Meet the Team
John T. Peters, DO, FCCP
Top Doctor – Pulmonology – SRQ Magazine (2021-2023)
Dr. Peters is a board certified pulmonologist. He was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and grew up on Clearwater Beach after moving to Florida at a young age. He attended the University of South Florida, in Tampa, Florida where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Biology and a Master of Science in Public Health with a major concentration in Epidemiology and Biostatistics. His medical education was completed at Des Moines University, Des Moines, Iowa. Postgraduate training in Internal Medicine and Pulmonary/ Critical Care Medicine was received through Seton Hall University in South Orange, New Jersey. Dr. Peters has been practicing pulmonary and critical care medicine in Manatee County for more than 20 years. He is the founder of Matrix Pulmonary. He has had the honor of serving as Chief of Staff at Manatee Memorial Hospital and Vice Chief of Staff at Blake Medical Center. He has been a proponent of community medical education and held the inaugural Program Director role for Manatee Memorial’s Internal Medicine Residency Program.
Dr. Peters introduced new medical technologies to the region, being the first to perform navigational bronchoscopy, endobronchial stenting and bedside tracheostomy. He was instrumental in the development of the community’s endobronchial ultrasonography program. Dr. Peters also performed Manatee County’s first endobronchial valve placement.
Future interests include the development of a pulmonary rehabilitation center while continuing to support community programs for patients with lung diseases.
Maryjane Liebling, DO, FCCP
Dr. Liebling hails from Toms River, New Jersey and received her Bachelor of Science from Mount St. Mary’s College, graduating magna cum laude. She attended medical school at West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine, graduating with honors. Dr. Liebling pursued a residency in Internal Medicine at UPMC Mercy Hospital in Pittsburgh, PA.
Before joining Matrix in 2014, Dr. Liebling completed a Pulmonary/Critical Care fellowship at Carilion Clinic in Roanoke, Virginia.
Dr. Liebling now serves primarily as an in-house Intensivist at Manatee Memorial Hospital, treating numerous ICU patients with respiratory failure and shock, specializing in ventilator management and critical care. Dr. Liebling often applies her ICU expertise for the hospital, assisting Internal Medicine and Family Practice physicians. She is Board Certified in Pulmonary, Internal and Critical Care Medicine. Her honors include being named Fellow of the College of Chest Physicians and Manatee Memorial’s Subspecialist Teacher of the Year (2016).
Dr. Liebling enjoys an active lifestyle as well as spending free time with family and friends.
William H. Evans, Jr., DO
Top Doctor – Pulmonology – SRQ Magazine (2020)
Dr. Evans is a Florida native. After growing up in Central Florida, he completed his undergraduate degree in Biology at Florida State University. He then attended the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine with a subsequent residency in Internal Medicine at Manatee Memorial Hospital. His specialty training in Pulmonology and Critical Care was accomplished through the University of South Florida at Tampa General Hospital, Moffitt Cancer Center and the James A. Haley VA Hospital.
Dr. Evans is Board Certified in Pulmonary Medicine and Critical Care Medicine. He has a special interest in thoracic oncology. In December 2017 he performed Manatee County’s first Endobronchial Ultrasound guided needle biopsy at Manatee Memorial Hospital. Dr. Evans also performs Electromagnetic Navigational Bronchoscopy as well as many other types of bronchoscopic procedures.
Dr. Astrid Figueroa, DO
Dr. Figueroa is a board-certified pulmonologist in Bradenton, FL. She was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico and raised in the Tampa Bay area. She received her Bachelor of Science from University of Florida. She completed her medical and Pulmonary/Critical Care fellowship at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey School of Osteopathic Medicine, now known as Rowan-SOM. She has extensive experience in pulmonary conditions.
Her hobbies include hiking, biking, running, traveling, and spending time with her family and dogs. Dr. Figueroa is affiliated with Manatee Memorial Hospital.
Dr. Figueroa is bilingual and speaks Spanish.