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Pulmonologists (Lung Doctors) in Traverse City, MI

18 listed in Traverse City, MI · Listings last verified November 2026 · How we vet listings

We list 18 pulmonologists, or lung doctors, in the Traverse City area, most of them in Traverse City, Petoskey and Alpena. All are physicians (MD or DO), shown with the practice's phone number, address and Google rating where we could match one. Use the filters to narrow by city, telehealth, Medicare or Medicaid.

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James G. Milliken, MD

Kalkaska Memorial Health Center

Pulmonology

Practice rating 3.2 (110 Google reviews)

Address
419 S Coral St, Kalkaska 49646
Telehealth
Not listed
Medicare
Not listed
Medicaid
Not listed
Call (231) 258-7777 Website Directions

Last verified Nov 2026 Report a correction

In the Traverse City area

Our Traverse City listings cover northern Lower Michigan: Grand Traverse County, Emmet County, Alpena County, Leelanau County, Wexford County, Charlevoix County, Kalkaska County, Manistee County and Mecosta County. That reaches Petoskey to the northeast, Alpena on the Lake Huron side, Cadillac to the south and Manistee on Lake Michigan.

This is a spread-out area with limited choices. Traverse City has the largest share of listings, and Petoskey is the second hub. Alpena, Cadillac and Charlevoix have a handful each, so a specialist visit may take a real drive.

Munson and McLaren are the two names you'll see most. Munson appears in Traverse City, Cadillac and Charlevoix, while McLaren is the main name in Petoskey. Community mental health programs also serve the region, and Northwest Michigan Health Services has a Benzonia location.

For more choices, Grand Rapids is the nearest large group of listings, and telehealth can widen your options for some kinds of care. If you need a procedure or a second opinion, ask your doctor where they usually refer patients.

Choices are limited for lung care. Traverse City has the most listings and Petoskey has several, with a few more in Alpena, Cadillac and Kalkaska, including Kalkaska Memorial Health Center. If you need a more specialized lung program, Grand Rapids has more choices. Ask about follow-up by video if the drive is long.

Nearby: Grand Rapids–Kalamazoo, MI · Flint–Saginaw–Bay City, MI · Lansing, MI

How to choose a pulmonologist

A pulmonologist is a doctor who diagnoses and treats conditions of the lungs and airways. People see one for asthma that's hard to control, COPD, a cough that won't go away, lung nodules found on a scan, pneumonia that keeps coming back, sarcoidosis, pulmonary fibrosis and sleep apnea [2]. Most people see one after a referral from their primary care doctor.

Start with the kind of care you need. Many pulmonologists also work in other areas:

  • General pulmonologists handle most needs: breathing tests, asthma and COPD care, and follow-up on lung nodules.
  • Critical care doctors treat very sick patients in the hospital ICU. Many pulmonologists split their time between the clinic and the ICU.
  • Sleep medicine doctors diagnose and treat sleep apnea and other sleep problems. Many pulmonologists are also trained in sleep medicine.
  • Interventional pulmonologists do advanced scope procedures in the airways, such as biopsies of lung nodules.

If you're not sure, a general pulmonologist is the right first stop. They'll refer you on if you need a subspecialist.

Check credentials. The American Board of Internal Medicine certifies doctors in pulmonary disease, critical care medicine and sleep medicine. You can look up any doctor's certification for free on the ABIM website [1]. Our listings show the credentials doctors report in the federal NPI registry, but we don't verify board certification.

Ask about testing. Most lung care starts with tests. Ask whether the practice does breathing tests (pulmonary function tests) and sleep studies in the office, or sends you elsewhere. For sleep apnea, ask if they offer home sleep tests.

Know if you qualify for lung cancer screening. Experts recommend a yearly low-dose CT scan for adults ages 50 to 80 who have a 20 pack-year smoking history and still smoke or quit within the past 15 years [3]. Medicare covers this screening once a year for people who qualify [4].

Confirm insurance before you book. Practices change the plans they accept, so call the office or check your insurer's directory. HMO plans usually need a referral first. Medicare Part B covers medically necessary specialist visits; you typically pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount after your deductible [5].

Know when not to wait. Breathing trouble that comes on suddenly or makes it hard to talk, or someone who stops breathing, needs emergency care, not an appointment [6]. Call 911.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a referral to see a pulmonologist?

It depends on your insurance. Most HMO plans require a referral from your primary care doctor before they'll cover a specialist visit. PPO plans and traditional Medicare usually don't. Even without a requirement, many lung practices ask for your recent chest X-ray, CT scan or test results, so call ahead and ask what to bring.

What happens at a first pulmonology appointment?

Expect questions about your breathing, cough, sleep, smoking history, work and home exposures, and medications, plus a physical exam. Many first visits include breathing tests that measure how well your lungs move air. The doctor may order a chest CT, blood work or a sleep study. Bring your inhalers and any recent scans.

Do pulmonologists treat sleep apnea?

Many do. Sleep medicine is a separate board certification, and many pulmonologists hold it. A sleep doctor can order a sleep study, at home or in a lab, and manage treatment such as a CPAP machine. Ask the practice whether they treat sleep apnea before you book, since not every lung doctor does.

Who should get screened for lung cancer?

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends a yearly low-dose CT scan for adults ages 50 to 80 who have smoked at least 20 pack-years and still smoke or quit within the past 15 years. A pack-year is one pack a day for one year. Medicare covers yearly screening for people ages 50 to 77 who qualify.

How do I know if a pulmonologist is board certified?

Look the doctor up on the American Board of Internal Medicine's free "Verify a Physician" tool. It shows whether a doctor is certified in pulmonary disease, critical care medicine or sleep medicine. Our listings show the credentials doctors report to the NPI registry, but we don't verify certification ourselves.

Sources

  1. American Board of Internal Medicine — Verify a physician's certification
  2. American Thoracic Society — Patient resources
  3. U.S. Preventive Services Task Force — Lung cancer screening
  4. Medicare.gov — Lung cancer screenings
  5. Medicare.gov — Doctor & other health care provider services (Part B)
  6. MedlinePlus — Breathing difficulty