Community Lung Clinic

Overview

Mission 

Our mission is to provide culturally competent care and address health disparities related to lung health through education, research, quality improvement and community outreach. 

Why this program developed? 

The Cleveland Clinic’s Respiratory Institute is a leader in providing exceptional care in pulmonary disease and critical care. The Respiratory Institute recognizes that minority groups suffer disproportionately from diseases of the respiratory system. There are numerous factors contributing to health care disparities including: genetics, socioeconomics, sociocultural, environmental, health literacy, and access to healthcare. Health disparities lead to increased disease burden, increased financial burdens and death among the underserved communities. 

The Respiratory Institute will partner with the Community Lung Clinic (CLC)to provide a program to broadly address these health issues. The Community Lung Clinic will have an accessible model for patients of diverse backgrounds to engage with health care providers to receive health information, diagnostic testing, referrals to specialty care, and treatment in a culturally aware and competent environment. 

The Community Lung Clinic was designed to provide: 

• Community Outreach.
• Internal Education and Organization. 
• Improved research on multicultural and underserved populations. 
• Culturally Competent Care Improvement.

What We Diagnose & Treat

• Allergies.
• Asthma.
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
• Interstitial lung disease.
• Infectious disease.
• Lung transplantation.
• Obstructive sleep apnea.
• Pulmonary hypertension.
• Sarcoidosis.
• Sickle cell lung disease.

The Multicultural Lung Health Center team also provides:

• Pulmonary rehabilitation.
• Lung cancer screening.
• Smoking cessation.
• Community education and outreach.
• Referrals for e-coaching.
• Weight management, etc.
• Screening for social determinants of health (SDOH).
• Referrals to other Cleveland Clinic providers who manage diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, and vascular disease or who can help with weight loss, physical fitness and smoking cessation.

Our Team

Andre Smith, MD

Program Director

Francisco Almeida, MD, MS

Staff

Akhil Bindra, MD

Staff

Lulette Tricia Bravo, MD

Staff

Francisco Marco Canosa, MD

Staff

Humberto Choi, MD

Staff

Jose Contreras, MD

Staff

Daniel Culver, DO

Department Chair

Andrew Garrow, MD

Staff

Logan Harper, MD

Staff

Gustavo Heresi, MD

Program Director

Timothy Lumpkin, MD

Staff

Atul C. Mehta, MD

Section Head

Kathrin Nicolacakis, MD

Staff

Sarah Micklewright, PA-C

Pre-Anesthesia Consultation Clinic (PACC)

Emily Pennington, MD

Staff

DeVon Preston, MD

Staff

Alan Rudick, DO

Staff

Debasis Sahoo, MD

Staff

Ruchi Shah, MD

Staff

Roxana Siles, MD

Staff

Neha Solanki, MD

Staff

Ahila Subramanian, MD, MPH

Staff

Vickram Tejwani, MD

Staff

Adriano Tonelli, MD

Staff

Peng Zhang, MD

Staff

Leadership Team

• Rhonda Jenkins, MPH
  Program Manager II | Respiratory Institute
• Beverly Hunter
  Manager, Patient Access | Respiratory Institute
• Joelle Horton-Shaw
  Administrative Assistant | Respiratory Institute
• Natalie L. Chunn, LSW
  Social Worker | Care Management Nursing Institute
• Songcerae Washington, PA-C APP | Respiratory Institute
• Stephanie McCarroll, RN, BSN | Clinical Coordinator

Support Staff

• Davida Moore RN | Assistant Nurse Manager
• Teresa D’Alessandro PA-C |Manager APP’s
• Kelynn Brewer BSN, RN | Nurse Manager
• Kimberly Biddlecom RRT
• Yvonne Meli RN | RN Program Coordinator V
• Victor Watts RRT | RT Supervisor
• Ronnie Scullark RRT, PA-C

Appointments

To Schedule an appointment with an expert from the Community Lung Clinic, call appointment center  216.444.6761.

Appointment locations

• Akron General.
• Avon – Richard E. Jacobs Family Health Center.
• Cleveland Clinic Main Campus.
• Euclid Hospital.
• Hillcrest Hospital.
• Lakewood Family Health Center.
• Marymount Hospital.
• North Ridgeville Family Health Center.
• Southpointe Hospital.
• Stephanie Tubbs Jones Family Health Center.
• Strongsville Family Health Center.
• Twinsburg Family Health Center.

Patient checklist

Please bring these items to your appointment:

• Insurance card.
• List of current medications/ bottles of medications.
• Picture ID- driver’s license or state ID.

Resources

• Office of Diversity and Inclusion
• Minority Mens Health Center
• Minority Stroke Center
• Multicultural Cardiovascular Care
• Multicultural Kidney & Hypertension Program
• Multicultural Hair & Skin Center

FAQs

What is Community Lung Clinic (CLC)?

• Being scheduled through the Community Lung Clinic enables you to be connected with a physician who has a particular interest in providing culturally sensitive care. Physicians in the CLC, in addition to providing excellent healthcare, also have a particular interest in connecting you with community resources.

How will I get connected with community resources?

• You may be connected to community resources by talking with your physician about your needs on the day of your appointment. Furthermore, a questionnaire will be sent to you through MyChart within two weeks of your appointment. Please fill this questionnaire out in order to help us identify your needs and any ways that we can help. Learn more about MyChart.

What community resources do you provide?

• These depend on your need. Community resources could include free additional health coaching and other local community resources.
• Community resources and availability may change based on funding and resources of the community organizations.
• When meeting for a CLC appointment you may speak with your provider to find out more about being connected with community resources.

What will be different about the CLC appointments?

• The appointment will be of the same excellence in care as any Respiratory Institute appointment and the same length; however, the physician that you will see in the Community Lung Clinic will have a particular interest in ensuring culturally sensitive care and connecting you with additional community resources, if needed.

Does this appointment cost more and will my insurance cover it?

• Insurance and pricing will be just the same as a typical appointment.
• We recommend patients speak with their insurance companies to ensure coverage for healthcare appointments.