Services

• Pulmonary Medicine
• Sleep Medicine
• On-site Hospital Critical Care
• Specialized clinics to manage cough and smoking cessation

What is Pulmonology?
Pulmonology is a medical specialty that deals with the diagnosis and treatment of conditions and diseases of the respiratory system, which includes the lungs and respiratory tract. Pulmonology is closely related to critical care medicine when dealing with patients that require mechanical ventilation. As a result, many pulmonologists are certified to practice critical care medicine in addition to pulmonary medicine.

At St. Luke's Boise and Meridian Medical Centers, pulmonologists provide on-site critical care and pulmonary services. In the outpatient setting, they provide advanced treatment for the full spectrum of pulmonary disease and sleep disorders.

St. Luke's Clinics
St. Luke’s Clinics are an integrated network of highly skilled health care professionals in locations throughout our region. 

Our Medical Providers

	Saadia R. Akhtar, MD, MSc is board certified in critical care, pulmonary diseases, and internal medicine. She serves as a clinical instructor in the Department of Medicine at the University of Washington in Seattle. Dr. Akhtar earned her Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry and biology from the University of Pittsburgh, and her medical degree from the University of Michigan School of Medicine in Ann Arbor. She earned her Master of Science degree in epidemiology from the University of Washington School of Public Health, and completed her residency in internal medicine and pediatrics at Ohio State University Medical Center in Columbus. She served her fellowship in pulmonary disease and critical care medicine at the University of Washington Medical Center.
	William G. Bergquist, MD is board certified in internal medicine, and is a diplomate in internal medicine, pulmonary diseases, and critical care medicine. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in molecular biology and his medical degree from the University of Washington in Seattle. He completed his internship through the University of Washington Affiliated Hospitals, Department of Medicine. He served his residency through the University of Washington Affiliated Hospitals and the Boise VA Medical Center. Dr. Bergquist completed his fellowship in pulmonary and critical care medicine at the University of California, Irvine, and the Veterans Medical Center in Long Beach, California. He also served a fellowship in pulmonary medicine through the University of Washington at the Boise VA Medical Center.
	Lloyd Blake, MD is board certified in pulmonary/critical care and sleep medicine. He earned his medical degree from the State University of New York at Stony Brook School of Medicine. He completed his internal medicine residency and fellowship at Winthrop University Hospital in Mineola, New York. Dr. Blake's patient-centered focus is critical care medicine, delivering high quality care to the patients in the intensive and critical care units at St. Luke's Boise and Meridian Medical Centers.
	William J. Dittrich, MD is board certified in internal medicine, pulmonary diseases, and critical care medicine. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in cell and molecular biology from the University of Washington in Seattle, where he also earned his medical degree. He completed his internal medicine residency through the University of Washington in Seattle and Boise, and served as chief medical resident at the Boise VA Medical Center. Dr. Dittrich performed his fellowship in pulmonary and critical care medicine at the Boise VA Medical Center and the University of Washington.
	Brian W. Goltry, MD is board certified in internal medicine, pulmonary diseases, critical care medicine, and sleep medicine. He serves as associate clinical professor through the University of Washington in Seattle. Dr. Goltry earned his Bachelor of Science degree in business from the University of Idaho in Moscow, and his medical degree from the University of Washington School of Medicine. He completed his medical internship and internal medicine residency at the University of Utah Medical Center in Salt Lake City. He served as chief medical resident at the Boise VA Medical Center through the University of Washington School of Medicine, and performed his fellowship in pulmonary disease and critical care medicine at the University of Washington Medical Center.
	Oleg S. Kouskov, MD, MCR board certified in internal medicine, pulmonary diseases, and critical care, and is board eligible in sleep medicine. He earned his medical degree from the Belarusian State Medical University in Minsk, Belarus, and his master's degree in clinical research from Oregon Health & Science University in Portland. He completed general practice training and worked for several years in Zimbabwe and Botswana, seeing both adults and children, and performed his internal medicine residency through Mercy Hospital in Pittsburgh. Dr. Kouskov completed his training in pulmonary and critical care medicine and his fellowships in sleep medicine and lung cancer/research at Oregon Health & Science University.
	Karen S. Miller, MD is board certified in internal medicine and pulmonary medicine. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Goshen College in Goshen, Indiana and Master of Arts degree in English from Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio. She taught high school and college English for several years before embarking on a career in medicine. She earned her medical degree from Wayne State University School of Medicine in Detroit, and completed her internal medicine internship and residency at Loma Linda University Medical Center in Loma Linda, California. Dr. Miller served as chief medical resident at Jerry L. Pettis VA Medical Center in Loma Linda, and performed her pulmonary-critical care fellowship at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque.
	Wendi Norris, MD, MSW is board certified in internal medicine, pulmonary medicine, and critical care medicine. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in psychology from the University of Washington in Seattle, and her Master of Social Work degree from the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. She earned her medical degree from the University of Washington School of Medicine, where she completed her residency in internal medicine and served as a fellow in pulmonary and critical care medicine.
	Sogol Nowbar, MD is board certified in internal medicine, pulmonary medicine, and critical care medicine. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in molecular biology from the University of Washington in Seattle and her medical degree from the University of Washington School of Medicine. She performed her internship and residency in internal medicine at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center in Denver, where she served as chief medical resident and instructor of medicine. Dr. Nowbar completed her fellowship in pulmonary and critical care medicine at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis.
	David Sasso, MD is board certified in internal medicine and pulmonary medicine. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in biology and history from (then) Albertson College of Idaho in Caldwell, and his medical degree from the University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle. He completed his internship and residency at Internal Medicine Spokane, where he served as chief resident. He performed his pulmonary/critical care fellowship at the University of Washington School of Medicine.
	James P. Souza, MD is board certified in internal medicine, critical care medicine, and pulmonary medicine. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in cell biology from the University of Montana in Missoula, and his medical degree from the University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle. He served his residency in internal medicine, primary care pathway, and as a senior fellow in pulmonary and critical care medicine, at the University of Washington and the Boise VA Medical Center.
	William Thompson, MD is board certified in pulmonary, critical care, sleep, and internal medicine. He serves as associate professor in the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at the University of Washington in Seattle and as medical co-director of St. Luke’s Sleep Medicine Institute. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry from the University of Washington and his medical degree from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore. He completed his internal medicine residency, primary care track, at University of Washington Affiliated Hospitals in Seattle and Boise, serving as chief resident at the Boise VA Medical Center. He performed his pulmonary and critical care medicine fellowship at the Boise VA Medical Center through the University of Washington.
	Patrick D. Weis, MD is board certified in internal medicine, pulmonary medicine, and critical care medicine. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in biology from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, and his medical degree from the University of Iowa in Iowa City. He completed his internal medicine residency through the University of Washington in Seattle, and his fellowship in pulmonary and critical care medicine at Oregon Health & Science University in Portland.
	David K. Wyler, DO is board certified in internal medicine and pulmonary disease and board eligible in critical care medicine. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in zoology from Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah and his medical degree from Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine in Kirksville, Missouri. He completed his medical internship and residency at the Indiana University School of Medicine in Indianapolis and is currently completing his pulmonary and critical care fellowship at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland.
	Linda Gould, FNP is a certified family nurse practitioner by the American Nurse Credentialing Center. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from South Dakota State University in Brookings, and her Master of Science in Nursing degree from Arizona State University in Tempe, specializing in family nurse practitioner and community health nursing. She has worked as a family nurse practitioner in internal medicine and as a nurse practitioner preceptor through the University of Washington - WWAMI program and the Gonzaga University Nursing program.
	Debra Mercy, CRNP is a certified adult nurse practitioner by the American Nurse Credentialing Center, and specializes in pulmonary and sleep medicine. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, and her Master of Science degree in adult/geriatric, primary care, nurse practitioner, from the University of Maryland in Baltimore. She served as clinical faculty for the Family Nurse Practitioner program at Gonzaga University in Spokane and as a nurse practitioner in adult oncology before joining St. Luke's Idaho Pulmonary Associates.
	Margery Soni, FNP is a certified family nurse practitioner by the American Nurse Credentialing Center. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Master of Science in Nursing, Family Nurse Practitioner degrees from the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing in Philadelphia. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Middlebury College in Middlebury, Vermont. She has worked for many years as a family nurse practitioner, including practice with Terry Reilly Health Services in Boise and the Albuquerque, New Mexico VA Medical Center.

Your Appointment
We try to stay on time, as a courtesy to you and others. Since paperwork may take a few minutes, please arrive early. As emergencies do occur, there may be occasions when your appointment time will be delayed. We will always try to keep you informed in the event of a delay, and will be happy to reschedule your appointment, if you prefer. We ask that you respect the appointment time we have reserved for you, and call 24 hours ahead to cancel or change appointments so that others may be helped during that time.

Communication with your provider is extremely important. It may be helpful for you to write down questions for your doctor or nurse practitioner prior to your visit. Bring a list of medications and the dosages, or bring the bottles with you.

Make sure you understand any instructions you are given. If clarification is needed, review your instructions with the provider or medical assistant before you leave. If you aren’t doing well after your visit, we want to hear from you. Our goal is to improve your health.

Insurance Plans
We accept most insurance plans, including Medicare, in-state Medicaid, Tricare, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, and others.

Medication Refills
Talk with your provider at each visit to be sure your prescriptions are up to date. For refills, contact your pharmacy. Your pharmacy will then contact our office for verification and approval. For patient safety, narcotics cannot be refilled outside of office hours. Talk with your provider before your prescription runs out, and please allow 48 hours for refills.

Patient Education

At St. Luke's Idaho Pulmonary Associates, we feel that a better-educated patient is a healthier patient. In keeping with this philosophy, we have provided a list of information of common terms for existing and potential patients.

• Alpha 1 Antitrypsin Deficiency
• Asthma
• Bronchiectasis
• Bronchiolitis Obliterans
• Bronchoscopy
• Chronic Cough
• COPD
• Cystic Fibrosis
• How the Lung Works
• Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis
• Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis
• Interstitial Lung Disease
• Lung Cancer
• Mycobacterium Avium Intracellular Complex
• Oxygen Therapy
• Pneumonia
• Pulmonary Emboli
• Pulmonary Nodule
• Pulmonary Rehabilitation
• Pulmonary Function Tests
• Pulmonary Hypertension
• Sarcoidosis
• Thoracentesis
• Tuberculosis
• Using Metered Dose Inhalers
  • How To Use Your Metered Dose Inhaler The Right Way
  • Using Your New Inhaler With HFA Propellant
• Vocal Cord Dysfunction