As pulmonologists, our physicians possess specialized knowledge and skill in the diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary (lung) conditions and diseases. Pulmonology is classified as an internal medicine subspecialty. Because pulmonologists encounter a variety of clinical problems, they must have knowledge of internal medicine and other specialties in order to obtain certification. Some conditions that a pulmonologist will diagnose and treat include asthma, chronic cough, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), lung cancer, and sarcoidosis. Pulmonologists may serve as consultants to other physicians as well as provide long-term care to patients with chronic conditions. Our medical staff includes the following physicians: Alex E. Lechin, M.D., F.C.C.P., F.A.A.S.M. Dean Anthony Nasser, M.D. Drs. Lechin is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM). Alex Eduardo Lechin, MD, FCCP, FAASM Date and Place of Birth: May 4, 1961; Caracas, Venezuela Education: 1973-78 Bachelor in Sciences, Emil Friedman School, Caracas, Venezuela 1978-79 Bachelor in Sciences, Southern Vermont College, Bennington, Vermont 1979-86 Doctor of Medicine Central University of Venezuela (UCV) Class Ranking 8th (eighth) out of 174 Postgraduate Training: 1986-88 Clinical Pharmacology fellowship Experimental Medicine Institute of the Central University of Venezuela 1988-89 Internal Medicine Internship Department of Internal Medicine North Carolina Baptist Hospital Bowman Gray School of Medicine Wake Forest University Winston Salem, North Carolina 1989-91 Internal Medicine Residency Department of Internal Medicine J. Quillen College of Medicine East Tennessee State University Johnson City, Tennessee 1991-94 Clinical Fellowship, Pulmonary and Critical Care Baylor College of Medicine Houston, Texas Special Achievements During Training: 1990-91 Chief resident, Internal Medicine J. Quillen College of Medicine East Tennessee State University Johnson City, Tennessee 1993-94 Fellow Representative to the subspecialty fellowship committee Baylor College of Medicine Teaching Experience: 1976-78 Instructor of mathematics, physics, and chemistry Emil Friedman School Caracas, Venezuela 1987-88 Instructor of physiology, faculty of pharmacy Central University of Venezuela 1990-91 Instructor of physical diagnosis J. Quillen College of Medicine East Tennessee State University Johnson City, Tennessee Current Academic Appointments: 1988 Associate Professor Clinical Pharmacology section Experimental Medicine Institute Central University of Venezuela Caracas, Venezuela 1995 Clinical Assistant Professor Department of Medicine Baylor College of Medicine Houston, Texas 2001 Clinical Assistant Professor Department of Clinical Sciences College of Pharmacy University of Houston Houston, Texas Administrative Activities: 1995 Medical Director Sleep Disorder Center Memorial Hospital Southeast Houston, Texas 1995-96 Medical Director The Specialty Hospital of Houston Houston, Texas 1995-02 Chairman Critical Care Committee Memorial Hospital Southeast Houston, Texas 1995 Medical Director Critical Care Unit IHS Hospital Houston, Texas 1999-01 Medical Director Skilled Nursing Unit Park Manor Nursing Home Houston, Texas 2003 Medical Director Sleep Disorder Services East Regional Medical Center Houston, Texas Professional Experience: 1990-91 Emergency Room and Receiving Clinic Physician Mountain Home VA Hospital, East Tennessee State 1992-94 Attending Physician City of Houston Tuberculosis and Chest Clinic Bentaub Hospital 1993-94 Flight Physician for The Methodist Hospital Aeromedical Service Baylor College of Medicine Houston, TX 1994 Director Texas Institute of Chest and Sleep Disorders Houston, Texas. Licensure: State of Wisconsin. License No. 37601 State of Texas. License No. J3139 Languages: 100% Spanish 100% English Boards: Board certified in Internal Medicine, Sept. 1991 Recertified in Internal Medicine, May 2001 Board certified in Pulmonary Medicine, Dec. 1994 Recertified in Pulmonary Medicine, May 2001 Board certified in Critical Care Medicine, Dec. 1995 Board certified in Sleep Medicine, June 2000 Board certified in Pulmonary Medicine, June 2004 Professional Organizations: American College of Chest Physicians (Fellow) American Academy of Sleep Medicine (Fellow) American Federation for Clinical Research (Member) American College of Physicians (Member) American Medical Association (Member) Texas Medical Association (Member) Appointed to the TMA's Patient-Physician Advocacy Committee, Aug. 2001 Others: Foreign Medical Graduate Examination in the Medical Sciences (FMGEMS), July 1987 Federal License Examination (FLEX), June 1990 Virtuosity of Houston Board Committee Member, March 2000 (Charity organization for the education of young musicians) Pearland Community Hospital Board of Trustees member, July 2001 Awards: SANDOZ: "Outstanding Contribution in Clinical Research" 1991 H TEXAS Magazine: Nominated as one of Houston's Best Pulmonologists. September 2003, 2004, 2005 Grant Support: FUNDAIME, "Plasma Catecholamines and Indolamines During Attacks And Remission on Bronchial Asthma: Possible Role of Stress". Principal Investigator, $10,000 4/12/92 FUNDAIME, "Plasma Neurotransmitters, Blood Pressure and Heart Rate During Exercise. Principal investigator. $10,000. 12/11/91 HEALTHDYNE TECHNOLOGIES "Effect of Altitude on nCPAP Performance". Principal investigator. $5,000. 2/25/94 Publications: 57.- "Tianeptine: A new exploratory therapy for asthma" Lechin F, van der Dijs B, Lechin AE. Chest. (accepted for publication) 56.- "Tianeptine, plasma serotonin and pulmonary hypertension. Lechin F, van der Dijs B, Lechin AE. The Lancet 361(9351): 87, 2003 55.- "Circulating catecholamines and indoleamines throughout normal wake-sleep cycle." Lechin F, Pardey-Maldonado B, van der Dijs B, Benaim M, Báez S, Orozco B, Lechin AE. Psychoneuroendocrinology (In Press) 54.- "Pulmonary hypertension, left ventricular dysfunction and plasma serotonin: commentary on Deuchar et al.." Lechin F, van der Dijs B, Lechin AE. British Journal of Pharmacology 137:937:938 2002. 53.- May 21, 2002, November 22, 2005 "Plasma serotonin, pulmonary hypertension and bronchial asthma." Lechin F, van der Dijs B, Lechin AE. Clinical Science 103: 345-346 2002. 52.- "Airway constriction, asthma severity and serotonin." Lechin F, van der Dijs B, Lechin AE. Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. (in Press). 51.- "Severe Asthma and plasma serotonin." Lechin F, van der Dijs B, Lechin AE. Allergy 57: 258-259, 2002. 50.- "Candida Lusitaniae catheter related sepsis in a non-neutropenic adult woman: case report and review of the literature." Pietrucha-Dilanchan P, Lewis RE, Hussain A, Lechin AE. Annals of Pharmacotherapy 35(12): 1570-4. 2001. 49.- "The serotonin uptake-enhancing drug tianeptine suppresses asthmatic symptoms in children. A double-blind crossover placebo-controlled study." Lechin F, van der Dijs B, Lechin A, Orozco B, Lechin ME, Lechin AE. J. Clin. Pharmacol. 38:918-925, 1998. 48.- "Effects of buspirone on plasma neurotransmitters in healthy subjects." Lechin F, van der Dijs B, Jara H, Orozco B, Báez S, Benaim M, Lechin M, Lechin AE. J. Neural Transm. 105 (6/7): 561-573,1998. 47.- "Neuropharmacological treatment of bronchial asthma with an antidepressant drug: tianeptine. A double-blind crossover placebo-controlled study." Lechin F, van der Dijs B, Orozco B, Jara H, Rada I, Lechin ME, Lechin AE. Clin. Pharmacol. Ther. 64: 223-232, 1998. 46.- "Successful neuropharmacological treatment of Myasthenia Gravis. Report of eight cases." Lechin F, van der Dijs B, Jara H, Báez S, Orozco B, Jahn E, Lechin ME, Jiménez V, Lechin AE. Res. Comm. Biol. Psychol. Psychiatry 22: 81-94, 1997. 45.- "Plasma neurotransmitter profiles of anxiety, phobia and panic disorder patients. Acute and chronic effects of buspirone." Lechin F, van der Dijs B, Jara H, Orozco B, Báez S, Jahn E, Benaim M, Lechin E, Lechin ME, Jiménez V, Lechin AE. Res. Comm. Biol. Psychol. Psychiatry 22: 95-110, 1997. 44.- "Plasma neurotransmitters, blood pressure and heart rate during supine-resting, orthostasis and moderate exercise stress test in healthy humans before and after parasympathetic blockade with atropine." Lechin F, van der Dijs B, Orozco B, Báez S, Rada I, León G, García Z, Jara H, Lechin AE, Lechin ME. Res. Comm. Biol. Psychol. Psychiatry 21: 55-72, 1996. 43.- "Plasma neurotransmitters, blood pressure and heart rate during supine-resting, orthostasis and moderate exercise in severely ill patients: A model of failing to cope with stress." Lechin F, van der Dijs B, Orozco B, Lechin AE, Báez S, Lechin ME, Benaim M, Rada I, Acosta E, Arocha L, Jiménez V, León G, García Z. Psychother. Psychosom. 65: 129-136,1996. 42.- "Increased levels of free-serotonin in plasma of symptomatic asthmatic patients." Lechin F, van der Dijs B, Orozco B, Lechin ME, Lechin AE. Ann. Allergy Asthma & Immunol. 77: 245-253, 1996. 41.- "Plasma neurotransmitters, blood pressure and heart rate during supine resting, orthostasis and moderate exercise conditions in major depressed patients." Lechin F, van der Dijs B, Orozco B, Lechin ME, Acosta E, Lechin AE, Báez S, Rada I, Arocha L, León G, García Z. Biol. Psychiat. 38: 166-173, 1995. 40.- "Plasma neurotransmitters, blood pressure and heart rate during supine-resting, orthostasis and moderate exercise in dysthymic depressed patients." Lechin F, van der Dijs B, Orozco B, Lechin AE, Báez S, Lechin ME, Rada I, Acosta E, Arocha L, Jiménez V, León G, García Z. Biol. Psychiat. 37: 884-891, 1995. 39.- "Two types of irritable bowel syndrome: differences in behavior, clinical signs, distal colon motility and hormonal, neurochemical, metabolic, physiological and pharmacological profiles." Lechin F, van der Dijs B, Lechin-Báez S, Lechin A, Orozco B, Lechin M, Rada I, Jara H, Gómez F, Cabrera A, Jiménez V, Arocha L, León G. Arch. Ven. Farmac. Terap. 12: 105-114, 1994. 38.- "Plasma Catecholamines and Indolamines during attacks and remission on severe bronchial asthma: possible role of stress." Lechin AE, Varon J, van der Dijs B, Lechin F. Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. 149: A778, 1994. 37.- "Plasma neurotransmitters, blood pressure and heart rate during rest and exercise." Lechin AE, Varon J, van der Dijs B, Lechin F (Abstract) Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. 149: A482, 1994. 36.- "Plasma neurotransmitters and cortisol in chronic illness: role of stress." Lechin F, van der Dijs B, Lechin AE, Orozco B, Lechin ME, Báez S, Rada I, León G, Acosta E. J. Med. 25:181-192, 1994. 35.- "Peripheral blood immunological parameters in long term benzodiazepine users." Lechin F, van der Dijs B, Vitelli-Flores G, Báez S, Lechin ME, Lechin AE, Orozco B, Rada I, León G, Jiménez V. Clin. Neuropharmacology 17:63-72, 1994. 34.- "Plasma neurotransmitters throughout an oral glucose tolerance test in essential hypertension." Lechin F, van der Dijs B, Lechin M, Jara H, Lechin A, Lechin-Báez S, Orozco B, Rada I, Cabrera A, Arocha L, Jiménez V, León G. Clin. Exp. Hypertension 15: 209-240, 1993. 33.- "Effects of an oral glucose load on plasma neurotransmitters in humans: involvement of REM sleep?" Lechin F, van der Dijs B, Lechin M, Lechin-Báez S, Jara H, Lechin A, Orozco B, Rada I, Cabrera A, Jiménez V. Neuropsychobiology 26: 4-11, 1992. 32.- "Dramatic improvement with clonidine of acute pancreatitis showing raised catecholamines and cortisol plasma levels: case report of five patients." Lechin F, van der Dijs B, Lechin M, Jara H, Lechin A, Cabrera A, Rada I, Orozco B, Jiménez V, Valderrama T. J. Med. 23: 339-351, 1992. 31.- "Doxepin therapy for postprandial symptomatic hypoglycemic patients neurochemical, hormonal and metabolic disturbances." Lechin F, van der Dijs B, Lechin A, Lechin M, Coll-García E, Jara H, Cabrera A, Jiménez V, Gómez F, Tovar D, Rada I, Arocha A. Clin. Sci. 80: 373-384, 1991. 30.- "Plasma neurotransmitters and cortisol in duodenal ulcer patients: role of stress." Lechin F, van der Dijs B, Rada I, Jara H, Lechin A, Cabrera A, Lechin M, Jiménez V, Gómez F, Villa S, Acosta A, Arocha L. Dig. Dis. Sci. 35: (11)1313-1319, 1990. 29.- "Recurrent gastroesophageal symptoms and precordial pain in a gastrectomized man improved by amytriptyline. Physiologic, metabolic, endocrine, neurochemical and psychiatric findings." Lechin F, van der Dijs B, Rada I, Jara H, Lechin M, Cabrera A, Lechin A, Gómez F, Jiménez V, Arocha L, Valderrama T. J. Med. 20: 407-424, 1989. 28.- "Pimozide therapy for trigeminal neuralgia." Lechin F, van der Dijs B, Lechin ME, Amat J, Lechin AE, Cabrera A, Gómez F, Acosta E, Arocha L, Villa S, Jiménez V. Arch. Neurol. 46: 960-963,1989. 27.- "Definite and sustained improvement with pimozide of two patients with severe trigeminal neuralgia: Some neurochemical, neurophysiological and neuroendocrinological findings." Lechin F, van der Dijs B, Amat J, Lechin A, Cabrera A, Lechin ME, Gómez F, Arocha L, Jiménez V. J. Med. 19: 243, 1988. 26.- "Central nervous system circuitry involved in blood pressure regulation." Lechin F, van der Dijs B, Amat J, Lechin AE. Arch. Ven. Farm. Clin. Terap. 6: 79-101, 1987. 25.- "Effects of clonidine on blood pressure, noradrenaline, cortisol, growth hormone, and prolactin plasma levels in high and low intestinal tone depressed patients." Lechin F, van der Dijs B, Jakubowicz D, Camero RE, Villa S, Arocha L, Lechin A. Neuroendocrinology 41: 156, 1985. 24.- "Treatment of ulcerative colitis with clonidine." Lechin F, van der Dijs B, Insausti CL, Gómez F, Villa S, Lechin AE, Arocha L, Oramas O. J. Clin. Pharmacol. 25: 219, 1985. 23.- "Plasma neurotransmitters profile in reactive hypoglycemia." Lechin A, Jara H, Cabrera A, Villa S, Jiménez V, Guerrero H, van der Dijs B, Lechin F. III Interamerican Congress of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics and XII Latin-American Congress of Pharmacology. Arch. Ven. Farm. Clin. Terap. 7, Sup. 1, Abst. 111, 1988. 22.- "Definite and sustained improvement with pimozide of two patients with severe trigeminal neuralgia." Lechin F, van der Dijs B, Amat J, Lechin AE, Cabrera A, Lechin M, Gómez F, Arocha L, Jiménez V. III Interamerican Congress of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics and XII Latin-American Congress of Pharmacology. Arch. Ven. Farm. Clin. Terap. 7, Sup. 1, Abst. 108, 1988. 21.- "Definite and sustained improvement with psychoactive drugs of three Crohn's disease patients." Lechin F, van der Dijs B, Azócar J, Lechin A, Gómez F, Amat J, Lechin M, Villa S, Báez S, Acosta E, Cabrera A, Vitelli G, Arocha L, Fernandez M, Mago E. III Interamerican Congress of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics and XII Latin-American Congress of Pharmacology. Arch. Ven. Farm. Clin. Terap. 7, Sup. 1, Abst. 89, 1988. 20.- "Plasma neurotransmitters profile in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) diarrheic patients." Lechin A, Jara H, Rada I, Villa S, Cabrera A, Jiménez V, van der Dijs B, Lechin F. III Interamerican Congress of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics and XII Latin-American Congress of Pharmacology. Arch. Ven. Farm. Clin. Terap. 7, Sup. 1, Abst. 88, 1988. 19.- "Plasma neurotransmitters profile in duodenal ulcer patients." Jara H, Lechin A, Rada I, Villa S, Cabrera A, Guerrero H, van der Dijs B, Lechin F. III Interamerican Congress of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics and XII Latin-American Congress of Pharmacology. Arch. Ven. Farm. Clin. Terap. 7 Sup. 1, Abst. 86, 1988. 18.- "Plasma neurotransmitters profile in bronchial asthma." Lechin AE, Villa S, Jara H, Cabrera A, Jiménez V, van der Dijs B, Lechin F. III Interamerican Congress of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics and XII Latin-American Congress of Pharmacology. Arch. Ven. Farm. Clin. Terap. 7, Sup 1, Abst. 10, 1988. 17.- "Adjunctive L-Tryptophan in the treatment of Gilles de la Tourette disease: model of a proposed neurochemical profile." Lechin F, van der Dijs B, Gómez F, Lechin ME, Amat J, Lechin AE, Cabrera A, Rodriguez O. III International Congress of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics and XII Latin-American Congress of Pharmacology. Arch. Ven. Farm. Clin. Terap. 7, Sup 1, Abst. 8, 1988. 16.- "Plasma neurotransmitters profile in depressive syndromes." Lechin F, van der Dijs B, Gómez F, Villa S, Cabrera A, Jiménez V, Guerrero H, Lechin AE. III Interamerican Congress Of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics and XII Latin-American Congress of Pharmacology. Arch. Ven. Farm. Clin. Terap. 7, sup.1, Abst. 7, 1988. 15.- "Plasma neurotransmitters in anxiety patients." Gómez F, Lechin AE, Jara H, Jiménez V, Cabrera A, Guerrero H, van der Dijs B, Lechin F. III Interamerican Congress of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics and XII Latin-American Congress of Pharmacology. Arch. Ven. Farm. Clin. Terap. 7, Sup.1, Abst. 4, 1988. 14.- "Plasma neurotransmitters profile in cluster headache." van der Dijs B, Lechin AE, Villa S, Gómez F, Cabrera A, Jiménez V, Guerrero H, Lechin F. III Interamerican Congress of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics and XII Latin-American Congress of Pharmacology. Arch. Ven. Farm. Clin. Terap. 7, Sup 1, Abst.3, 1988. 13.- "Air Medical Transport (Transporte Aeromedico)." Varon J, Fromm RE, Lechin AE. Interam 1994; 2: 83-6. 12.- "Adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS): The Basics." Lechin AE, Varon J. J Emerg. Med., 1994; 12(1): 63-8. 11.- "Pulmonary complications of HIV infection: Part I." Lechin AE, Varon J. Hosp. Physician 1993; 29(6): 16-21. 10.- "Pulmonary complications of HIV infection: Part II." Lechin AE, Varon J. Hosp. Physician 1993; 29(7): 38-40. 9.- "Prediction of nCPAP delivered pressure at altitude (abstract)." Lechin AE, Fromm R, Varon J, Hirshkowitz M. Chest 1994; 106(Suppl):44S. 8.- "Outcome of patients admitted to a low selective chronic ventilator dependency unit." Krum W, Lechin AE, Varon J, Reinoso MA. (Abstract). Chest 1994;106(suppl): 142S. 7.- "Fiberoptic bronchoscopy diagnostic yield of various procedures in a training program." Lechin AE, Varon J, Fromm R, Lam M, Reinoso MA. (Abstract). Chest 1994; 106(Suppl): 54S. 6.- "Learning fiberoptic bronchoscopy: Complication rates." Lechin AE, Varon J, Fromm R, Goodnight-White S. (Abstract) Am. J. Resp. Crit. Care Med. 1994; 149(Suppl): A624. 5.- "Complications from flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy in a training program." Reinoso MA, Lechin AE, Varon J, Wade L. J. Bronchology 1996; 3: 177-181. 4.- "Impending-death and sertaline." Varon J, Lechin AE, Taylor TV. J. Emerg. Med. 1995; 13(2): 246. 3.- "CPAP machine performance and altitude." Fromm R, Varon J, Lechin AE, Hirshkowitz M. Chest 1995; 108: 1577-80. 2.- "Hypomagnasemia may reduce airflow limitation." Hauringa AJ, Lechin AE Amer. Rev. Respir. Dis. 1991, Vol 143 (4) pp: 409. 1.- "The Houston CPAP follow up questionnaire." Hirshkowitz M, Lechin AE. 1994 World Congress on Sleep Apnea. Book Chapters: Lechin F, van der Dijs B, Lechin AE. Central Nervous System Circuitry Involved in Blood Pressure Regulation". In Neurochemistry and Clinical Disorders: Circuitry of some Psychiatric and Psychosomatic Syndromes. Lechin F, van der Dijs B, (eds). Boca Raton, Florida: CRC Press, 1988. Lechin AE. Hematological Disorders. In Practical Guide to the Care of the Critically Ill Patient. Varon J. (eds.). St. Louis: Mosby-Year Book, Inc. 1994: 170-92. Lechin AE, Varon J. Gastrointestinal Disorders. In Practical Guide to the Care of the Critically Ill Patient. Varon J. (eds.). St. Louis: Mosby-Year Book, Inc. 1994: 149-60. back to top Dean Anthony Nasser, M.D. Education: 1987-1991 Bachelor of Arts in Economics Dickinson College Carlisle, PA 1992-1993 Post Baccalaureate University of Miami Miami, FL 1994-1998 Doctorate of Medicine University of Miami School of Medicine Miami, FL Postgraduate Training: 1998-2001 Internship and Residency in Internal Medicine University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio San Antonio, TX 2001-2004 Pulmonary and Critical Care Fellowship Tulane University Health Sciences Center SL-9 New Orleans, LA Certification Diplomate in pulmonary disease, 2004 Diplomate of the American Board of Internal Medicine, 2001 USMLE Step 3, 2000 USMLE Step 2, 1998 USMLE Step 1, 1996 Current Professional Memberships American College of Chest Physicians Society of Critical Care Medicine American College of Physicians American Society of Internal Medicine American Medical Association back to top

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