Finding the right lung specialist is not something most people think about until they actually need one. Maybe it’s a cough that has hung around for a month longer than it should, or a parent whose breathlessness on the stairs has started to worry the whole family. Whatever brings you here, the truth is that Gurgaon has no shortage of doctors listing “pulmonologist” on their clinic boards. The harder part is knowing which one is actually right for your situation.
Having spent time understanding how patients in Gurgaon and Delhi NCR search for and select respiratory specialists, here are eight things worth checking before you book that first appointment.
1. Check the Doctor’s Core Qualifications, Not Just the Title
In India, anyone can technically see patients with breathing problems, but a pulmonologist is a doctor who has completed an MD or DNB specifically in Pulmonary Medicine or Respiratory Diseases, after finishing MBBS. Look for these two degrees at minimum. A doctor who also holds additional training — say, in interventional pulmonology or critical care — has usually gone a step further than the basic qualification requires.
Dr. Shivanshu Raj Goyal, for instance, completed his MBBS from Dr. NTR University of Health Sciences, Vijayawada, followed by a residency in Pulmonary Critical Care and Sleep Medicine at Safdarjung Hospital, an MD in Pulmonary Medicine from SRM University Chennai (where he was a gold medallist), and a DNB in Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases from MNAMS, New Delhi. He then travelled to Marseille, France, in 2018 for dedicated training in interventional pulmonology — a detail that matters if your case ever needs procedures beyond routine consultation.
The point isn’t to memorise anyone’s CV. It’s to know what questions to ask when you’re checking a doctor’s background online or on a hospital website.
2. Look at Where They Actually Practise
A pulmonologist’s hospital affiliation tells you a lot about the kind of infrastructure available if your case needs more than a prescription — think ICU support, bronchoscopy suites, or CT-guided procedures. A doctor attached to a well-equipped multi-speciality hospital can move quickly from diagnosis to intervention if required, without you having to be referred elsewhere and start the process again.
For example, doctors currently practising as Director of Pulmonology at hospitals like Max Super Speciality Hospital in Gurgaon and Dwarka have access to full diagnostic and critical care backup on-site, which matters a great deal for anything from a complicated case of pneumonia to lung cancer staging.
3. Ask What Procedures They’re Trained to Perform
Not every pulmonologist does bronchoscopy, and fewer still are comfortable with more advanced procedures like Endobronchial Ultrasound (EBUS), rigid bronchoscopy, thoracoscopy, or tracheobronchial stenting. If you have a condition that might eventually need a biopsy, a stent, or fluid drainage from the chest, it helps to choose a doctor who can do these procedures themselves rather than referring you out repeatedly.
This is a genuinely useful filter. A specialist trained in flexible and rigid bronchoscopy, EBUS (both linear and radial), tumour debulking, cryo-biopsy, and tracheobronchial stenting with both metallic and silicone stents can manage a much wider range of lung conditions under one roof.
4. Check How Long They’ve Been in Practice — And Where
Experience in pulmonology is not just about years; it’s about the range of cases seen. A doctor who has worked across different types of institutions — teaching hospitals, corporate hospitals, ICUs — tends to have handled a broader spectrum of respiratory illness than someone who has only worked in one setting.
As an example, look for a practice history that spans roles such as Associate Consultant in Pulmonary Medicine at a large tertiary hospital, followed by Head of Department at a corporate hospital, and now a senior leadership role such as Director of Pulmonology. That kind of trajectory usually reflects steadily increasing responsibility and trust from peers, not just seniority by age.
5. Read Patient Reviews, But Read Them Properly
Star ratings alone don’t tell you much. What matters more is what patients actually write. Look for reviews that mention specific things: Did the doctor explain the diagnosis clearly? Did they rush the consultation or take time to answer questions? Was the coordination around appointments and reports smooth?
A pulmonology practice with several hundred Google reviews averaging above 4.5 stars, with detailed comments about thoroughness, patience, and clear communication, is usually a good sign. Comments from patients who travelled from other cities or even other countries for treatment are also worth noting, since they suggest the doctor’s reputation extends beyond the immediate neighbourhood.
6. Understand Their Approach to Chronic Conditions
Conditions like asthma, COPD, interstitial lung disease (ILD), and obstructive sleep apnea are long-term conditions that need ongoing management, not one-time treatment. A good pulmonologist for these cases is one who builds a relationship with the patient over months and years — adjusting inhaler technique, tracking lung function over time, and catching flare-ups early rather than only treating them after they happen.
If you or a family member has a chronic respiratory condition, ask how the clinic handles follow-ups, whether spirometry and other lung function tests are available on-site, and how accessible the doctor’s team is between visits for questions about medication or symptoms.
7. Check Membership in Recognised Medical Societies
Active membership in bodies like the Indian Chest Society, the National College of Chest Physicians, the Indian Society of Critical Care Medicine, the Thoracic Endoscopic Society, the Indian Association of Bronchology, or the European Respiratory Society is a reasonable indicator that a doctor stays engaged with ongoing developments in the field, rather than practising in isolation. These memberships usually require doctors to attend conferences, contribute to case discussions, and in many cases publish research.
Published research papers, conference presentations, or authored books on pulmonology are a further sign of someone who treats the subject seriously beyond day-to-day clinical work.
8. Confirm Location, Timings, and Ease of Access
Finally — and this sounds obvious, but patients skip it constantly — check whether the clinic timings actually work for your schedule, and whether the location is reasonably accessible from where you live or work. A brilliant doctor whose OPD hours never align with your availability, or whose clinic is a two-hour drive away, becomes a lot less useful during a respiratory flare-up that needs prompt attention.
Many senior pulmonologists in Gurgaon run OPDs across multiple locations on different days of the week. It’s worth checking this in advance so you know exactly where and when to reach them.
Dr. Shivanshu Raj Goyal: OPD Locations and Timings
For patients in Gurgaon, Delhi, and surrounding NCR looking for a pulmonologist who checks most of these boxes, Dr. Shivanshu Raj Goyal currently serves as Director of Pulmonology, Respiratory and Sleep Medicine at Max Super Speciality Hospital, with OPDs across three locations:
Max Hospital, Gurgaon — B Block, Sushant Lok 1, Near Huda City Centre, Gurugram, Haryana 122001. OPD: Monday, Wednesday, Friday, 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM.
Max Super Speciality Hospital, Dwarka — Plot No. 1, Sector 10, Dwarka, Delhi 110075. OPD: Monday to Saturday, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM.
Aartas CliniShare, Gurugram — 10P, 3rd Floor, Golf Course Road, DLF Phase 1, Near Rapid Metro Station, Sector 28 Chakkarpur, Gurugram 122002.
For appointments at Max Hospital (Gurgaon or Dwarka), call 9667763536. For the Aartas CliniShare clinic, call 9958255552.
The Bottom Line
Choosing a pulmonologist isn’t about finding the doctor with the fanciest-sounding clinic or the most social media presence. It’s about matching qualifications, procedural expertise, hospital backup, and genuine accessibility to your specific situation. Take the time to check these eight things before your first visit — your lungs, quite literally, will thank you for it.
