Wynne Chen, MD, is board-certified in internal medicine, pulmonary & critical care medicine, and sleep medicine. He joined Valley’s medical staff in 2006, practicing both in the Critical Care Center at Valley and the Pulmonary and Sleep Disorders Clinic. He now practices exclusively outpatient adult sleep medicine.

Raised on the east coast, Dr. Chen studied at Dartmouth College where he majored in biology, concentrating in molecular genetics and graduating with distinction. He returned home to attend State University of New York at Stonybrook School of Medicine, and later completed his internal medicine residency at Yale-New Haven Hospital in Connecticut. He moved to the west coast to pursue subspecialty fellowship training in pulmonary and critical care medicine, as well as sleep Medicine at Stanford University Medical Center in California. As a postdoctoral fellow, his clinical research interests included the physiology behind sleep disordered breathing/OSAS, and functional neuroimaging in type 1 Narcolepsy. He is a Castle Connolly Top Doctor and Seattle Met Magazine Top Doctor (2015, 2016). He has a strong interest in medical informatics, and outside of work, enjoys music, running and exploring the Puget Sound.

“We now know that common sleep disorders such as obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) spares no one, and afflicts the young and old alike, often without classic symptoms such as loud snoring or frank apneas. Indeed, OSAS in children can mimic ADHD, and fatigue and insomnia may herald the onset of sleep-disordered breathing among thin individuals. In diagnosing sleep disorders, I am gratified in helping patients fit the pieces together in the puzzle of symptoms that they often have struggled with for years. In the process, I also appreciate that related discussions about diet and promoting a healthy lifestyle, can further empower them to take greater responsibility for their present and future health. The best part of my job as a sleep physician is having the opportunity to meet interesting people every day and educate them about a vital part of their daily lives that is often overlooked – their sleep.”

Interested in improved health through better sleep? Check out some of Dr. Chen’s favorite sleep and better living resources

Christa Franz, PA-C, is a board-certified physician assistant at Valley Medical Center and UW Medical Center and a UW teaching associate of Surgery.

Christa provides care to patients with disorders of the lungs, chest, esophagus and airways. As a thoracic surgery physician assistant, she is dedicated to providing comprehensive and personalized care to every patient. She is honored by the opportunity to be involved in patients’ lives and medical care. Franz received her medical education at Midwestern University in Illinois. Her educational background is in Biology and Kinesiology. She also enjoys distance running, cycling and photography.

Surafel Gezahegne, MD, is board-certified in Internal Medicine, Pulmonary Diseases and Critical Care Medicine. He believes a strong patient-physician relationship is vital to patient care. He strives to provide the highest standard of care to his patients.

Dr. Gezahegne takes care of patients with lung diseases including asthma, COPD, sarcoidosis, pulmonary hypertension, interstitial lung disease and lung cancer. He performs bronchoscopy including endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) to diagnose and stage cancer. Dr. Gezahegne also works in the intensive care unit (ICU) taking care of critically-ill patients.

Dr. Gezahegne was born and raised in Ethiopia. He moved to Washington State in 2001. He received his bachelor’s degree in microbiology and his medical degree from the University of Washington. He completed his Internal Medicine residency at Loma Linda University Medical Center in Loma Linda, California and his fellowship in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, Michigan. In his spare time, Dr. Gezahegne enjoys playing soccer and racket ball as well as hiking and biking.

Richard Kim, MD, has a strong interest in providing high value care to his patients. He is board-certified in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine. He strives to listen carefully to each patient and help craft a treatment plan that meets their individual needs.

Dr. Kim was born and raised in Southern California. He did his undergraduate studies at Harvard University, where he was a History of Science major. He then completed his medical school at University of California, San Francisco. He moved to Seattle in 2006 for his internship and residency training at the University of Washington, where he won awards for excellence in resident teaching and for leadership. He stayed at the University of Washington for his pulmonary and critical care fellowship training.

Dr. Kim is married, with three children. In his spare time, he enjoys playing the violin, reading, photography, and anything involving the outdoors

Dr. Mulligan is a UW professor of cardiothoracic surgery and the director of the Lung Transplant Program and the Advanced Lung Disease Surgery Program. He is clinically busy in lung transplantation and lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS). He also is the surgeon in the Pacific Northwest who performs pulmonary endarterectomies for chronic pulmonary embolic disease.

In addition, Dr. Mulligan directs the Minimally Invasive Thoracic Surgery Program. He performs a range of lung cancer resections regularly. He is considered a national expert in video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) lobectomy and leads regional and national courses on the subject. He also has considerable experience in the management of esophageal cancer.

Patient Care Philosophy: Do your best for every patient. Treat them the way you would like yourself or your family to be treated. Do everything you can to improve their lives.

Scope Of Care: Lung cancer, esophageal cancer, benign and malignant thoracic diseases and end-stage lung disease.

Research Interests
He has won local and national teaching awards and runs an NIH-funded laboratory. His areas of scientific investigation include the mechanisms of acute lung injury following lung transplantation and the regulation of tolerance in long-term lung graft acceptance.

Teaching Interests
He has been the recipient of the John K. Stevenson Award for excellence in resident education. Most recently, he won the McGoon Award, which is given to a cardiothoracic surgeon who exemplifies outstanding teaching and mentorship in the United States.

Other Interests

Personal: family, water skiing, snow skiing, and fitness

Clinical: Cardiovascular surgery, lung and heart-lung transplantation, lung-volume reduction surgery, pulmonary thrombo-endarterectomy, and benign and malignant lung and esophageal disease

American Board of Surgery

Board Certified in General Surgery since 2006

Board Certified in Cardiac and Thoracic Surgery since 2008

William Park, MD, is board-certified in pulmonary diseases, critical care medicine, and sleep medicine. His clinical interests include the management of COPD, lung cancer, interstitial lung disease, asthma, sarcoidosis and all aspects of sleep disorder medicine.

Dr. Park is originally from Michigan and graduated from Cornell University as a chemical engineer. After a change in career direction, he returned to Michigan to attend University of Michigan Medical School. From there he did his residency in internal medicine at Boston University and Boston City Hospital. He completed his fellowship in pulmonary and critical care medicine at University of Washington.

At Valley Medical Center, Dr. Park has been the co-medical director of the Sleep Center, medical director for Respiratory Care, co-medical director of the Critical Care Unit, and is a member of the Executive Committee. He has also been listed in "Seattle's Best Doctors."

Dr. Wall was born and raised in San Francisco. He received his medical degree from Georgetown University (Washington D.C.) and completed residency in Internal Medicine at Vanderbilt University (Nashville, TN). After residency, he remained at Vanderbilt as Chief Resident, spent two years studying quality improvement with the VA National Quality Scholars Program and obtained his Master of Public Health degree. He returned to the West Coast in 2003 to complete a fellowship in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at the University of Washington.

Dr. Wall has expertise designing and leading large quality improvement initiatives in healthcare settings. He is especially interested in developing novel strategies to improve the care of critically ill patients in the intensive care unit.

Dr. Wall is board-certified in Pulmonary Diseases, Critical Care and Sleep Disorders Medicine. He is Medical Director of the Critical Care Unit at Valley Medical Center. In his spare time, he enjoys playing the piano and various outdoor activities, including hiking, snow skiing and mountain biking.

Undergraduate: Santa Clara University
Medical School: Georgetown University
Residency: Vanderbilt University
Fellowship: University of Washington; VA National Quality Scholars Program