Joseph (Joe) Cooley, DO
Dr. Joseph (Joe) Cooley was born and raised in Santa Barbara. After graduating from Dos Pueblos High School, Dr. Cooley went on to earn a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from the University of Southern California. He attended medical school at the Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine where he was elected to the Sigma Sigma Phi Honor Society. While in medical school, he met his future wife, Meifawn, and they both moved to Ohio for residency, where Dr. Cooley completed his residency in Internal Medicine at the University of Cincinnati. He went on to complete his fellowship training in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at the University of Colorado. After finishing fellowship, he joined faculty at National Jewish Health in Denver where he worked for four years prior to returning home to Santa Barbara and joining Santa Barbara Pulmonary Associates.
Dr. Cooley cares for a broad range of pulmonary disorders including bronchiectasis, asthma, COPD, pulmonary embolism, lung nodules, non-tuberculous mycobacterial disease, chronic cough, and unexplained breathlessness. He has specialized expertise in Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD), which includes diseases like Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis, Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis, ILD related to systemic autoimmune rheumatic disease, and cystic lung disease. While faculty at National Jewish Health, he was a member of their renowned ILD clinic where he took care of local Coloradans, but also patients referred from across the country seeking specialized expertise for difficult to diagnose and treat cases.
Dr. Cooley’s background as a physician-scientist provided him with a deep understanding of the diseases he treats. His research focused on discovering and leveraging new target molecular pathways for treatment of pulmonary fibrosis. He was awarded several grants to pursue his research including five grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). He published his cutting-edge work in several high impact journals including Nature Communications, JCI Insight, and the American Journal of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology.
Dr. Cooley provides comprehensive, holistic, and empathic care to patients. He encourages family members to engage in the care of their loved ones, and uses shared decision making to curate an individualized care plan for each person.
Dr. Cooley is a passionate USC Trojan football fan and loves spending time with his wife and three young children, exercising, working on home projects, and spending time with friends.
Joseph (Joe) Cooley, DO CURRICULUM VITAE HIGHLIGHTS
Education & Training
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D.O. at the Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine
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Medical Residency in Internal Medicine at University of Cincinnati
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Fellowship in Pulmonary and Critical Care at University of Colorado
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Resrach Fellowship focusing on Pulmonary Fibrosis at the University of Colorado
Certifications & Licensure
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American Board of Internal Medicine, Internal Medicine, 2018
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American Board of Internal Medicine, Pulmonary Medicine, 2020
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American Board of Internal Medicine, Critical Care Medicine, 2021
Awards, Honors, & Recognition
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Reuben M. Cherniack Fellowship – National Jewish Health, 2020–2022
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American Thoracic Society International Conference Abstract Scholarship – 2022
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Kenneth A. Suarez AZCOM Summer Research Fellowship – 2012
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Sigma Sigma Phi Osteopathic Honor and Service Fraternity – 2012–2015
Publications & Presentations
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Cooley JC, et al. (2023). Inhibition of antiapoptotic BCL-2 proteins with ABT-263 induces fibroblast apoptosis, reversing persistent pulmonary fibrosis. JCI Insight.
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Cooley JC, Redente EF. (2024). Getting the Timing Right: Controlling BCL-2 Inhibition as an Anti-Fibrotic Therapy. American Journal of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology.
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Cooley JC, Fernandez Perez E. (2024). Are there over 200 distinct types of interstitial lung disease? Respiratory Research.
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Cooley JC, et al. (2026). Nintedanib increases BCL-2 in fibrotic fibroblasts, enhancing ABT-199 apoptosis and fibrosis resolution. American Journal of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology.
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Cooley J, et al. (2022). ABT-263 (Navitoclax) Induces Fibroblast Apoptosis and Reduces Fibrosis in Two Mouse Models of Progressive Fibrotic Interstitial Lung Disease. Oral presentation, American Thoracic Society International Conference.
Professional Memberships
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American Thoracic Society (ATS)
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American College of Chest Physicians (CHEST)