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Profile

Alan Plummer MD

  • Department of Medicine
    Professor Emeritus
Head shot of Alan Plummer

Overview

lan L. Plummer, MD, FCCP received an AB from the University of Nebraska in 1962. He moved to Chicago where he graduated from Northwestern University Medical School in 1966. After completing his internship at Northwestern in 1967, he moved to Rochester, MN where he completed his internal medicine training and sub-specialty training in pulmonary diseases and critical care at the Mayo Clinic in 1971.

He and his family moved south to Atlanta, GA in 1971. In 1972 he achieved board certifications in Internal Medicine and in Pulmonary Diseases. As a Professor of Medicine, he continues to practice general pulmonary diseases and critical care at The Emory Clinic and Emory University Hospital.

Early in his career, his research interests focused on the therapy of asthma, chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Over the years, he has expanded his interests to include coding, documentation and billing. His keen interest in Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) and the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-9-CM and ICD-10-CM) coding for pulmonary, sleep and critical care has resulted in publications and numerous national lectures on these topics.

He has held many leadership positions at Emory. He has served as the Section Chief of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care at The Emory Clinic and Emory University Hospital as well as the Interim Division Director for Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care at Emory University School of Medicine. His current positions include the Director of The Emory Clinic Pulmonary Function Laboratory, the Assistant Director of the Emory University Hospital Pulmonary Function Laboratory and the Medical Director of the Emory University Hospital Respiratory Care Department.

He has participated in a number of national pulmonary organizations. He has served as the American Thoracic Society (ATS) American Medical Association (AMA) RBRVS Utilization Committee (RUC) Advisor since 1992, has continued to participate on the ATS Clinical Practice Committee and has been the Editor of the ATS Coding and Billing Quarterly since its inception in 2008. He is a former Vice President of the ATS. Other current national leadership positions include serving as the Vice President of the National Board for Respiratory Care and the Vice President of the Physicians Foundation. He is a Past President of the National Association of Medical Direction (NAMDRC) and has served many years on the Practice Management Committee of the American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP).

He enjoys teaching medical students, house staff and pulmonary fellows as he manages patients with pulmonary diseases. He enjoys his fantastic, wonderful eleven grandchildren with whom he cherishes spending quality time. He also enjoys golf, boating, exercise, yoga, reading and traveling with his marvelous wife, Ginny.

Academic Appointment

  • Master Clinician, Emory University School of Medicine
  • Professor of Medicine, Pulmonary Diseases & Critical Care

Education

Degrees

  • MD from Northwestern University
  • BA from U. of Nebraska

Research

Publications

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