2010: The Year of the Lung

Hundreds of millions of people struggle each year for life and breath due to lung disease, and yet, the devastating impact of lung disease is unrecognized.

2010: The Year of the Lung aims to raise awareness about the importance of lung health, generate social and political support for preventing and treating lung disease, and increase public and private funding for lung research.

Led by the American Thoracic Society and the Forum of International Respiratory Societies, 2010: the Year of the Lung is a global effort to unite health advocates in the field behind a single purpose: to convey the urgency of the threat lung disease poses to the public’s health and galvanize support that will make a difference in hundreds of millions of lives by developing new prevention strategies and treatments.

The public awareness campaign launched officially on December 5, 2009, at the 40th Union World Conference on Lung Health, in Cancun, Mexico.

You can learn more, by visiting the 2010: The Year of the Lung Web site: http://www.yearofthelung.org/

Additional resources for learning about lung disease and efforts to meet this health challenge can also be found on the ATS Web site:

Patient Education
The ATS Patient Information Series serves as a resource for healthcare providers, patients and others with a need for accurate, user-friendly information on key topics related to lung disease.

Statements & Guidelines
To date, the ATS has published more than 100 on topics ranging from pediatric asthma screening to the diagnosis and treatment of pneumonia and control of tuberculosis.

Advocacy
Through its Government Relations office in Washington D.C., the ATS fights for improved respiratory health for patients in the U.S. and around the globe. 

ATS Public Advisory Roundtable (PAR)
PAR is the arm of the ATS that incorporates patient and family perspectives into the Society’s activities.

ATS International Activities
The ATS works to engage its members around the globe, while also forming productive partnerships with other international respiratory organizations, including those co-sponsoring “Year of the Lung.”

Educational Activities
The ATS sponsors hundreds of CME activities each year, including its annual International Conference, SOTA and MECOR courses.

ATS 2010 International Conference
The premier scientific conference in pulmonary, critical care and sleep medicine will be held in New Orleans, May 14 to 19.

ATS Assemblies
The diverse interests of members are represented by the Society’s 13 specialty-specific assemblies and three sections.

Research
The ATS Research Program supports young investigators at a crucial point in their careers.

ATS Journals
Content from the Society’s three scientific journals is available online.

ATS Thoracic Society Chapters
State and regional chapters provide a national forum in which to address issues of education, practice, research and public policy.