Robert S. Wright, MD, FACP, FCCP, FRCP(C), a Pulmonologist with Santa Barbara Pulmonary Associates
Get to know Pulmonologist Dr. Robert S. Wright, who serves patients in Santa Barbara, California.
A respected pulmonologist, Dr. Wright tends to patients at Santa Barbara Pulmonary Associates. He specializes in the care of patients with pneumonia, chronic cough, bronchiectasis, COPD, asthma, interstitial lung disease, asbestos related lung disease and lung cancer.
Originally from Montreal, Canada, and raised in upstate New York near Potsdam, his journey in medicine began to take shape when he moved to Ventura, California as a teenager. He attended Occidental College, where he graduated with honors. His pursuit of excellence continued as he obtained his medical degree from the University of Southern California, where his outstanding academic performance led to his election into the prestigious Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) honor society during his junior year.
Dr. Wright completed his internship and residency in internal medicine at the UCLA Center for the Health Sciences, working alongside Dr. Ungerer, who would become a long-time friend and eventual practice partner. During his tenure at UCLA, he distinguished himself as Chief Resident in Medicine and pursued a three-year fellowship in nephrology, specializing in kidney diseases.
In 1983, he joined the Santa Barbara Medical Foundation Clinic, where he crossed paths with Dr. Kupperman. As fate would have it, Drs. Wright, Kupperman, and Ungerer shared call coverage for critically ill patients, leading him to change his field of specialization. He returned to UCLA for further training, completing a pulmonary and critical care fellowship, and subsequently became a full-time faculty member at UCLA’s Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine.
After a successful stint at UCLA, Dr. Wright was recruited back to Santa Barbara in 1990, rejoining the Santa Barbara Medical Foundation Clinic. During his tenure, he assumed several significant roles, including Chief of the Department of Specialty Medicine and member of the Board of Directors. Notably, he played a pivotal role in facilitating the merger between the Santa Barbara Medical Foundation Clinic and Sansum Clinic, showcasing his leadership and strategic acumen. In 2004, he transitioned into private practice after serving the newly formed clinic.
Passionate about his profession, the doctor is board-certified in pulmonary disease, critical care medicine, nephrology and internal medicine by the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM). The ABIM is a physician-led, non-profit, independent evaluation organization driven by doctors who want to achieve higher standards for better care in a rapidly changing world.
Maintaining fellowship status, he is a Fellow of the American College of Physicians (FACP), a Fellow of the American College of Chest Physicians (FCCP), and a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Canada (FRCP(C)).
Throughout his career, Dr. Wright has remained actively involved in the medical community and made substantial contributions to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital. He served as Chief of Staff of Cottage Hospital from 2004 to 2005 and held the position of President of the Santa Barbara County Medical Society in 1999. His expertise in his field was recognized as he chaired the Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, contributing his insights to various hospital committees, including the multidisciplinary peer review community and the Medical Advisory Panel (MAP). His dedication to teaching and mentoring future physicians earned him the distinction of being named Teacher of the Year by the housestaff of Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital multiple times.
Moreover, his research and knowledge have been shared through his co-authorship of at least twenty articles in esteemed medical journals, including Chest, the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Annals of Emergency Medicine, and Medical Mycology.
Despite his impressive achievements, Dr. Wright remains grounded and committed to his patients’ well-being. He maintains his affiliation with UCLA while holding the position of Clinical Professor of Medicine at UCLA’s David Geffen School of Medicine. Currently, he has served as the Medical Director of the Medical Intensive Care Unit at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital, where his expertise and leadership continue to benefit the community.
Pulmonology is a medical specialty that deals with diseases involving the respiratory tract. A pulmonologist is an internal medicine physician who specializes in preventing, diagnosing, and treating conditions and diseases that affect the lungs, bronchial tubes, and the respiratory system, including the nose, pharynx, and throat.
On a more personal note, Dr. Wright is happily married and the proud father of four children. When he’s not providing exceptional care to his patients, he indulges in various activities, including alpine skiing, SCUBA diving, golf, and fly fishing.
Learn More about Dr. Robert S. Wright:
Through his findatopdoc profile, https://www.findatopdoc.com/doctor/1409788-Robert-Wright-Pulmonologist or through Santa Barbara Pulmonary Associates, https://www.sblung.com/dr-wright
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