Professional Profile
Paul A. Selecky, MD, FCCP was a distinguished physician affiliated with Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian in Newport Beach, California. He served in multiple high-level clinical and leadership roles, most notably as Medical Director of Pulmonary Medicine, Medical Director of the Sleep Disorders Center, and Medical Director of Continuing Medical Education at Hoag. His tenure at Hoag spanned approximately 36 years until his passing in March 2022.
Dr. Selecky was widely recognized for spearheading the development of several programs within Hoag Health System, including:
- The Palliative Care Program, which he championed starting in 2000, aimed at improving symptom and pain control for seriously ill patients. He chaired the committee that convened physicians to establish and promote this program. The program was honored publicly and considered a model for palliative and supportive care.
- The Sleep Disorders Center, where he served as founding member and long-time medical director, contributing to community health and safety by addressing sleep-related health risks.
- The Respiratory Care Department, providing clinical direction as a medical director and supporting respiratory therapists with leadership and expertise in pulmonary medicine.
Academic and Clinical Credentials
- Completed Internal Medicine residency and Pulmonary Medicine fellowship at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center in the early 1970s (residency in 1972, fellowship completed in 1973).
- Held an academic appointment as a Clinical Professor of Medicine at UCLA School of Medicine.
- Earned recognition as a Fellow of the American College of Chest Physicians (FCCP).
- Authored and co-authored at least 18 research publications, with significant contributions to palliative and end-of-life care practices in pulmonary and critical care medicine, accruing over 900 citations. His research includes work on educational practices for palliative care, lung cancer, and symptom management for cardiopulmonary patients.
Contact and Professional Engagement
- Email address used in professional correspondence: pselecky@hoaghospital.org
- Known for involvement in collaborative efforts to establish palliative and supportive care frameworks not only within Hoag but also assisting other hospitals in similar initiatives.
- Recognized by professional organizations and the community, including accolades such as Orange County Citizen of the Year due to his contributions to sleep medicine and pulmonology.
- His leadership extended to shaping continuing medical education programs and advancing respiratory care as a discipline.
Impact and Legacy
Dr. Selecky’s impact at Hoag and in the broader respiratory and palliative care fields is underscored by:
- His key role in building and institutionalizing Hoag’s palliative care program, which has had a lasting influence on patient services and hospital quality ratings.
- Serving as a central figure in the development of respiratory therapy protocols and pulmonary medicine standards at Hoag.
- Contribution to public health awareness around sleep disorders and their impact on safety and quality of life.
- His research and clinical work informed national conversations on end-of-life care for critically ill and pulmonary patients, emphasizing symptom relief and patient dignity.
Summary
Paul Selecky, MD was a pivotal medical director and pulmonary specialist at Hoag Health System with expertise in pulmonary medicine, sleep disorders, and palliative care. His leadership in clinical program development, medical education, and research positioned Hoag as a recognized center for advanced pulmonary and end-of-life care. His professional legacy continues through the programs he developed and the educational contributions he made to the field of respiratory and palliative medicine.
