Justin M. Thomas, MD

Justin Thomas, MD, is a formally trained and Board Certified Interventional Pulmonologist who specializes in minimally invasive procedures for diagnosis and treatment or palliation of lung cancer, benign and malignant airway disease, and diffuse lung diseases. Dr. Thomas is also Board Certified in Internal Medicine, Pulmonary Medicine, and Critical Care Medicine.

Dr. Thomas received his medical degree from the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center. He then trained in Internal Medicine at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota and went on to train in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, where he concentrated on interventional pulmonary procedures and performed research in interstitial lung diseases.

After finishing his fellowship in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Dr. Thomas pursued an additional year of formal fellowship training in Interventional Pulmonology at National Jewish Health in Denver, Colorado. There he trained with Dr. Ali Musani, a world renowned interventional pulmonologist and leader in this new field of pulmonary medicine.

Dr. Thomas is one of the first in the country to be formally Board Certified in Interventional Pulmonology. Having completed this fellowship training, he has become an expert in bronchoscopic procedures, some of which include electromagnetic navigational bronchoscopy, radial and central endobronchial ultrasound, laser and electrocautery therapy, airway stent placement, balloon and rigid bronchoscopy dilation for benign and malignant airway disease (e.g., tracheal stenosis, tumor debulking). In addition, Dr. Thomas performs pleuroscopy to diagnose pleural lung disease and pleural effusions, tunneled pleural catheter insertion for palliation in patients with pleural effusions, bronchial thermoplasty for severe asthmatics, and percutaneous tracheostomy.

Before attending medical school, Dr. Thomas had a serious knee injury requiring a prolonged stay in the hospital. “This experience was invaluable as it gave me compassion and empathy for my patients and gave me a better understanding of what they might need,” states Dr. Thomas. “With critical care medicine, I am often working with families to calm their fears, and provide information and education regarding their loved one’s care. It is this interaction that I find very valuable and rewarding and have found that keeping a calm presence puts patients and their families at ease.”

In addition to a Bachelor of Science degree in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, Dr. Thomas also holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music and enjoys playing the soprano, alto and tenor saxophones.