Meet Blake Luebbehusen. As a nurse practitioner, Blake applies his advanced training to assess, interpret, diagnose and treat clients of all ages. He chose pulmonology as his specialty because it allows him to focus on treating a variety of respiratory conditions such as asthma and COPD. He is also dedicated to promoting optimal health in the community by helping patients understand the importance of smoking cessation, the risk factors associated with smoking and the ill effects it has on the body.

Blake’s philosophy as a provider is to always treat every individual, family and colleague with the same dignity and respect that he would expect for himself. "My goal is to give the best healthcare services to all of my patients," he says. "Throughout my years of practicing as a nurse and nurse practitioner student, I have learned that listening to the patient is key to providing holistic and comprehensive care to the best of my ability."

He also believes in being a patient advocate, seeing the big picture, and using a multidisciplinary approach to care. "Understanding the specific goals of each individual is fundamental to providing exceptional care and meeting the needs of the patient," Blake explains. "It’s important to keep the lines of communication open, and truly listen with an open mind, so I can fully understand their reasons for seeking medical treatment."

In his own words…

Who is or was the most influential person/role model in your life? My parents were influential in my life. They understood the importance of a quality education and how choosing a profession in medicine would provide a lifelong career.

What was your first job growing up? What do you remember most about it? My first job was working in a gas station. Back then gas stations provided full service to all customers. This entailed pumping the gas, checking tire pressures, checking their oil and cleaning their windows. This was my first experience in providing customer service.

What is your favorite food? Movie? My favorite food would be a good steak. I do not have a favorite movie, but I do enjoy action movies.

What were your best/worst subjects in school growing up? My best subject was creative art. My worst subject was English/writing.

If you could sit down to dinner with anyone (alive or deceased), who would it be and why? I would love to sit down to dinner with my deceased grandparents. My grandparents passed away when I was young, and I did not get the opportunity to get to know them. As young children we don’t realize the importance of family. It would be great to talk with them.