Dr. Ralph Potkin received his medical degree from the Chicago Medical School in 1975. His post graduate training included a residency in internal medicine and fellowships in cardiology and pulmonary and critical care medicine all at the University of Washington in Seattle. Dr. Potkin is a Clinical Professor of Medicine at UCLA School of Medicine and is the past clinical chief of the division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. He is also past President of the Trudeau Society and presently is the President of the Pacific Chapter of the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society. Dr. Potkin is the Medical Director of the Beverly Hills Center for Hyperbaric Medicine. Dr. Potkin is an expert scuba diver and he has explored underwater, many areas of the globe including the Antarctica. He serves as a medical advisor to the Dive Alert Network and has a special interest in scuba diving and asthma. Currently, Dr. Potkin is the team physician for the United States Free Diving team and is actively involved in clinical research of heart, lung and brain function in these amazing athletes. Dr. Potkin is board certified in internal medicine, pulmonary diseases, critical care and hyperbaric medicine.

EDUCATION

1970 University of Illinois, Chicago, Illinois B.S., Zoology, with Honors

1975 Chicago Medical School, Chicago, Illinois M.D.

INTERNSHIP

1975-1976 University of Washington Affiliated Hospitals, Seattle, Washington; Medicine Internship

RESIDENCY

1976-1977 University of Washington Affiliated Hospitals, Seattle, Washington; Medicine Residency

FELLOWSHIPS

1977-1978 University of Washington Affiliated Hospitals, Seattle, Washington; Cardiology Fellowship

1978-1980 University of Washington Affiliated Hospitals, Seattle, Washington; Respiratory Disease Fellowship

SPECIAL TRAINING

1981 NOAA, Key Biscayne, Florida Physicians’ Diving & Hyperbaric Training Recertification, 1993

HONORS

1973 Research Traineeship & Award, American Heart Association

1979 Research Award, American Thoracic Society

MEDICAL LICENSE

1975 State of Washington I5431

1978 State of California/G-38416

BOARD CERTIFICATIONS

1979 American Board of Internal Medicine

1986 American Board of Internal Medicine; Subspecialty Certification in Pulmonary Diseases

1989 American Board of Internal Medicine; Subspecialty Certification in Critical Care Medicine

2002 American Board of Preventive Medicine; Certification in Undersea and Hyperbaric Medicine

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

Fellow, American College of Physicians

Fellow, American College of Chest Physicians

Member, American Thoracic Society

Member, American Heart Association

Member, Undersea & Hyperbaric Medical Society

Member, California Medical Association

Member and Past President, the Trudeau Society of Los Angeles

Qualified Medical Examiner (Q.M.E.), California Society of Industrial Medicine & Surgery (1989)

Agreed Medical Examiner (A.M.E.), California Society of Industrial Medicine & Surgery (1989)

Member, Clinical Advisory Committee, California Thoracic Society, (1993-2000)

STAFF APPOINTMENTS

1980-1981 Attending Physician, MICU and Emergency Trauma Center; Department of Medicine, Harborview Medical Center, Seattle, Washington

1981-1987 Director, Intensive Care Unit, Overlake Hospital Medical Center; Bellevue, Washington

Co-Director, Respiratory Care, Overlake Hospital Medical Center; Bellevue, Washington

1984-1987 Pulmonary Consultant, Division of Respiratory Diseases, Bone Marrow Transplant Unit, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington

1985-1987 Chairman, Ethics Advisory Committee, Overlake Hospital Medical Center, Bellevue, Washington

1987-Present Attending Physician, Brotman Hospital Medical Center; Culver City, California

1987-Present Attending Physician, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California

1987-Present Attending Physician, Century City Doctors Hospital, Los Angeles, California

1987-Present Attending Physician, Olympia Hospital Medical Center, Los Angeles, California

1987-1990 Director, Respiratory Care, Beverly Hills Medical Center, Los Angeles, California

1988-1996 Attending Physician, UCLA Medical Center, Los Angeles, California

1988-1992 Co-Director, Step-Down Unit, Century City Hospital, Los Angeles, California

1995-1996 Medical Director, Hyperbaric Medical Unit, Washington Medical Center, Culver City, California

1995-1998 Clinical Chief, Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California

1996-Present Medical Director, Beverly Hills Center of Hyperbaric Medicine, Los Angeles, California

FACULTY APPOINTMENTS

1980-1981 Acting Instructor of Medicine, Medical Intensive Care Unit, Emergency Trauma Center, University of Washington Harborview Medical Center, Seattle, Washington

1981-1987 Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington

1988-1991 Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine, UCLA Medical Center, Los Angeles, California

1988-1991 Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California

1992-2002 Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine, UCLA Medical Center, Los Angeles, California

1992-2002 Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California

2002-Present Clinical Professor of Medicine, UCLA Medical Center, Los Angeles, California

2004-Present Team Physician, United States Free diving Team

JOURNALS

Bharti P, Potkin R, Idress, L.: Pseudotruncus arteriosus. J. Thorac & Cardiov Surg 1975;69:5.

Potkin R T, Werner J A, Trobaugh GB, Carrico C J, Cobb, L A, Cardiac Contusion: Evaluation of non-invasive parameters for diagnosis and their complications. Circulation 1982; 66:3-672.

Pepe P, Potkin R T, Holzman, D, Carrico C.J, Cobb L.A.: Clinical predictors of adult respiratory distress syndrome. Am J. Surgery 1982; 144: July.

Potkin R T, Trobaugh G B, Hudson L A, : Evaluation of ventricular function in patients treated with PEEP. Am Rev Resp Dis 1987; 135: 302, February.

Potkin R, Hudson L, Weaver LJ, Trobaugh G.: Effect of positive end-expiratory pressure on right and left ventricular function in patients with ARDS. Am Rev Resp Dis, 1987.

Ross D J, Potkin RT, et. al,: Pathogenesis of cerebral air embolism during neodymium-yag laser photo resection. Chest 1988; 94: 660-662.

Potkin R T, Swenson E R, : Resuscitation from severe acute hypercapia: Determinants of tolerance and survival. Chest 1992; 102: 1742-1744.

Potkin RT, Aelony Y, Colt H, et al. Position statement on thoracoscopy. California Thoracic Society 1993.

Potkin R T, Alexander J, Neuman T,: Asthma and the sport scuba diver. Position paper, California Thoracic Society, 1997.

Potkin R, Cheng V, Siegel R., Effects of glossopharyngeal insufflation on cardiac function: an echocardiographic study in elite breath-hold divers. J Appl Physiol, Sep2007;103;823-827.

ABSTRACTS

Potkin, R.T., Werner, J.A., Trobaugh, G.B., Cheshnut, C., Ivery, T., Carrico, C.J., Cobb, L.A.: Cardiac Contusion: Evaluation of non-invasive parameters for diagnosis and their implications. Am J Card 1979; 43:2.

Luce, J., Potkin, R.T., Marini, J., Huseby, J.: Isolated bilateral diaphragmatic paralysis as a cause of respiratory failure. Am Rev Resp Dis 1979; 119:4.

Werner, J.A., Potkin, R.T., Botvinick, E., Trobaugh, G.B., Cobb, L.A.: Scintigraphic and enzymatic findings of sudden cardiac death. Clin Res 1979; 276: 73 AA.

Potkin, R.T., Thorning, D.T., Robinson, N., Schumacker, R., Hudson, L.D.: An animal model of smoke inhalation. Am Rev Resp Dis 1980: 121:178.

Potkin, R.T., Silvestri, R., Springmeyer, S., Thorning, D., Huseby, J.: Leukocyte depletion modifies experimental respiratory distress syndrome from lymphangiography contrast media. Clin Res 1980; 28:43A.

Springmeyer, S.C., Potkin, R.T., Schoene, R.B., et al.: Bronchoalveolar lavage in the assessment of experimental RDS. Am Rev Resp Dis 1981; 12B:112.

Potkin, R.T., Trobaugh, G.B., Hudson, L.A.: Evaluation of ventricular function in ARDS patients treated with PEEP, AARD, 1981. Am Rev Resp Dis 1981; 123:96.

Robinson, N.B., Hudson, L.D., Robertson, H.T., Potkin, R.T., et al.: Multiple inert gas analysis of smoke inhalation in rabbits and humans. Am Rev Resp Dis 1981:123:92.

Trobaugh, G.B., Potkin, R. T., Tutt, K., et. Al.: Ventricular function measurements in patients with ARDS treated with PEEP. Soc of Nuc Med 1981.

Pepe, P.E., Stager, M.A., Maunder, R.J., Potkin, R.T., Carrico, C.J., Hudson, L.D.: Early application of PEEP in patients at risk for ARDS. Am Rev Resp Dis 1983; 127.

Potkin, R.T., Blair, A., Cobb, L.A.: Out-of-hospital respiratory failure: Etiology and fate of patients with field inhalation. Am Rev Resp Dis 1985; 131:A 131.

Potkin, R.T., Mandel, W., Matloff, J., et al. Cardiovascular effects of hyperbaric treatment in the transplanted human heart. Presentation, Undersea & Hyperbaric Medical Society Annual Meeting, 1996.

Potkin, R.T., Comer, M., Wiggington, K., Effects of hyperbaric oxygen on wound healing in patients undergoing laser skin resurfacing. Undersea and Hyperbaric Medicine, volume 24, supplement 1997.

Potkin, R.T., Comer, M., Dale, H. Successful treatment of erythromelalgia with hyperbaric oxygen. Undersea and Hyperbaric Medicine National Meeting, June, 1999.

Potkin, R.T., Comer, M., Dale, H. Factors affecting use of hyperbaric medicine facilities. Undersea and Hyperbaric Medicine National Meeting, 1999.

Potkin, R.T., Callahan, T.S., Stuppy, W.P. The effect of hyperbaric oxygen therapy on autonomic nervous system function in healthy human subjects. Undersea and Hyperbaric Medicine, National Meeting, June, 2001.

Kagan, L., Potkin, R.T., Albee, K., Outcome of asthmatics cleared for sport scuba diving. Undersea and Hyperbaric Western Chapter Meeting, 2001.

Potkin, R.T., Uszler, JM., Brain function imaging in asymptomatic elite breath-hold divers.In: Lindholm P., Pollock NW, and Lundgren CEG, eds. Breath-hold diving symposium. Proceedings of the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society/Divers Alert Network, 2006 June 20-21 Workshop. Durhan, NC., Divers Alert Network;2006.

Potkin R, Firestein S., Pulmonary barotrauma associated with lung-packing.UHMS International Meeting, Maui, Hawaii, June 2007.

Potkin R., Predictors of chest squeeze in breath-hold divers. UHMS international meeting, Maui, Hawaii. June 2007.

Anand, WS., Mehta, H., Potkin RT: Hot tub lung associated with Mycobacterium Chelonae. Chest:132:675S 2007.

PATENTS HELD

Apparatus for preventing or minimizing decompression illness in a scuba diver. US Patent 6,755,192,2004.