Richard Lawrence Antonio, MD

An Orlando native, he traveled to the Caribbean for medical school, where he attended Ross University School of Medicine, Roseau, Dominica in the West Indies. After graduating in 2009, he headed back to the states to complete his residency at University of Tennessee College of Medicine. When his residency was completed in 2014, he continued at UT for a fellowship of sleep medicine.
Dr. Antonio is proud of his Filipino heritage and enjoys working with individuals from all backgrounds and cultures.
Empowering Patients to Make Smart Choices
Educating patients is a big part of Dr. Antonio's mission as a doctor. He presents all the available options to involve them with their care plan. One thing he's careful to avoid is medical jargon.
"I think it's important to present information in plain language, so people truly understand how to take control of their health," Dr. Antonio explains. That means he'll steer clear of complex terms and detailed explanations. Instead, he's much more likely to reference an article or diet that's making the rounds on Facebook or other social media channels.
"Humor and pop culture are easy ways to connect and interact with patients" he says. "It helps break the ice and can even help people relate to conditions, treatment or, when needed, medication."
Medication is often a last resort of Dr. Antonio's treatment plan. His first plan of attack is to prevent the need for medication with a healthy lifestyle. When patients do need medication, he's committed to making sure they understand why it's needed and how important it is to follow instructions.
He sums up his patient approach with a simple statement, "I believe if you're educated about your health, you'll take better care of yourself."
A Good Night's Sleep for Better Health
Adults are encouraged to get anywhere from seven to nine hours of sleep each night. However, most people fall short of that goal. Sleep deprivation can do more than make you tired and grumpy, too. It can have a serious impact on your health. Not getting enough shut eye can lead to an increased risk for heart disease, a weakened immune system (which makes it easier to get sick), high blood pressure, memory loss and many other conditions.
Dr. Antonio uses his background in sleep medicine to make sure his patients are getting the sleep their bodies need. Sleep disturbances can be caused by environmental, emotional or physical issues. Dr. Antonio helps patients get to the root of their sleep issues - be it an unsuitable bedroom environment, stress or sleep apnea.
"Sleep apnea is a special interest of mine," he explains. "It's a condition that's very common among patients, though many people don't fully understand it. Sleep apnea goes beyond snoring to interfere with sleep and the amount of oxygen your brain gets - and needs - at night."

To provide the highest quality of care, interpreter services may be utilized to ensure proper communication of medical information for deaf, hard-of-hearing, and non-English speaking patients or family members.