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 13,533 practicing pulmonary doctors / pulmonologists. Broken out by state, pulmonology doctor density in Alabama is 176, in Alaska is 11, in Arizona is 235, in Arkansas is 78, in California is 1,329, in Colorado is 233, in Connecticut is 239, in Delaware is 41, in District of Columbia is 65, in Florida is 782, in Georgia is 312, in Hawaii is 42, in Idaho is 31, in Illinois is 508, in Indiana is 260, in Iowa is 174, in Kansas is 112, in Kentucky is 240, in Louisiana is 195, in Maine is 74, in Maryland is 332, in Massachusetts is 461, in Michigan is 365, in Minnesota is 201, in Mississippi is 110, in Missouri is 302, in Montana is 26, in Nebraska is 67, in Nevada is 66, in New Hampshire is 53, in New Jersey is 485, in New Mexico is 79, in New York is 1,122, in North Carolina is 892, in North Dakota is 26, in Ohio is 657, in Oklahoma is 104, in Oregon is 121, in Pennsylvania is 665, in Rhode Island is 79, in South Carolina is 164, in South Dakota is 32, in Tennessee is 306, in Texas is 702, in Utah is 71, in Vermont is 26, in Virginia is 292, in Washington is 267, in West Virginia is 91, in Wisconsin is 218, and in Wyoming is 13.