Our Mission
We are dedicated to improving health through outstanding patient care, world-class education, and ground-breaking research in Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine. We are committed to fulfilling these goals while promoting a culture of equity that fosters diversity, inclusion, and belonging.
Our History
The Division of Respiratory Diseases was founded in 1965 by Dr. John Butler. Under his leadership, it grew from a division of one member to a faculty of 28 and staff of 52.
The name was later changed to the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine to reflect the wider range of patient care and research with which the faculty was engaged. In a similar vein, "Sleep Medicine" was added in March 2017.
Now spread over seven sites covering the length and breadth of Seattle, we boast a dedicated faculty of over 130 physicians, researchers, and advanced practice providers.
As we have grown over the last several decades, we have built an international reputation for our strength in research and dedication to the education and training of physicians and researchers. This can be largely attributed to the stability of leadership and vision. We have had only three division heads since the 1960s and these individuals have helped to cultivate a culture and reputation that has made our division a truly remarkable nexus of academia.
Division Heads
Dr. Leonard Hudson
1985 - 2001
Dr. John Butler
1965 - 1985