In this inspiring episode of Black Men in Medicine, host Dr. Corey Gatewood sits down with Dr. Eric Flenaugh, a distinguished Critical Care Interventional Pulmonologist based in Atlanta, Georgia. Dr. Flenaugh serves as Associate Professor of Medicine, Vice Chair, and Chief of the Pulmonary Section at Morehouse School of Medicine and Grady Memorial Hospital, where he has dedicated his career to caring for Atlanta’s diverse and underserved communities.

A graduate of the University of Texas Health Science Center and MD Anderson Cancer Center, Dr. Flenaugh’s journey reflects an unwavering commitment to excellence, mentorship, and advancing equity in healthcare.

In this conversation, Dr. Flenaugh shares what drew him to the field of pulmonology and how his passion for critical care was tested—and ultimately strengthened—during the COVID-19 pandemic in one of the nation’s least restricted states. He discusses leading with courage and compassion through unprecedented times, balancing the weight of loss with an enduring duty to serve.

Dr. Flenaugh also highlights the importance of building and sustaining meaningful relationships, both within medicine and beyond, and how his experiences at Morehouse and Grady have deepened his sense of purpose. Together, he and Dr. Gatewood explore racial disparities in pulmonary health, from differences in lung cancer risk to inequities in access and diagnosis.

Beyond the ICU, Dr. Flenaugh expresses his creativity as a filmmaker that allows him to find balance outside of medicine.

Tune in for a candid, thought-provoking conversation that reminds us medicine is more than the treatment of disease, it’s about breathing life into communities, relationships, and dreams. As we bring you nothing but the gems!