Untitled Document

Specialists

Dr. Wayne Beauford	Pulmonology/Critical Care
Dr. Surya Challa	Psychiatry
Dr. Lenny Peters	Gastroenterolgy
Dr. Julius Torelli	Integrative Cardiology
Don Bulla PAC	Gastroenterolgy
Mike Duran PA-C	Integrative Cardiology
Amanda Taylor PA-C	Gastroenterolgy

What is a Gastroenterologist?

Gastroenterology is the branch of medicine where the digestive system and its disorders are studied. Diseases affecting gastrointestinal tract (i.e. organs from mouth to anus ) are the focus of this speciality. Doctors specialising in the field are called gastroenterologists . Important advances are made in the last 50 years, contributing to rapid expansion of its scope.

What is a Cardiologist?

Cardiologists are doctors who specialize in diagnosing and treating diseases or conditions of the heart and blood vessels-the cardiovascular system. You might also visit a cardiologist so you can learn about your risk factors for heart disease and find out what measures you can take for better heart health.

When you are dealing with a complex health condition like heart disease, it is important that you find the right match between you and your specialist. A diagnosis of heart or vascular disease often begins with your primary care doctor, who then refers you to a cardiologist. The cardiologist evaluates your symptoms and your medical history and may recommend tests for a more definite diagnosis. Then, your cardiologist decides if your condition can be managed under his or her care using medicines or other available treatments . If your cardiologist decides that you need surgery, he or she refers you to a cardiovascular surgeon , who specializes in operations on the heart, lungs, and blood vessels. You remain under the care of your cardiologist even when you are referred to other specialists.

Cardiology is a complex field, so many cardiologists specialize in different areas. All cardiologists are clinical cardiologists who focus on the diagnosis, medical management (use of medicines), and prevention of cardiovascular disease. Some clinical cardiologists specialize in pediatric cardiology, which means they diagnose and treat heart problems in children. When clinical cardiologists treat only adult patients, they specialize in adult cardiology. Other clinical cardiologists may specialize in interventional procedures ( balloon angioplasty and stent placement), echocardiography, or electrophysiology.

What is a Psychiatrist?

A psychiatrist is a physician who specializes in psychiatry and is certified in treating mental illness .As part of their evaluation of the patient, psychiatrists are one of only a few mental health professionals who may prescribe psychiatric medication , conduct physical examinations, order and interpret laboratory tests and electroencephalograms , and may order brain imaging studies such as computed tomography or computed axial tomography, magnetic resonance imaging , and positron emission tomography scanning.

What is a Pulmonologist?

In medicine , pulmonology (aka pneumology ) is the specialty that deals with diseases of the lungs and the respiratory tract . It is called chest medicine and respiratory medicine in some countries and areas. Pulmonology is generally considered a branch of internal medicine , although it is closely related to intensive care medicine when dealing with patients requiring mechanical ventilation . . Pulmonology is concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of lung diseases, as well as secondary prevention ( tuberculosis ). Physicians specializing in this area are called pulmonologists.

What is Critical Care?

Intensive Care Medicine or critical care medicine is a branch of medicine concerned with the provision of life support or organ support systems in patients who are critically ill and who usually require intensive monitoring.

Patients requiring intensive care usually require support for hemodynamic instability hypertension / hypotension , airway or respiratory compromise (such as ventilator support), acute renal failure , potentially lethal cardiac dysrhythmias, and frequently the cumulative affects of multiple organ system failure. Patients admitted to the intensive care unit not requiring support for the above are usually admitted for intensive/invasive monitoring, such as the crucial hours after major surgery when deemed too unstable to transfer to a less intensively monitored unit.

	Dr. Wayne Beauford completed his residency and fellowship in Critical Care at Martin Luther King General Hospital. Dr. Beauford also serves as a board member on the North Carolina Respiratory Care Board, and the Community Clinic of High Point. His also serves as Hospice of Piedmont, Medical Director,High Point Regional Hospital Pulmonary Rehabiliation, Medical Director, and High Point Regional Hospital Respiratory Care, Medical Director.
Dr. Surya Challa	Psychiatry
Dr. Lenny Peters	Gastroenterolgy
Dr. Julius Torelli	Integrative Cardiology
Don Bulla PAC	Gastroenterolgy
Mike Duran PA-C	Integrative Cardiology
Amanda Taylor PA-C	Gastroenterolgy