Stephen M. Stick is a pulmonologist based in Nedlands, WA, Australia. Breathing problems can be scary, even when they seem “small” at first. Stephen looks after people who have trouble with their lungs and airways, from ongoing conditions that need steady care to sudden flare-ups that need prompt help.
In clinic and hospital settings, the focus is on lungs, breathing tests, and the day-to-day things that make symptoms better or worse. That can mean helping manage asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), as well as supporting people with long-term lung conditions like bronchiectasis. At times, the work also covers infections that can affect the lungs, including pneumonia and Pseudomonas stutzeri infections.
Some patients need extra attention because their lungs are more vulnerable. Stephen also works with people dealing with cystic fibrosis, aspergillosis, and bronchiolitis obliterans. Other conditions can affect how air moves through the chest, such as tracheobronchomalacia, where the airways may not stay open properly. Symptoms like stridor are also part of the mix, especially when breathing sounds unusual or feels tight despite treatment.
Breathing issues don’t always come from the lungs alone. In many cases, air problems are linked to the brain and nerves, or to overall health. Stephen also works with conditions where breathing can be impacted, including cerebral hypoxia and primary lateral sclerosis, and he supports people who live with the breathing changes that can come with these conditions.
Sleep can play a big role too. For those with obstructive sleep apnea, care often needs to be practical and tailored, because better sleep can make a real difference to daytime energy and breathing patterns.
When investigations or procedures are needed, Stephen may be involved in endoscopy related to respiratory care, and he can support complex pathways where lung transplant is part of the plan. He also looks after people affected by respiratory infections like COVID-19 and severe lung illnesses such as severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), along with common cold and chest inflammation that can turn into something more serious.
Overall, the approach is steady and hands-on. Stephen helps people understand what’s going on with their breathing, what to watch for, and what treatment options can help, whether the problem is chronic, changing over time, or showing up suddenly.