Pulmonology involves the study and treatment of respiratory diseases and disorders. A pulmonary physician, or pulmonologist, treats diseases of the lungs, airways, and all other respiratory organs. The pulmonologist diagnoses and treats pneumonia, asthma, bronchitis, emphysema and other respiratory problems, and uses a variety of invasive and non-invasive diagnostic techniques to help patients.

Physicians in this specialty treat patients suffering from numerous diseases and illnesses, but some of the most common are emphysema, broncho-esophagology, pneumonia, lung disorders, cystic fibrosis, asthma, bronchitis, and pectus excavatum.

Doctor density varies by specialty and location. The United States has 13,477 practicing pulmonary doctors / pulmonologists. Broken out by state, pulmonology doctor density in Alabama is 181, in Alaska is 15, in Arizona is 246, in Arkansas is 75, in California is 1,365, in Colorado is 231, in Connecticut is 238, in Delaware is 39, in District of Columbia is 81, in Florida is 813, in Georgia is 315, in Hawaii is 48, in Idaho is 24, in Illinois is 502, in Indiana is 256, in Iowa is 167, in Kansas is 105, in Kentucky is 237, in Louisiana is 185, in Maine is 81, in Maryland is 355, in Massachusetts is 486, in Michigan is 378, in Minnesota is 217, in Mississippi is 102, in Missouri is 278, in Montana is 26, in Nebraska is 70, in Nevada is 67, in New Hampshire is 65, in New Jersey is 500, in New Mexico is 78, in New York is 1,185, in North Carolina is 725, in North Dakota is 28, in Ohio is 617, in Oklahoma is 109, in Oregon is 128, in Pennsylvania is 658, in Rhode Island is 88, in South Carolina is 170, in South Dakota is 27, in Tennessee is 303, in Texas is 727, in Utah is 83, in Vermont is 27, in Virginia is 311, in Washington is 267, in West Virginia is 91, in Wisconsin is 215, and in Wyoming is 15.