Tom Takubo , D . O .
Chief of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine , Charleston Area Medical Center
OLIVIA MILLER
After watching his father suffer from black lung disease caused by a four-decade career spent working in coal mines , Tom Takubo , D . O ., made it his life mission to treat individuals with similar conditions by helping bring advanced medical technologies to West Virginia . Today , Takubo is the chief of pulmonary and critical care medicine at Charleston Area Medical Center ( CAMC ) and a leader in the field of health care in the Mountain State .
Takubo graduated from the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine with a doctorate in osteopathy in 1999 and later completed his internal medicine residency at West Virginia University ’ s ( WVU ) Charleston campus in 2003 . After his residency , he joined the faculty at WVU and started the critical care program at CAMC . From there , Takubo attended East Tennessee State University as a pulmonary and critical care fellow .
Upon his return to West Virginia , Takubo , alongside Dr . Kevin Eggleston , co-founded Pulmonary Associates , one of the largest private pulmonary practices east of the Mississippi . The practice encompasses seven physicians , 13 advanced practice providers and about 80 total employees .
“ My vision when I came back to Charleston was to start a one-stop shop for pulmonary issues ,” he says . “ Knowing we have created this facility to offer these
services is professionally satisfying .”
At Pulmonary Associates , patients can be evaluated , diagnosed , treated or scheduled for a definitive biopsy to start treatment in the same day or within a few days of being seen .
Takubo ’ s unwavering commitment to improving health care in the Mountain State has taken him beyond the halls of Mountain State hospitals and into West Virginia ’ s capitol building . In 2014 , Takubo was elected to the West Virginia State Senate of the 17th senatorial district and was appointed as chair of economic development . In 2018 , Takubo was reelected and appointed majority leader , a position in which he still serves today .
Photo by John Sibold .
“ I went into politics to try to positively impact health care in West Virginia ,” he says . “ My favorite thing about serving in the state Senate is when health legislation passes that will benefit West Virginians . Some examples have been lowering the cost of prescription medications , providing more coverage for medical and dental care , providing better access for specific medical conditions and impacting smoking rates .”
Throughout his career serving in the state Senate , Takubo has found there is a great deal of overlap between the areas of health care and legislation .
“ Legislators bring personal experience to the legislature . Many states do not have
84 WEST VIRGINIA EXECUTIVE