Dr. Kaharu Sumino, MD

Dr. Sumino has been one of MANY physicians I have seen over the years for my uncontrolled asthma, and she took the extra time/steps to find one of the main triggers that other doctors overlooked throughout the years which has made my asthma much more manageable today. She used her extraordinary listening, and assessment skills, and was able to interpret what I was personally experiencing when these attacks occurred, and analyze that information to make a life changing diagnosis for me. She also listened as I explained to her my frustrations of the unresolved asthmatic episodes I was having even with all the inhalers I was prescribed at that time. She took the extra time and found a speech specialist outside the VA, where I was diagnosed with Vocal Cord Dysfunction (VCD, which mimics asthma). She was then able to wean me off 3, of the 4 inhalers that I took for years, just by acknowledging, and appropriately addressing the root cause of my asthma exacerbations, and addressing VCD.

Dr. Sumino sets a professional standard of competence, capability, and communication to emulate. She has been my pulmonologist for years. I trust her medical opinions and recommended courses of treatment. She was able to objectively document and justify me being prescribed Nucala and other effective asthmatic medications. Her treatment plan has significantly improved my respiratory functioning. I am 66 years old and hope to live longer than my father who was a World War II veteran in the Pacific Theater. My father only made it to 101 years and 11 months. Without any reservation, I trust Dr. Koharu Sumino's medical judgment. She is a researcher and always is seeking to find the best pulmonary treatment and medications for her patients.

I visited Dr Sumino's office approximately one year ago for chronic cough; I waited well over 1.2 hours to be seen by her. I was examined initially by her medical student in a standard fashion and received more clinical information and bedside manner was much better. She noticed on the x-ray that I had developing pneumonia and allowed me to leave without treatment indicating "that I could see my own general physician." Needless to say, I developed full-blown pneumonia. I would not recommend Dr. Sumino to anyone the continuity of communication, delivery of clinical care, and bedside manner was poor at best. Do your research on these physicians prior to visiting them; it just may save your life. The physician was a complete waste of my time and resources.