Dr. Paul Harch is a globally-recognised authority in hyperbaric medicine and hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT), with a distinguished career spanning clinical practice, research, and education. He is a Clinical Professor of Medicine in the Section of Emergency Medicine at Louisiana State University (LSU) School of Medicine in New Orleans and formerly directed the University Medical Center Hyperbaric Medicine Department and the LSU Hyperbaric Medicine Fellowship.
Dr. Harch graduated magna cum laude from the University of California, Irvine, and earned his Doctor of Medicine from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, where he was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa. He is trained in both emergency medicine and hyperbaric medicine.
Dr. Harch is widely regarded as the leading international expert in HBOT, particularly for neurological disorders. Since 1989, he has pioneered the adaptation of hyperbaric oxygen therapy to treat "wounds in the central nervous system," applying these concepts to a broad range of conditions including traumatic brain injury, stroke, dementia, autism, cerebral palsy, Alzheimer's disease, and more than 100 other adult and paediatric neurological diagnoses. His clinical practice is recognized as having the largest case experience in neurological hyperbaric medicine worldwide, with patients traveling from over 50 countries for his care.
Dr. Harch has developed individualised HBOT treatment protocols, now known as "Harch Protocols," which are exclusively administered at his private clinic in New Orleans. His work has led to groundbreaking clinical outcomes, such as the first HBOT-treated cases of cerebral palsy, autism, and Alzheimer's disease, as well as dramatic recoveries in cases of near-drowning and chronic brain injury.
He has played a pivotal role in advancing HBOT for U.S. servicemen with TBI and PTSD, leading to published studies and presentations before the US Congress and Department of Defense. His research includes the first animal model demonstrating improvement in chronic brain injury using HBOT, and he has contributed to the scientific understanding of HBOT as a therapy that can influence gene expression, stem cell activity, and immune modulation.
Dr. Harch is the co-author of the best-selling book The Oxygen Revolution, now in its third edition, which serves as a comprehensive guide to HBOT and its applications in treating a variety of neurological and systemic conditions. He has published extensively in scientific journals and book chapters, further establishing HBOT as a legitimate and evolving medical therapy.
At Harch Hyperbarics in New Orleans, Dr. Harch provides precision-dosed HBOT using state-of-the-art technology and individualised treatment plans. He has successfully treated a wide spectrum of conditions, from acute injuries to chronic neurological diseases, and has extended his protocols to home-based HBOT for patients unable to travel.
Dr. Harch’s work has redefined the scope of hyperbaric medicine, demonstrating its potential to heal and restore function in cases previously considered untreatable. His dedication to research, clinical excellence, and patient advocacy continues to shape the future of HBOT worldwide.
Dr. Paul Harch remains at the forefront of hyperbaric therapy, offering hope and innovative treatment options for patients with complex neurological and systemic conditions.
