New physicians are being welcomed to Florida Lung, Asthma, and Sleep Specialists. Right now we call them “New” Physicians because they are new to us. But they are certainly experienced and highly qualified specialists. And we are very fortunate and excited they are joining the FLASS family.
New Physicians: To Whom Roses Are Due
FLASS Introduces Dr. Francis Christian and Dr. Miguel Ortiz to Staff, Patients, and Readers.
Thus, instead of sending applause and roses to our new physicians, we dedicate this blog to officially welcoming the two new physicians to our FLASS family: Dr. Francis Christian and Dr. Miguel Ortiz.
This week we will feature Dr.Francis Christian and next, we will bring you information on Dr. Miguel Bonilla-Ortiz. First, you might have seen Dr. Francis Christian in our hallways last week when he began work with us on Friday. Read about some of his background below, and next week we will introduce you to Dr. Miguel Ortiz.
Introducing Dr. Francis Christian
Years ago, in 2013, Dr. Francis Christian came to do a four-week long pulmonary rotation with our own Dr.Fortune Alabi. Now he re-joins us as a full-fledged member of our physicians’ staff.
Dr. Christian has degrees from St. Matthew’s University School of Medicine, in the Cayman Islands, BWI, Barry University, in Miami, Florida, and Georgetown University, in Washington, DC.
Dr. Christian and the Science of Sleep
Welcome Dr. Francis Christian
More recently he completed a Sleep Medicine Fellowship at Harvard Medical School-BIDMC, in Boston. There he worked with patients in both Beth Israel Deaconess and at Massachusetts General Hospital.
Humans are becoming more aware of the importance of sleep. Dr. Christian’s experience certainly shines light on many facets of it. Additionally, he worked with the Pediatric sleep clinic at Boston Children’s Hospital. (Have you ever had trouble getting your child to go to sleep?)
Dr. Christian has worked in multiple sub-specialty clinics in this field. Thus, he is well experienced with cases in narcolepsy/hypersomnia, REM.
Likewise, he worked with patients with Behavior Disorder, respiratory failure, and circadian disorders clinic. Moreover, he was the Inpatient sleep consultant at Beth Israel Deaconess Center.
Consequently, he initiated non-invasive ventilation (AVAPS, iVAPS, Vivo 50). Additionally, he worked with patients who required respiratory assist devices (BPAP) prior to hospital discharge, with subsequent MD supervised titrations in the sleep lab.
In short, he has full competency in: “Multiple Sleep Latency and Maintenance of Wakefulness, Actigraphy, home sleep testing, sleep quality tracking, use of sleep logs and dim light melatonin onset testing (DLMO)”.
Dr. Christian and Critical Care
Likewise, he recently completed a pulmonary and critical care medicine fellowship at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences. There, he worked with inpatient pulmonary consult rotations and outpatient clinics at two hospitals. Firstly, the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. And then, Oklahoma City VA Healthcare system.
Dr. Christian: Clinician, Researcher, and Teacher
Talented in both practical medicine and research, Dr. Cristian completed transplant pulmonary rotation at Integris Baptist Medical Center. Thus his experience has included not only performance of advanced procedures, but supervision of them.
Additionally, he has supervised and taught residents in critical care, inpatient consult, and outpatient clinic settings.
Take-Aways from Dr. Christian’s Background and Experience
FLASS patients can relax in his experienced hands, with such procedures as diagnostic bronchoscopy. In short, he is highly qualified to assist with EBUS and other therapeutic interventional procedures and pleural procedures.
Most importantly, in his work with outpatients at the VA, he brings experience in several areas of interest to our patients and their families:
- He’s accustomed to managing general pulmonary conditions in chest medicine.
- Christian also maintains excellent experience in helping patients with malignancy and lung nodules.
- And, as stated above, he has extensive experience with sleep-related disorders.
New Physicians: Welcome Dr. Francis Christian and Dr. Manuel Ortiz to our FLASS family
Welcome To The Team!
Once again we must say the doctors and staff delight in welcoming two new doctors to the FLASS family. Today we focused on Dr. Christian’s story.
Next week, we will introduce you to Dr. Manuel Ortiz. What a blessing it is to have these two talented new physicians join our team!
Concerning these two new physicians, our FLASS Practice Administrator stated, “We are very excited to have them join our little family and look forward to working with each of them.”
Jacqueline Blanco, the FLASS Practice Administrator commented, “Dr. Miguel Ortiz was referred to us by Dr. Arelis Cordero who joined our group a couple of years ago. They have known each other for years as he has followed the same program path she has taken… Including now, joining the same wonderful group of physicians,” here at FLASS.