Celebrating Leading Pulmonologist Eliseo Colon, MD

Eliseo Colon, MD, Saint Joseph Medical Group – Pulmonology, was recognized by Saint Joseph Health earlier this year as Continuing Care Hospital’s 2024 Physician of the Year – but he probably would not voluntarily tell you that.

“Usually I don’t like to talk about myself,” he said. “I avoid the limelight. I’m not a public speaker.”

However, Dr. Colon’s strengths as a speaker are evident on the job. A pulmonologist, he treats pulmonary and critical care patients at Continuing Care Hospital, a specialty care facility for patients with long-term, acute mental and physical health needs, located within Saint Joseph Hospital. There, he enjoys employing a team-based approach, guiding nurses, respiratory therapists and others on his team. As he makes rounds, he also explains the “whys” to them.

“It’s a team approach,” Dr. Colon said “You have to relate the message. It’s not just saying, ‘Do this, do that.’ It’s saying, ‘Do this because this is what’s happening, this is the latest thing, this is what’s coming through the pipeline.’ How you guide people to what you want them to be, and to let them know this is why.  So they don’t feel like order is being imposed on them.”

He said he practices Saint Joseph’s values when he talks to patients: “Being compassionate. You have to understand the patient. You sit down next to them, you talk to them. You tell the truth—integrity. Also, you’ve got to respect when they make a decision.”

Most of his patients are on ventilators, so communicating with their family also is a key. “I try to see what their expectations are,” Eliseo said. “I always make sure they understand baby steps. We’re going to get success, but there has to be some progress first, baby steps.” 

“Continuing Care Hospital is above the national average for getting patients off the ventilator successfully,” he said. “I try to wean them off, or liberate them off the respirator.” 

Dr. Colon has been with the ministry for 15 years, coming to Kentucky from Florida, where he practiced pulmonology for seven years. A native of Puerto Rico, he did his internal medicine residency at Seton Hall—which sparked his interest in his specialty—and a pulmonary and critical care fellowship at State University of New York Stony Brook. He discovered his calling in pulmonary and critical care medicine, finding fulfillment in helping patients recover from critical illness to outpatient care.

“When I started doing pulmonary and critical care, I realized how important it was to maintain the life and breathing of people on a respirator, and helping them transition from the ICU to the floor to seeing them as an outpatient,” he said. “I always wanted to help people. I always found it a very honorable profession.”

The Continuing Care Hospital at Saint Joseph Hospital treats many patients with chronic lung diseases, pulmonary fibrosis, emphysema and COPD. Eliseo said it’s frustrating to see patients who smoke, and he is concerned about attitudes toward electronic cigarettes.

“We have to work on breaking bad habits,” he said. His arsenal includes  showing patients the results of their pulmonary function test, X-rays or CT scans. “It’s rewarding to see someone say ‘I quit smoking,’” he said.

Eliseo and his wife have three children and live in Lexington; he plays tennis and pickleball in his off hours.

The best part of his job, he said, is working with other caregivers: “It’s a team effort and they’re really dedicated. When you have a good team, the numbers are above the national average.”