Five decades of innovation, clinical excellence and compassionate care have defined one of metro Atlanta’s leading pulmonary and critical care practices.
When Pulmonary & Critical Care of Atlanta opened in 1976 as Northside Respiratory Care, caring for patients with serious lung disease looked much different from what it does today.
Diagnostic tools were limited. Treatment options were fewer. Many diseases now managed successfully often carried far poorer outcomes.
Yet one thing has remained constant over the past 50 years: a commitment to compassionate, evidence-based care for patients facing complex respiratory illnesses.
As Pulmonary & Critical Care of Atlanta celebrates its 50th anniversary, the milestone offers an opportunity to reflect on the practice’s history, the remarkable transformation of pulmonary and critical care medicine, and the physicians who helped shape that journey.
“For 50 years, Pulmonary & Critical Care of Atlanta has believed that exceptional care extends beyond the patients we see every day to improving the quality and safety of health care across our hospitals and community,” said Dr. Stephanie Eaton, present physician with longest tenure. “This milestone reflects the trust our patients have placed in us, the dedication of generations of physicians and staff, and a longstanding commitment to making health care better for everyone we serve.”
Dr. Jim Wellman, the practice’s founding physician, remembers its beginnings and the growth that followed.
“As the founding physician, I had the privilege of serving the patients of Northside Hospital,” he said. “I’m proud that what began in 1976 has grown into the remarkable practice it is today.”
Five decades of progress
The fields of pulmonary and critical care medicine have changed dramatically over the past half-century. Advances in endobronchial ultrasound, or EBUS, advanced bronchoscopy, lung cancer screening, minimally invasive procedures, sophisticated imaging and critical care have transformed how physicians diagnose and treat respiratory diseases.
Conditions that once required invasive surgery for diagnosis can now often be evaluated using minimally invasive techniques. These technologies have improved precision, expanded treatment options and helped patients achieve better outcomes and quality of life.
Throughout those changes, Pulmonary & Critical Care of Atlanta has remained committed to bringing the latest advances in pulmonary medicine to the communities it serves while never losing sight of the personal relationships at the heart of patient care.
Dr. Ralph Haynes became board-certified as a pulmonary specialist in 1976, when critical care was still emerging and was not yet a separate specialty.
“It later required two additional years of formal training — skills we older practitioners gained through experience — and new qualifying exams introduced in 1987,” he said. “Procedures, once limited mainly to pulmonary function tests, have since expanded to include advanced techniques that now prevent many surgeries and complications.”
Despite the changes in medicine and the growing administrative demands placed on physicians, Haynes said his priority has remained the same.
“For 50 years, patient care has remained my central focus,” he said. “It has been my greatest professional privilege to be part of this practice and witness its evolution.”
Built on relationships
While technology has transformed medicine, the practice’s greatest strength has always been its people.
For physicians who care for patients with chronic and complex lung diseases, relationships often span years. They celebrate progress, help patients navigate setbacks and guide them through some of life’s most challenging moments.
That continuity of care has helped define Pulmonary & Critical Care of Atlanta for five decades. Many physicians have cared for multiple generations of families, earning trust through expertise, compassion and a commitment to putting patients first.
“The true value of long-term care lies in building genuine partnerships. The best medicine shows patients they are seen as individuals, not just rushed appointments,” said Dr. Domonique Bayard, Northside Hospital pulmonary section chief and medical director of respiratory care and diagnostic services. “Accurate diagnosis depends less on textbooks and more on deeply understanding each person — a trust that only forms through ongoing relationships.”
The anniversary is also an opportunity to recognize the physicians, advanced practice providers, nurses, respiratory therapists and office staff whose dedication has shaped the practice since its founding. Their work has helped thousands of patients breathe easier and live healthier lives.
Looking to the future
Today’s physicians continue building on the foundation established 50 years ago while embracing the next generation of pulmonary medicine. Through collaboration with Northside Hospital and continued investment in advanced diagnostics, minimally invasive procedures and evidence-based care, the practice remains focused on delivering exceptional outcomes for every patient.
As medicine continues to evolve, so does the practice’s commitment to innovation, education and compassionate care.
Dr. Amber Degryse serves as the ICU Medical Director at Northside Hospital Atlanta, and she has witnessed much of the practice’s growth during her more than 15 years with the group.
“In my time here, which is now just over 15 years, our practice has grown so much. We expanded from four physicians to 13 and added a second ICU. This is quite an accomplishment,” she said. “However, what impresses me and fills me with pride is that our focus remains on the patient and their families.”
Degryse said the group recognizes the tremendous privilege of caring for people during some of the most difficult moments of their lives.
“Our group knows that it is a tremendous privilege to be trusted with someone’s care in what can be the darkest of times,” she continued. “As we celebrate 50 years and look toward the future, I hope we continue that compassion and dedication.”
That patient-centered approach continues alongside significant advances in pulmonary care.
“During my time with Pulmonary & Critical Care of Atlanta, I’ve witnessed a remarkable transformation in pulmonary medicine,” said Dr. Venkatesh Lakshminarayanan, director of the Interventional Pulmonary Program at Northside Hospital. “We have shifted from managing advanced lung disease to diagnosing earlier and treating more conditions with minimally invasive techniques. The rise of interventional pulmonology has expanded our capabilities through advanced bronchoscopy, precision diagnostics and targeted therapies.”
“As we celebrate 50 years, I’m proud to build on the foundation of those before us and help shape the future of pulmonary medicine for our patients and community,” he said.
While much has changed since 1976, the mission remains remarkably familiar: helping patients breathe easier, live healthier lives and receive expert care when they need it most.
For Pulmonary & Critical Care of Atlanta, celebrating 50 years is more than recognizing a milestone. It is a tribute to the physicians and staff who built the practice, the patients who placed their trust in it, and the legacy of excellence that continues to shape its future.
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