By By Adrienne McKenzie
Atmore Community Hospital added to their staff two pulmonary medicine doctors, Caesar C. Agagan, M.D. and Peter O. Lutz, M.D.
Agagan and Lutz began their first day of practice in Atmore on March 8.
According to Darren Flott, director of respiratory therapy at ACH, the doctors have an extensive amount of knowledge in their fields.
"They both have a great deal of experience," Flott said.
Both Flott and Bob Gowing, director of ACH, believe having the two new physicians will enable Atmore residents to cut back on driving time to see doctors in other towns.
"This will allow people from Atmore to receive treatment here instead of going to Mobile or Pensacola," Flott said.
"It will add an additional level of specialty care in Atmore," Gowing said. "We are ranging our levels of care for the community."
Agagan and Lutz will travel from Mobile to Atmore every other Thursday and, according to Gowing, will be able to do consultations with patients on the days they are in town. They will offer care for individuals with acute and respiratory conditions.
Both physicians are Fellows of the American College of Chest Physicians. The college concentrates on preventing and treating diseases of the chest. It does this through leading, educating, researching and communicating. It upholds a strong relationship with agencies that affect chest medicine, which includes the National Heart, Lung and Drug Administration.
Agagan received his medical degree from the University of the East College of Medicine. He completed a fellowship in pulmonary disease at the University of Medicine and Dentistry and another fellowship in critical care management at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.
Lutz received his medical degree at Wake Forest University School of Medicine. He completed fellowships in both pulmonary disease and critical care medicine at Wake Forest.
Both Agagan and Lutz are board certified in internal medicine with certifications in both pulmonary disease and critical care management.
Gowing is pleased to have Agagan and Lutz at ACH and he believes they are two wonderful doctors.
"They are a great group of physicians," Gowing said. "I am glad they'll be in our community."
For appointments call Pulmonary Associates of Mobile at 251-433-3344.
For more information about ACH's pulmonary services call 368-6281.