Meet UAG Alumni Dr. Anthony Perella: Critical Care/Intensivist at Rockledge Regional Medical Center

Dr. Anthony Perella is a board-certified Critical Care/Intensivist at Rockledge Regional Medical Center, where he specializes in treating critically ill patients in the intensive care unit. With over a decade of experience in critical care medicine, Dr. Perella is known for his expertise in managing complex medical cases and providing compassionate care to his patients and their families. In this interview, we'll have the opportunity to learn more about Dr. Perella.

What services do you provide?

I have a unique opportunity in which I only see patients in the ICU at Rockledge Regional Medical Center. Here I get to do what I love — practice Critical Care medicine. I assess and treat patients that are in their most fragile and vulnerable state. Most of the patients I care for have respiratory issues, like pneumonia or chronic lung disease. Some have dangerously low blood pressure or other ailments.

Together with a multidisciplinary team, the patient and their family, we determine the best options to help them. My role allows me to interact with the family members of patients, too. The patients are sick and their families are scared. I feel compassionate communication with the families or loved ones is almost as important as taking care of the patient.

What inspired you to go into this specialty?
I originally attended college to obtain a degree in sports medicine but I had a good friend that I grew up with who became a respiratory therapist.

One day on break from my studies he asked me to shadow him as he did his rounds at the hospital. The first place we went was the intensive care unit (ICU).

I immediately noticed how sick the patients were and how much help they needed. I changed my major soon after to become a respiratory therapist.

While I worked as a respiratory therapist I took care of patients with lung disease and other breathing disorders in the ICU. Being a respiratory therapist helped me advance into critical care medicine because after eight years I decided to go to medical school.

I rotated through different specialties but when I came to my pulmonology and critical care rotation, it reinforced the feeling, and I knew that was where I wanted to be. I loved taking care of sick people.

What’s the latest advancement in the medical field that will benefit patients?
There are many types of advanced monitoring devices that benefit patients in the ICU. These devices can detect changes in blood pressure, oxygen, etc... They are designed now that they are more comfortable for the patients to wear and they alert the staff much more quickly.
The new technology provides constant monitoring rather than previous equipment that took vitals and other measurements every few minutes.

Best advice you can give patients?
Do not wait! Seek care if something is off or you don’t feel right. The most common occurrence I see is that patients waited too long to see their physician or go to the emergency room. Also, follow up with your physician for routine appointments or after a hospital stay.
Lastly, I recommend not smoking, or if you do smoke, take a smoking cessation class. Many of my patients suffer from a respiratory disease that could have been avoided if they never smoked.

What are your hobbies or personal interests?
I have a wonderful wife named Monica and 14-year-old triplets — two boys and one girl. I love spending time with them!
When I am not rounding on patients, you can usually find me at the beach with my family or coaching my children in various sports.
I also love to play golf and am interested in aviation.

Who: Dr. Anthony Perella
Education: Fairleigh Dickenson University, Rowan University , Universidad Autónoma De Guadalajara (MD)
Post-Doctoral Training: New York Medical College, Robert Wood University, Cooper University Medical Center
Fellowship: Fellow in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Robert Wood Johnson, Cooper University Medical Center
Current location: Rockledge Regional Medical Center
rockledgeregional.org