Pulmonologist Douglas Dothager, MD, now seeing patients

Pulmonologist Douglas Dothager, MD, who specializes in obstructive sleep apnea and other diseases of the respiratory and cardio-respiratory systems including asthma, emphysema, lung cancer and similar, is again seeing patients at St. Joseph's Hospital in Breese.

Dr. Dothager, an Alton native, received his medical degree from Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in Nashville, Tenn., and a bachelor's degree in chemistry from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville.

He completed an internship and an internal medicine residency at Tripler Army Medical Center in Honolulu and fellowships in pulmonary disease at Fitzsimons Army Medical Center in Aurora, Colo., and in critical care medicine at the University of Utah School of Medicine at Latter Day Saints Hospital in Salt Lake City.

Dr. Dothager is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine in internal, pulmonary and critical care medicine and by the American Board of Sleep Medicine and National Board of Medical Examiners.

A published author and previous presenter at American Thoracic Society meetings, Dr. Dothager is a member of the American College of Physicians and a fellow in the American College of Chest Physicians.

He is the fourth pulmonologist at St. Joseph's in Breese. Also seeing patients are Ventrapragada Mohan, MD, Syed Rizvi, MD, and Barbara Sudholt, MD.

In addition to seeing patients, all four are involved in the hospital's sleep study program, an overnight/outpatient test used to help diagnose sleep disorders that may affect a person's waking hours.

Of the more than 25 identified sleep disorders, obstructive sleep apnea or OSA is the most frequent, affecting more than 12 million Americans. If left untreated, sleep apnea can cause high blood pressure and other cardiovascular diseases, memory problems, weight gain, impotency and headaches.

Other sleep disorders include problems staying asleep or awake, i.e., insomnia or narcolepsy; nighttime behaviors such as sleepwalking or bed-wetting; or periodic limb movement disorder.

For physician information or an appointment, contact the Specialty Clinics at 526-8585. For information on the hospital sleep study program, contact Cardiopulmonary at 526-4346 or email Tom Schaltenbrand.