ATS Breathe Easy

November is COPD Awareness Month. COPD remains a major under-recognized public health crisis, with millions affected by delayed diagnosis, stigma, and barriers to essential care. On this episode of the ATS Breathe Easy podcast, Amy Attaway, MD, Cleveland Clinic, talks with Tonya Winders, president and CEO of Global Allergy & Airways Patient Platform, about the State of COPD Report. They discuss the many causes of COPD beyond smoking, the importance of early detection and recognizing exacerbations, disparities in access to pulmonary rehabilitation, and the impact of COPD on patients and caregivers. 

With the FDA approval of brensocatib, the first approved treatment specifically for non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis, what does this breakthrough mean for patients and clinicians? In this episode of the ATS Breathe Easy podcast, host Ugo Ezema, MD, Tulane, speaks with ATS Treasurer Gregory Tino, MD, ATSF, University of Pennsylvania, about the science behind brensocatib, findings from the ASPEN clinical trial, and promising new therapies on the horizon. 

Artificial intelligence is transforming respiratory care, from detecting lung nodules to assessing cancer risk, all to help physicians make faster, more informed decisions. In this episode of the ATS Breathe Easy podcast, host Patti Tripathi speaks with James Finigan, MD, National Jewish Health, about how AI is being integrated into respiratory cancer care. He explains how AI can help with lung cancer diagnosis, the difference between assistive and augmentative AI, and what physicians need to know as these technologies become part of their clinical practice. 

Career paths are rarely straight roads, instead taking unexpected twists and turns. Past ATS President M. Patricia Rivera, MD, ATSF, tells host Ugo Ezema, Tulane, how her career shifted and changed as she grew as both a professional and a person. She also provides advice for those early and mid-career professionals who are thinking about their next moves and how to navigate challenges that may come up along the way. 

What does it take to go from your first ATS international conference to becoming ATS president? Raed Dweik, MD, MBA, ATSF, immediate past-president of the ATS, discusses his journey from an attendee in 1994 to becoming a part of the ATS community, ultimately serving as ATS President in 2024-2025. He discusses his legacy, how important the international conference is to building community, and more with host Ugo Ezema, MD, Tulane. 

Currently, there are three treatments currently available for the treatment of pulmonary hypertension, which all work to slow the rate of loss of lung function. However, the treatment landscape is likely to evolve with the positive TETON trials demonstrating that inhaled treprostinil has independent antifibrotic properties. Expert Steven Nathan, MD, Inova, looks ahead to the future of disease-modifying therapies and what these advances mean for patients and pulmonologists, with host Ugo Ezema, MD, Tulane. 

 Did you know there might be a state chapter of the ATS near you? Host Erika Moseson, MD, MA, Oregon Thoracic Society, talks with Edward Kilb, MD, ATSF, South Carolina Thoracic Society, and W. Dwight Miller, MD, MS, Florida Thoracic Society, about the vital role of ATS state chapters in education, professional development, community building, and advocacy. They discuss how local chapters connect respiratory professionals with their communities, and how clinicians can turn patient experiences and scientific knowledge into meaningful advocacy. Learn more about ATS Chapters: https://site.thoracic.org/membership/chapters

While most people are familiar with HER2 in regards to breast cancer,  there are HER2 mutations in lung cancer. On this episode of the ATS Breathe Easy podcast, host Patti Tripathi explores HER2-mutant non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), an uncommon but increasingly treatable form of lung cancer. Oncologist Christine Lovly, MD, PhD, City of Hope, explains the rapidly evolving science behind HER2 testing and targeted therapies, while patient Nicole Field shares her experience living with stage IV HER2-mutant lung cancer.For more resources, check out these organizations:LUNGevity Foundation: https://www.lungevity.org/International Cancer Advocacy Network: https://askican.org/Rexanna’s Foundation: https://rexannasfoundation.org/

The health care sector is responsible for 8.5 percent of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States and around 4.6 percent globally. This gives clinicians and healthcare delivery systems the potential power to both improve patient care through better, less polluting delivery and improve global health by mitigating climate change. Jared Radbel, MD, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Emily Brigham, MD, MHS, University of British Columbia, and host Erika Moseson, MD, MA discuss a new report by the ATS on how health care facilities and the practice of pulmonary, critical care and sleep medicine generate emissions and ways we can lessen their environmental impact.Read the full report: https://academic.oup.com/annalsats/article/23/6/837/8524737 This is part two of a two-part discussion so be sure to watch the first part. 

The health care sector is responsible for 8.5 percent of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States and around 4.6 percent globally. This gives clinicians and healthcare delivery systems the potential power to both improve patient care through better, less polluting delivery and improve global health by mitigating climate change. Jared Radbel, MD, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Emily Brigham, MD, MHS, University of British Columbia, and host Erika Moseson, MD, MA discuss a new report by the ATS on how health care facilities and the practice of pulmonary, critical care and sleep medicine generate emissions and ways we can lessen their environmental impact. Read the full report: https://academic.oup.com/annalsats/article/23/6/837/8524737 This is part one of a two-part discussion so tune in next week for the conclusion.