Laura M. Paulin, MD, MHS

Before entering medical school, I studied environmental health and air pollution. Now as a pulmonologist and researcher, I focus on indoor exposures. One key fact connects these experiences: what we breathe directly impacts our lung health.

My role is to identify the indoor exposures that make breathing worse and work towards decreasing these exposures. During an appointment, my patient and I will review lung history, testing results, the likely diagnosis and strategies for improvement. I share as much information as possible about the air my patients breathe. Then, we can create a clear, consistent plan of action together. For households using wood or solid fuel for heating, that might include smart wood burning and stove maintenance. For individuals who smoke, we discuss indoor smoking bans.

I want my patients to feel better as soon as possible. When they report back that they can breathe again, allowing them to play with their grandkids or enjoy a vacation, I’m pleased.