Catawba Valley Pulmonology

Dr. Rujubali first studied as Royal College Port Louis in Port Luis, Mauritius before completing his medical education at Dow Medical College at the University of Karachi in Karachi, Pakistan. He completed both his externship and residency training at the University of Kansas – KU Medical Center in Kansas City, KS. Later he would complete his fellowship training at Lankenau Medical Center in Wynnewood, PA. Just prior to arriving at Catawba Valley Pulmonology, Dr. Rujubali served Phoenixville Hospital in Phoenixville, PA, in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine where he also was medical director of of the Lung Cancer Screening Program and Chair of the Ethics Committee.

Dr. Wilson entered the University of Mississippi School of Medicine (UMC) in 1997 at the age of 43, fulfilling her desire to become a doctor and work one-on-one with patients after having spent her career working in a laboratory as a medical technologist. After receiving her Medical Degree, she completed her internship, resident and fellowship in pulmonary, critical care and sleep medicines at UMC. Dr. Kathy Wilson is the Medical Director of the Sleep Center and Respiratory Department at Catawba Valley Medical Center and is ABIM and NBPAS Board Certified in Internal, Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicines. She also serves as medical director of the School of Respiratory Technology at Catawba Valley Community College. She is a member of the North Carolina Medical Society, served as president of the Catawba County Medical Society from 2010-2014 and is an active member of the Catawba Medical Foundation Board of Directors. She is a member of Corinth Reformed Church in Hickory.

Prior to completing her Physician Assistant Master of Science degree from Methodist University in Fayetteville, North Carolina, Kristin received her Bachelor of Science with a concentration in Biology from the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill.

Kristin then worked for Piedmont Healthcare Pulmonology and Critical Care Medicine in Statesville for 7 years before joining Catawba Valley Pulmonology in 2020.

She is ACLS certified and has been a member of the American College of CHEST Physicians since 2014.

Dr. Matthew Fowler joined Catawba Valley Pulmonology in August of 2021. He serves as the Medical Director of the Critical Care Unit at Catawba Valley Medical Center. He completed his medical degree at the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine and a PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at Clemson University. Dr. Fowler completed his residency in Internal Medicine at Carolinas HealthCare System – Blue Ridge (now UNC – Blue Ridge) in Morganton, NC, and a Pulmonary and Critical Care Fellowship at the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University Medical Center in Augusta, GA. He is board-certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine in Internal Medicine, Pulmonary Disease, and Critical Care Medicine. With a love for Western North Carolina and the people of the region, he decided to return to the area to practice. He has a special interest in Critical Care Medicine, Diagnostic Thoracic Oncology, and Interventional Pulmonology. In his free time he enjoys cooking, traveling, and video games.

Dr. Richard Pomerantz graduated from The Ohio State University with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering and attended Medical School at Medical College of Ohio where he was in the medical honor society Alpha Omega Alpha. He had an Internship & Residency in Internal Medicine at The Ohio State University and a fellowship in Pulmonary & Critical Care at The Ohio State University. Dr. Pomerantz practiced in West Palm Beach Florida for 9 years, serving as Medical Director of the ICU, Vice Chief of Staff, and Chief of Staff. He came to North Carolina in 2008 and joined Novant Health, serving as the Chief of Medicine at Novant Health Matthews Medical Center. Dr. Pomerantz has been working in the medical field for 30 years, and he has been a Charlotte Magazine Top Doctor for the last 5 years. He is board Certified in Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine. Dr. Pomerantz is married with 3 children. In his free time, he enjoys Disk Golf, Hiking, spending time with his family and his dog Buckeye.

Stephen Prohaska graduated from Georgia Institute of Technology and completed his Master of Physician Assistant Studies at Medical College of Georgia-Augusta University. During his tenure in the Physician Assistant program, he was inducted into Pi Alpha, the national physician assistants honor society.

He is certified as a Physician Assistant by the National Certifying Commission of Physician Assistants and is licensed by the North Carolina Medical Board. He is a member of the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA), Association of Pulmonary Advanced Practice Providers (APAPP), North Carolina Academy of Physician Assistants (NCAPA), American College of CHEST Physicians, and American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM).

Stephen is married with 3 children. In his free time, he enjoys woodworking, hiking, going to festivals, or building the next fort with his kids.

Dr. Tara Leigh Taylor entered the State of New York Health Science Center of Brooklyn (SUNY Downstate) in 1994 at the age of 33, fulfilling her desire to become a physician.  Dr. Taylor feels fortunate to have trained at this University hospital given the diverse populations served there.  After receiving her medical degree, she completed her Internship and Residency in Internal Medicine at SUNY Downstate.  Desiring to serve her country, Dr. Taylor pursued her Fellowship in Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine with the United States Air Force at Wilford Hall, Lackland Air Force Base, in San Antonio, Texas.  She served as an Associate Professor for the Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Fellowship program from 2004 through 2007.  Dr. Taylor had the privilege of being deployed as a Critical Care Air Transport Team (CCATT) leader during August 2005 to January 2006, to Balad, Iraq, and obtained experience with Medical Evacuation of severely injured service members during Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom.  Dr. Taylor was recognized with an Aerial Achievement Medal for her service during this deployment.  Dr. Taylor separated from the USAF in 2007 in the rank of Major; she was honorably discharged.  Dr. Taylor then went on to practice Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine in Tyler, Texas, before moving out to the Mountain West (Wyoming and later in 2022 Montana), where she spent almost 14 years in practice.  Dr. Taylor was the Medical Director of the Intensive Care unit at Wyoming Medical Center, Casper, Wyoming, prior to moving in 2022 to Billings, Montana.  Dr. Taylor now practices Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine at Catawba Valley Pulmonology, and diagnoses and treats a wide range of Respiratory and Sleep problems.  Dr. Taylor is ABIM board certified in Internal Medicine, Pulmonary, Critical Care as well as Sleep Medicine and is a Fellow of the College of Chest Physicians.  In her free time, Dr. Taylor enjoys cooking, entertaining, exercise, hiking, knitting, reading, and her dog, Gus.