Pediatric Pulmonology and Sleep Medicine
Pediatric pulmonologists have experience and qualifications to treat children from birth to 21 years old with breathing problems or a problem with his or her lungs. Your pediatrician may refer your child to a pediatric pulmonologist for help with your child’s breathing problems. They have the ability to communicate with children and their families to diagnose and treat the unique childhood breathing disorders.
Pediatric Sleep Institute Plano
Required Training to become a Pediatric Pulmonologist:
Four years of medical school
Three years of residency training in pediatric medicine
Three more years of fellowship training in pediatric pulmonology and sleep medicine
Certification from the American Board of Pediatrics in both pediatrics and the subspecialty of pediatric pulmonology
Conditions treated by pediatric pulmonologists and sleep medicine specialists include:
• Asthma
• Reactive airway disease
• Wheezing
• Chronic cough
• Difficulty breathing
• Pneumonia
• Bronchitis
• Pediatric sleep disorders
• Snoring and noisy breathing
• Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA, when a child’s breathing stops due to snoring and obstruction)
• Congenital lung malformations
• Cystic fibrosis (a genetic disease with lung and nutritional problems)
• Chronic lung disease of infancy
• Reflux-related lung disease
• Aspiration syndromes
• Bronchiolitis
• Home ventilation
• Respiratory dystrophies (muscular dystrophies and neuromuscular weakness)
• Restrictive lung diseases
• Mucopolysaccharidoses (Pompe’s Disease)
• Interstitial lung disease
• Rare lung diseases
Tests and Procedures:
Pulmonary Function Tests (PFT’s) or spirometry are routine breathing tests measurements of lung function
Polysomnography (PSG), also known as a sleep study. It is the recording of the bodies’ changes that occur during sleep. It is usually performed at night, when most people sleep.
Arterial blood gas (ABG) measures the amount of oxygen and carbon dioxide in your bloodstream.
Carbon monoxide diffusion capacity
Featured Physician
Pediatric Gastroenterologist
Dr. Annette Whitney obtained her medical degree from University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston. She completed her pediatric residency and fellowship training in pediatric gastroenterology at Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta. She is Board Certified in Pediatric Gastroenterology and is a member of Digestive Health Associates of Texas. Her areas of clinical interest are pediatric eosinophilic esophagitis, celiac disease (celiac sprue), inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.
Dr. Whitney is in private practice. She has been rated, “Top Pediatricians in Dallas”, D Magazine 2004, D Magazine 2007, and D Magazine 2010.
She is a member of the Board of Directors, Digestive Health Associates of Texas and is an Assistant Clinical Professor, Pediatrics, UT Southwestern and is on the Medical Advisory Board, North Texas Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation.
Dr. Whitney serves as an advisor on a subcommittee of the American College of Gastroenterology on how to transition pediatric GI patients into adult gastroenterologists practice.
She is past Medical Director of CCFA Camp Oasis. Camp Oasis is a co-ed residential camp program that’s mission is to enrich the lives of children with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis by providing a safe and supportive camp community. Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA) is a non-profit, volunteer-driven organization dedicated to finding the cure for Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.