ventricle of the heart into the lungs). Pulmonary hypertension is suspected in patients with unexplained shortness of breath, lightheadedness, chest discomfort, or swelling in the legs. Pulmonary hypertension is most often identified using echocardiography (an ultrasound of the heart) which can estimate the pressure within the pulmonary arteries.
• X-Rays
• Computed Tomography
  Interstitial lung disease is a general category of conditions that are characterized primarily by inflammation of the supporting tissue of the lung. This may be caused by inhalational injuries, immunological conditions, or may occur without any obvious inciting factor. Patients with these conditions can feel a wide range of symptoms, from only mild shortness of breath with heavy exertion to severe shortness of breath and nonproductive coughing. Often an office chest X-ray shows some abnormalities, and other tests frequently performed include a chest CT scan, pulmonary function testing, and bloodwork. Therapy for interstitial lung disease varies from close observation to immunosuppressive agents.

Allergists

• Allergies