Society News

Each year, CHEST recognizes members who make an impact – through dedication to the organization, by contributions to research and practice, through their commitment to educating the next generation, and so much more.

MASTER FELLOW AWARD

John E. Studdard, MD, FCCP

Masters of CHEST are national or international Fellows of CHEST who have distinguished themselves by attaining professional preeminence. Because of their personal character and leadership; extraordinary contributions to medical research, clinical practice, quality improvement, or medical education; and years of enduring and outstanding service to CHEST, they have advanced chest medicine

DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD

Victor J. Test, MD, FCCP

This award is conferred to a CHEST Fellow (FCCP) who has held a CHEST leadership position; has led significant society achievements; and/or has donated time, leadership, and service to CHEST.

COLLEGE MEDALIST AWARD

Steven D. Nathan, MBBCh, FCCP

The College Medalist Award is a long-standing CHEST tradition. This award is given for meritorious service in furthering progress in the field of diseases of the chest.


EARLY CAREER CLINICIAN EDUCATOR AWARD

Viren Kaul, MD, FCCP

The Early Career Clinician Educator Award recognizes the achievements of a clinician educator who has already made significant contributions to CHEST educational activities and is committed to continuing to grow as CHEST faculty.


MASTER CLINICIAN EDUCATOR AWARD

Christopher L. Carroll, MD, FCCP

The Master Clinician Educator Award recognizes long-term achievements of one clinician educator who has made significant contributions to CHEST activities and has demonstrated a strong commitment to medical education throughout their career.


ALFRED SOFFER AWARD FOR EDITORIAL EXCELLENCE

Laura Riordan

This award honors Alfred Soffer, MD, Master FCCP, Editor-in-Chief of the journal CHEST® from 1968 to 1993, and Executive Director of CHEST from 1969 to 1992. Recipients have made significant contributions to CHEST and are often world experts in their fields, have written numerous papers and abstracts, have served as primary investigators, and/or have served as a department editor for the journal CHEST.


PRESIDENTIAL CITATION

Scott Manaker, MD, PhD, FCCP

The Presidential Citation is awarded on behalf of the CHEST President to individuals who have shown their dedication to the chest medicine field and for their contributions to CHEST.


For a comprehensive list of Distinguished CHEST Educators, new FCCP designees, and scientific abstract award winners, visit chestnet.org/awards.

Each year, CHEST recognizes members who make an impact – through dedication to the organization, by contributions to research and practice, through their commitment to educating the next generation, and so much more.

MASTER FELLOW AWARD

John E. Studdard, MD, FCCP

Masters of CHEST are national or international Fellows of CHEST who have distinguished themselves by attaining professional preeminence. Because of their personal character and leadership; extraordinary contributions to medical research, clinical practice, quality improvement, or medical education; and years of enduring and outstanding service to CHEST, they have advanced chest medicine

DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD

Victor J. Test, MD, FCCP

This award is conferred to a CHEST Fellow (FCCP) who has held a CHEST leadership position; has led significant society achievements; and/or has donated time, leadership, and service to CHEST.

COLLEGE MEDALIST AWARD

Steven D. Nathan, MBBCh, FCCP

The College Medalist Award is a long-standing CHEST tradition. This award is given for meritorious service in furthering progress in the field of diseases of the chest.


EARLY CAREER CLINICIAN EDUCATOR AWARD

Viren Kaul, MD, FCCP

The Early Career Clinician Educator Award recognizes the achievements of a clinician educator who has already made significant contributions to CHEST educational activities and is committed to continuing to grow as CHEST faculty.


MASTER CLINICIAN EDUCATOR AWARD

Christopher L. Carroll, MD, FCCP

The Master Clinician Educator Award recognizes long-term achievements of one clinician educator who has made significant contributions to CHEST activities and has demonstrated a strong commitment to medical education throughout their career.


ALFRED SOFFER AWARD FOR EDITORIAL EXCELLENCE

Laura Riordan

This award honors Alfred Soffer, MD, Master FCCP, Editor-in-Chief of the journal CHEST® from 1968 to 1993, and Executive Director of CHEST from 1969 to 1992. Recipients have made significant contributions to CHEST and are often world experts in their fields, have written numerous papers and abstracts, have served as primary investigators, and/or have served as a department editor for the journal CHEST.


PRESIDENTIAL CITATION

Scott Manaker, MD, PhD, FCCP

The Presidential Citation is awarded on behalf of the CHEST President to individuals who have shown their dedication to the chest medicine field and for their contributions to CHEST.


For a comprehensive list of Distinguished CHEST Educators, new FCCP designees, and scientific abstract award winners, visit chestnet.org/awards.

Each year, CHEST recognizes members who make an impact – through dedication to the organization, by contributions to research and practice, through their commitment to educating the next generation, and so much more.

MASTER FELLOW AWARD

John E. Studdard, MD, FCCP

Masters of CHEST are national or international Fellows of CHEST who have distinguished themselves by attaining professional preeminence. Because of their personal character and leadership; extraordinary contributions to medical research, clinical practice, quality improvement, or medical education; and years of enduring and outstanding service to CHEST, they have advanced chest medicine

DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD

Victor J. Test, MD, FCCP

This award is conferred to a CHEST Fellow (FCCP) who has held a CHEST leadership position; has led significant society achievements; and/or has donated time, leadership, and service to CHEST.

COLLEGE MEDALIST AWARD

Steven D. Nathan, MBBCh, FCCP

The College Medalist Award is a long-standing CHEST tradition. This award is given for meritorious service in furthering progress in the field of diseases of the chest.


EARLY CAREER CLINICIAN EDUCATOR AWARD

Viren Kaul, MD, FCCP

The Early Career Clinician Educator Award recognizes the achievements of a clinician educator who has already made significant contributions to CHEST educational activities and is committed to continuing to grow as CHEST faculty.


MASTER CLINICIAN EDUCATOR AWARD

Christopher L. Carroll, MD, FCCP

The Master Clinician Educator Award recognizes long-term achievements of one clinician educator who has made significant contributions to CHEST activities and has demonstrated a strong commitment to medical education throughout their career.


ALFRED SOFFER AWARD FOR EDITORIAL EXCELLENCE

Laura Riordan

This award honors Alfred Soffer, MD, Master FCCP, Editor-in-Chief of the journal CHEST® from 1968 to 1993, and Executive Director of CHEST from 1969 to 1992. Recipients have made significant contributions to CHEST and are often world experts in their fields, have written numerous papers and abstracts, have served as primary investigators, and/or have served as a department editor for the journal CHEST.


PRESIDENTIAL CITATION

Scott Manaker, MD, PhD, FCCP

The Presidential Citation is awarded on behalf of the CHEST President to individuals who have shown their dedication to the chest medicine field and for their contributions to CHEST.


For a comprehensive list of Distinguished CHEST Educators, new FCCP designees, and scientific abstract award winners, visit chestnet.org/awards.

As a part of AGA’s ongoing goal to support women in GI and advance gender equity in gastroenterology, we hosted nearly 60 women executives in GI for the inaugural Women’s Executive Leadership Conference held recently in Denver.

The two-day conference brought together leaders from different practice settings – academia, hospital systems, and private practice – for seminars on strengthening leadership skills and career progression, along with opportunities for networking and socializing with other women in the AGA Gastro Squad.

AGA

Women on the AGA governing board, including Kim E. Barrett, PhD, AGAF and Sheryl Pfeil, MD, AGAF, led sessions on how to best communicate as a leader and pathways to society leadership. In addition, other leaders such as Aja McCutchen, MD and Gyongyi Szabo, MD, PhD, shared their best practices for leadership and managing others.

Thank you to Fasiha Kanwal, MD, MSHS, and Aimee Lucas, MD, MS, cochairs of the AGA Women’s Executive Leadership Conference, for leading the weekend, and to everyone who contributed to a productive weekend. Stay tuned for more opportunities to engage with the AGA Gastro Squad.

As a part of AGA’s ongoing goal to support women in GI and advance gender equity in gastroenterology, we hosted nearly 60 women executives in GI for the inaugural Women’s Executive Leadership Conference held recently in Denver.

The two-day conference brought together leaders from different practice settings – academia, hospital systems, and private practice – for seminars on strengthening leadership skills and career progression, along with opportunities for networking and socializing with other women in the AGA Gastro Squad.

AGA

Women on the AGA governing board, including Kim E. Barrett, PhD, AGAF and Sheryl Pfeil, MD, AGAF, led sessions on how to best communicate as a leader and pathways to society leadership. In addition, other leaders such as Aja McCutchen, MD and Gyongyi Szabo, MD, PhD, shared their best practices for leadership and managing others.

Thank you to Fasiha Kanwal, MD, MSHS, and Aimee Lucas, MD, MS, cochairs of the AGA Women’s Executive Leadership Conference, for leading the weekend, and to everyone who contributed to a productive weekend. Stay tuned for more opportunities to engage with the AGA Gastro Squad.

As a part of AGA’s ongoing goal to support women in GI and advance gender equity in gastroenterology, we hosted nearly 60 women executives in GI for the inaugural Women’s Executive Leadership Conference held recently in Denver.

The two-day conference brought together leaders from different practice settings – academia, hospital systems, and private practice – for seminars on strengthening leadership skills and career progression, along with opportunities for networking and socializing with other women in the AGA Gastro Squad.

AGA

Women on the AGA governing board, including Kim E. Barrett, PhD, AGAF and Sheryl Pfeil, MD, AGAF, led sessions on how to best communicate as a leader and pathways to society leadership. In addition, other leaders such as Aja McCutchen, MD and Gyongyi Szabo, MD, PhD, shared their best practices for leadership and managing others.

Thank you to Fasiha Kanwal, MD, MSHS, and Aimee Lucas, MD, MS, cochairs of the AGA Women’s Executive Leadership Conference, for leading the weekend, and to everyone who contributed to a productive weekend. Stay tuned for more opportunities to engage with the AGA Gastro Squad.

As a member of the AGA, you understand the physical, emotional, and financial costs of digestive diseases. And you understand the tremendous value of research to advance patient care.

We are in a time of major scientific breakthroughs; however, there is a growing gap in federal funding for research. Without gastroenterology and hepatology research, there would be no discoveries to develop new diagnostic and therapeutic approaches and to improve our understanding of the pathogenesis of digestive diseases.

The AGA Research Foundation funds promising GI investigators who don’t receive funding at crucial times in their early careers. The research of these talented individuals, while important to the field, could end prematurely if they are left unfunded. That’s something the fields of gastroenterology and hepatology can’t afford, and that’s why, as an AGA member, I’m making a year-end donation to the AGA Research Foundation. You can help fill the funding gap and protect the next generation of investigators by joining me in supporting the AGA Research Foundation through a personal year-end gift.

Gifts to the AGA Research Foundation this past year directly supported 71 investigators. Despite this success, close to 245 other promising research proposals were not funded.

We must continue to foster the careers of talented scientists and clinicians, and protect the GI research pipeline. A financial contribution to the AGA Research Foundation is the opportunity for you to help foster the careers of talented scientists and protect the GI research pipeline.

Help make a difference. You can make your tax-deductible donation online at www.gastro.org/donateonline; by phone at 301-222-4002; or, by mail:

AGA Research Foundation
4930 Del Ray Avenue
Bethesda, MD 20814

All gifts are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of U.S. law.

Thank you for your support and best wishes for a happy, healthy holiday season and prosperous New Year.

As a member of the AGA, you understand the physical, emotional, and financial costs of digestive diseases. And you understand the tremendous value of research to advance patient care.

We are in a time of major scientific breakthroughs; however, there is a growing gap in federal funding for research. Without gastroenterology and hepatology research, there would be no discoveries to develop new diagnostic and therapeutic approaches and to improve our understanding of the pathogenesis of digestive diseases.

The AGA Research Foundation funds promising GI investigators who don’t receive funding at crucial times in their early careers. The research of these talented individuals, while important to the field, could end prematurely if they are left unfunded. That’s something the fields of gastroenterology and hepatology can’t afford, and that’s why, as an AGA member, I’m making a year-end donation to the AGA Research Foundation. You can help fill the funding gap and protect the next generation of investigators by joining me in supporting the AGA Research Foundation through a personal year-end gift.

Gifts to the AGA Research Foundation this past year directly supported 71 investigators. Despite this success, close to 245 other promising research proposals were not funded.

We must continue to foster the careers of talented scientists and clinicians, and protect the GI research pipeline. A financial contribution to the AGA Research Foundation is the opportunity for you to help foster the careers of talented scientists and protect the GI research pipeline.

Help make a difference. You can make your tax-deductible donation online at www.gastro.org/donateonline; by phone at 301-222-4002; or, by mail:

AGA Research Foundation
4930 Del Ray Avenue
Bethesda, MD 20814

All gifts are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of U.S. law.

Thank you for your support and best wishes for a happy, healthy holiday season and prosperous New Year.

As a member of the AGA, you understand the physical, emotional, and financial costs of digestive diseases. And you understand the tremendous value of research to advance patient care.

We are in a time of major scientific breakthroughs; however, there is a growing gap in federal funding for research. Without gastroenterology and hepatology research, there would be no discoveries to develop new diagnostic and therapeutic approaches and to improve our understanding of the pathogenesis of digestive diseases.

The AGA Research Foundation funds promising GI investigators who don’t receive funding at crucial times in their early careers. The research of these talented individuals, while important to the field, could end prematurely if they are left unfunded. That’s something the fields of gastroenterology and hepatology can’t afford, and that’s why, as an AGA member, I’m making a year-end donation to the AGA Research Foundation. You can help fill the funding gap and protect the next generation of investigators by joining me in supporting the AGA Research Foundation through a personal year-end gift.

Gifts to the AGA Research Foundation this past year directly supported 71 investigators. Despite this success, close to 245 other promising research proposals were not funded.

We must continue to foster the careers of talented scientists and clinicians, and protect the GI research pipeline. A financial contribution to the AGA Research Foundation is the opportunity for you to help foster the careers of talented scientists and protect the GI research pipeline.

Help make a difference. You can make your tax-deductible donation online at www.gastro.org/donateonline; by phone at 301-222-4002; or, by mail:

AGA Research Foundation
4930 Del Ray Avenue
Bethesda, MD 20814

All gifts are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of U.S. law.

Thank you for your support and best wishes for a happy, healthy holiday season and prosperous New Year.

As we find ourselves in November, on the heels of yet another exceptional CHEST Annual Meeting, I cannot help but use my last column as CHEST President to reflect on a year well spent.

For the first time since CHEST 2011, when I was the Scientific Program Committee Vice Chair, I was able to return to beautiful Hawaiʻi as the organization’s President, which was such a big coincidence that it felt almost like fate.

During my time on stage at the CHEST 2023 Opening Session, I reflected on the last (at the time) 9 months and shared how truly humbled I have been to lead such a group of leaders and doers. I’m continually amazed at the energy of our members and our staff. In my 25 years as a member, I thought I knew all that CHEST did, but there is so much more happening than any one person realizes. From creating and implementing patient care initiatives to drafting and endorsing statements advocating for better access to health care, there is a tremendous amount accomplished by this organization every year.
 

One notable accomplishment of this particular year is that not only was CHEST 2023 our largest meeting ever, but I’m proud to share that we also had more medical students, residents, and fellows than any other year, with over 2,000 attendees in-training.

This is a great reflection of the work we’ve been doing to expand the CHEST community – both to physicians earlier in their careers and also to the whole care team. We are putting a dedicated focus toward welcoming and creating a sense of belonging for every clinician. The first step toward this inclusion is the creation of the new CHEST interest groups – Respiratory Care, which is dedicated to the field, and Women in Chest Medicine, which is a more inclusive evolution of the previous Women & Pulmonary group.

This year, we also established CHEST organizational values. The result of a tremendous effort from an advisory committee, CHEST leaders, members, and staff, these values – Community, Inclusivity, Innovation, Advocacy, and Integrity – are reflective of the CHEST organization and will guide decisions for years to come.

They also serve to elevate the work we are doing in social responsibility and health equity, within both of which we’ve made great strides. CHEST philanthropy evolved from what was known as the CHEST Foundation, with a new strategic focus, and we continue working to create opportunities to expand diversity within health care, including the new CHEST mentor/mentee sponsorship fellowship in partnership with the Association of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine Program Directors.

Though I could go on for eternity describing all we did at CHEST this year, the reality is that at the end of the next month, as we ring in the new year, I will cede the presidency to the incredibly accomplished and capable Jack Buckley, MD, MPH, FCCP, who will take the reins of our great organization.

For now, in my parting words to you, I encourage everyone to stay in touch. I am always reachable by email and would love to hear your thoughts on CHEST – reflections on this past year, ideas about where we’re going, and suggestions for what we’re missing. The role of the President (and, to some extent, the Immediate Past President) is to be a steward of the needs of the CHEST members, and it’s been a true honor being your 2023 CHEST President.

As we find ourselves in November, on the heels of yet another exceptional CHEST Annual Meeting, I cannot help but use my last column as CHEST President to reflect on a year well spent.

For the first time since CHEST 2011, when I was the Scientific Program Committee Vice Chair, I was able to return to beautiful Hawaiʻi as the organization’s President, which was such a big coincidence that it felt almost like fate.

During my time on stage at the CHEST 2023 Opening Session, I reflected on the last (at the time) 9 months and shared how truly humbled I have been to lead such a group of leaders and doers. I’m continually amazed at the energy of our members and our staff. In my 25 years as a member, I thought I knew all that CHEST did, but there is so much more happening than any one person realizes. From creating and implementing patient care initiatives to drafting and endorsing statements advocating for better access to health care, there is a tremendous amount accomplished by this organization every year.
 

One notable accomplishment of this particular year is that not only was CHEST 2023 our largest meeting ever, but I’m proud to share that we also had more medical students, residents, and fellows than any other year, with over 2,000 attendees in-training.

This is a great reflection of the work we’ve been doing to expand the CHEST community – both to physicians earlier in their careers and also to the whole care team. We are putting a dedicated focus toward welcoming and creating a sense of belonging for every clinician. The first step toward this inclusion is the creation of the new CHEST interest groups – Respiratory Care, which is dedicated to the field, and Women in Chest Medicine, which is a more inclusive evolution of the previous Women & Pulmonary group.

This year, we also established CHEST organizational values. The result of a tremendous effort from an advisory committee, CHEST leaders, members, and staff, these values – Community, Inclusivity, Innovation, Advocacy, and Integrity – are reflective of the CHEST organization and will guide decisions for years to come.

They also serve to elevate the work we are doing in social responsibility and health equity, within both of which we’ve made great strides. CHEST philanthropy evolved from what was known as the CHEST Foundation, with a new strategic focus, and we continue working to create opportunities to expand diversity within health care, including the new CHEST mentor/mentee sponsorship fellowship in partnership with the Association of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine Program Directors.

Though I could go on for eternity describing all we did at CHEST this year, the reality is that at the end of the next month, as we ring in the new year, I will cede the presidency to the incredibly accomplished and capable Jack Buckley, MD, MPH, FCCP, who will take the reins of our great organization.

For now, in my parting words to you, I encourage everyone to stay in touch. I am always reachable by email and would love to hear your thoughts on CHEST – reflections on this past year, ideas about where we’re going, and suggestions for what we’re missing. The role of the President (and, to some extent, the Immediate Past President) is to be a steward of the needs of the CHEST members, and it’s been a true honor being your 2023 CHEST President.

As we find ourselves in November, on the heels of yet another exceptional CHEST Annual Meeting, I cannot help but use my last column as CHEST President to reflect on a year well spent.

For the first time since CHEST 2011, when I was the Scientific Program Committee Vice Chair, I was able to return to beautiful Hawaiʻi as the organization’s President, which was such a big coincidence that it felt almost like fate.

During my time on stage at the CHEST 2023 Opening Session, I reflected on the last (at the time) 9 months and shared how truly humbled I have been to lead such a group of leaders and doers. I’m continually amazed at the energy of our members and our staff. In my 25 years as a member, I thought I knew all that CHEST did, but there is so much more happening than any one person realizes. From creating and implementing patient care initiatives to drafting and endorsing statements advocating for better access to health care, there is a tremendous amount accomplished by this organization every year.
 

One notable accomplishment of this particular year is that not only was CHEST 2023 our largest meeting ever, but I’m proud to share that we also had more medical students, residents, and fellows than any other year, with over 2,000 attendees in-training.

This is a great reflection of the work we’ve been doing to expand the CHEST community – both to physicians earlier in their careers and also to the whole care team. We are putting a dedicated focus toward welcoming and creating a sense of belonging for every clinician. The first step toward this inclusion is the creation of the new CHEST interest groups – Respiratory Care, which is dedicated to the field, and Women in Chest Medicine, which is a more inclusive evolution of the previous Women & Pulmonary group.

This year, we also established CHEST organizational values. The result of a tremendous effort from an advisory committee, CHEST leaders, members, and staff, these values – Community, Inclusivity, Innovation, Advocacy, and Integrity – are reflective of the CHEST organization and will guide decisions for years to come.

They also serve to elevate the work we are doing in social responsibility and health equity, within both of which we’ve made great strides. CHEST philanthropy evolved from what was known as the CHEST Foundation, with a new strategic focus, and we continue working to create opportunities to expand diversity within health care, including the new CHEST mentor/mentee sponsorship fellowship in partnership with the Association of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine Program Directors.

Though I could go on for eternity describing all we did at CHEST this year, the reality is that at the end of the next month, as we ring in the new year, I will cede the presidency to the incredibly accomplished and capable Jack Buckley, MD, MPH, FCCP, who will take the reins of our great organization.

For now, in my parting words to you, I encourage everyone to stay in touch. I am always reachable by email and would love to hear your thoughts on CHEST – reflections on this past year, ideas about where we’re going, and suggestions for what we’re missing. The role of the President (and, to some extent, the Immediate Past President) is to be a steward of the needs of the CHEST members, and it’s been a true honor being your 2023 CHEST President.

Are you a gastroenterology fellow settling into a new role and wondering what else you can do to make the most of your fellowship experience? The AGA Gastro Squad is excited you’re here and we’re here to help.

AGA has resources and programs specifically for fellows. Whether you’re embarking on your first year or your last one, these tools can be used at any point to help you during your training.

Start here:

Review and bookmark these guides to make the most out of fellowship.

10 tips for new GI fellows

First year fellows guide
 

Small talk, big topics

A podcast for trainees and early career GIs from fellow early career GIs. Join our hosts for conversations with leaders in gastroenterology. They offer guidance for training and dissect the changing landscape of GI and what it means for you. Check out recent episodes and download and subscribe wherever podcasts are available.

AGA university

Get your clinical questions answered or take a deeper dive into different topic areas with AGA University. Courses include Gastro Bites sessions about topics such as examining new guideline recommendations for managing chronic idiopathic constipation in adults. CME is available. Access AGA University here.

AGA young delegates program

Get plugged in with your fellow engaged early career GIs and learn about volunteer opportunities to represent AGA. The only criteria to participate is to be an AGA member. Join now.

Get more advice

Interested in receiving additional career guidance or professional development opportunities? Connect with the AGA Gastro Squad at @AmerGastroAssn on X and on Instagram.

Are you a gastroenterology fellow settling into a new role and wondering what else you can do to make the most of your fellowship experience? The AGA Gastro Squad is excited you’re here and we’re here to help.

AGA has resources and programs specifically for fellows. Whether you’re embarking on your first year or your last one, these tools can be used at any point to help you during your training.

Start here:

Review and bookmark these guides to make the most out of fellowship.

10 tips for new GI fellows

First year fellows guide
 

Small talk, big topics

A podcast for trainees and early career GIs from fellow early career GIs. Join our hosts for conversations with leaders in gastroenterology. They offer guidance for training and dissect the changing landscape of GI and what it means for you. Check out recent episodes and download and subscribe wherever podcasts are available.

AGA university

Get your clinical questions answered or take a deeper dive into different topic areas with AGA University. Courses include Gastro Bites sessions about topics such as examining new guideline recommendations for managing chronic idiopathic constipation in adults. CME is available. Access AGA University here.

AGA young delegates program

Get plugged in with your fellow engaged early career GIs and learn about volunteer opportunities to represent AGA. The only criteria to participate is to be an AGA member. Join now.

Get more advice

Interested in receiving additional career guidance or professional development opportunities? Connect with the AGA Gastro Squad at @AmerGastroAssn on X and on Instagram.

Are you a gastroenterology fellow settling into a new role and wondering what else you can do to make the most of your fellowship experience? The AGA Gastro Squad is excited you’re here and we’re here to help.

AGA has resources and programs specifically for fellows. Whether you’re embarking on your first year or your last one, these tools can be used at any point to help you during your training.

Start here:

Review and bookmark these guides to make the most out of fellowship.

10 tips for new GI fellows

First year fellows guide
 

Small talk, big topics

A podcast for trainees and early career GIs from fellow early career GIs. Join our hosts for conversations with leaders in gastroenterology. They offer guidance for training and dissect the changing landscape of GI and what it means for you. Check out recent episodes and download and subscribe wherever podcasts are available.

AGA university

Get your clinical questions answered or take a deeper dive into different topic areas with AGA University. Courses include Gastro Bites sessions about topics such as examining new guideline recommendations for managing chronic idiopathic constipation in adults. CME is available. Access AGA University here.

AGA young delegates program

Get plugged in with your fellow engaged early career GIs and learn about volunteer opportunities to represent AGA. The only criteria to participate is to be an AGA member. Join now.

Get more advice

Interested in receiving additional career guidance or professional development opportunities? Connect with the AGA Gastro Squad at @AmerGastroAssn on X and on Instagram.

The Fostering Opportunities Resulting in Workforce and Research Diversity (FORWARD) Program is now accepting applications for its 2023-2025 cohort. The FORWARD program supports and facilitates a unique pathway for physician-scientists from underrepresented populations to advance their careers and make a meaningful impact as leaders within AGA and in academic medicine. Here’s how the AGA FORWARD program creates a supportive environment that fosters career advancement, leadership development and a growing community:

• Learn important skills critical for a successful research career, expert grant writing training and coaching from esteemed GI mentors.
• Connect with a community of GI leaders through one-on-one mentorship and near-peer mentors in medicine from underrepresented populations.
• Develop leadership skills vital to directing your lab, your institution, the field, and AGA, partnering with an executive coach to assess, identify and work on key strengths and areas of improvement.

Embark on a transformative journey toward a successful and fulfilling career in academic medicine.

Apply today.

The Fostering Opportunities Resulting in Workforce and Research Diversity (FORWARD) Program is now accepting applications for its 2023-2025 cohort. The FORWARD program supports and facilitates a unique pathway for physician-scientists from underrepresented populations to advance their careers and make a meaningful impact as leaders within AGA and in academic medicine. Here’s how the AGA FORWARD program creates a supportive environment that fosters career advancement, leadership development and a growing community:

• Learn important skills critical for a successful research career, expert grant writing training and coaching from esteemed GI mentors.
• Connect with a community of GI leaders through one-on-one mentorship and near-peer mentors in medicine from underrepresented populations.
• Develop leadership skills vital to directing your lab, your institution, the field, and AGA, partnering with an executive coach to assess, identify and work on key strengths and areas of improvement.

Embark on a transformative journey toward a successful and fulfilling career in academic medicine.

Apply today.

The Fostering Opportunities Resulting in Workforce and Research Diversity (FORWARD) Program is now accepting applications for its 2023-2025 cohort. The FORWARD program supports and facilitates a unique pathway for physician-scientists from underrepresented populations to advance their careers and make a meaningful impact as leaders within AGA and in academic medicine. Here’s how the AGA FORWARD program creates a supportive environment that fosters career advancement, leadership development and a growing community:

• Learn important skills critical for a successful research career, expert grant writing training and coaching from esteemed GI mentors.
• Connect with a community of GI leaders through one-on-one mentorship and near-peer mentors in medicine from underrepresented populations.
• Develop leadership skills vital to directing your lab, your institution, the field, and AGA, partnering with an executive coach to assess, identify and work on key strengths and areas of improvement.

Embark on a transformative journey toward a successful and fulfilling career in academic medicine.

Apply today.

The suggested Medicare Physician Fee Schedule for calendar year (CY) 2024 was announced by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) in July 2023. Physicians who specialize in pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine will be impacted by a number of policy and payment changes. Additionally, keep in mind that this is the proposed rule. Following are some of the key points for our readers:

1. The conversion factor that CMS is suggesting for 2024 is $32.75, which represents a $1.14 (–3.34%) reduction. The current conversion factor is $33.89. This is specifically meant to lower total Medicare spending.

2. It is forecast that pulmonary specialists will experience an estimated 1.09% reduction in Medicare reimbursements if the proposed changes are approved. Medicare reimbursements for critical care specialists will be reduced by 2.51%, and sleep medicine specialists will be seeing a 0.75% increase.

3. Interestingly, CMS is proposing a Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) code G2211 that will have a distinct add-on payment starting on January 1, 2024. With the help of this add-on code, the resource costs of evaluation and management visits for primary care and long-term treatment of difficult patients will be more accurately recognized. In general, it will be used as an additional payment for outpatient office visits in recognition of the potential expenditures that doctors may face when treating a patient’s single, significant, or complex chronic condition over time. Payment for this add-on code would have a redistributive impact on all other CY 2024 payments, which are still lower than what was previously predicted for this policy in CY 2021 under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, which was not implemented at the request of various surgical specialties.

4. As you all are aware, split (or shared) E/M visits in hospitals and other institutional settings are those that are provided in part by doctors and in part by other practitioners of the same specialty but billed under a single provider. Thankfully CMS is recommending delaying the application of the “substantive portion” definition of more than 50% of the total period to at least December 31, 2024. Instead, they are going to keep the present definition of the “substantive portion” for CY 2024, which permits use of either more than half of the visit’s total time or one of the three major components (history, exam, or MDM) to determine who bills the visit. Please remember that Critical Care services (99291/99292) may also be shared or split; however, in this case, billing is based only on time.

5. According to CMS’s current regulatory stance, teaching physicians have to be physically present to charge for services involving residents at the end of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency. Congress, on the other hand, stepped in and passed legislation to expand Medicare coverage of a number of telehealth services. In accordance with the expanded telehealth policies adopted by Congress, CMS is recommending that teaching physicians be permitted to employ audio/video real-time communications technology when the resident physician provides telehealth services to Medicare beneficiaries for CY 2024.

The CMS’s document is fairly comprehensive, so please visit this link for more information

The suggested Medicare Physician Fee Schedule for calendar year (CY) 2024 was announced by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) in July 2023. Physicians who specialize in pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine will be impacted by a number of policy and payment changes. Additionally, keep in mind that this is the proposed rule. Following are some of the key points for our readers:

1. The conversion factor that CMS is suggesting for 2024 is $32.75, which represents a $1.14 (–3.34%) reduction. The current conversion factor is $33.89. This is specifically meant to lower total Medicare spending.

2. It is forecast that pulmonary specialists will experience an estimated 1.09% reduction in Medicare reimbursements if the proposed changes are approved. Medicare reimbursements for critical care specialists will be reduced by 2.51%, and sleep medicine specialists will be seeing a 0.75% increase.

3. Interestingly, CMS is proposing a Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) code G2211 that will have a distinct add-on payment starting on January 1, 2024. With the help of this add-on code, the resource costs of evaluation and management visits for primary care and long-term treatment of difficult patients will be more accurately recognized. In general, it will be used as an additional payment for outpatient office visits in recognition of the potential expenditures that doctors may face when treating a patient’s single, significant, or complex chronic condition over time. Payment for this add-on code would have a redistributive impact on all other CY 2024 payments, which are still lower than what was previously predicted for this policy in CY 2021 under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, which was not implemented at the request of various surgical specialties.

4. As you all are aware, split (or shared) E/M visits in hospitals and other institutional settings are those that are provided in part by doctors and in part by other practitioners of the same specialty but billed under a single provider. Thankfully CMS is recommending delaying the application of the “substantive portion” definition of more than 50% of the total period to at least December 31, 2024. Instead, they are going to keep the present definition of the “substantive portion” for CY 2024, which permits use of either more than half of the visit’s total time or one of the three major components (history, exam, or MDM) to determine who bills the visit. Please remember that Critical Care services (99291/99292) may also be shared or split; however, in this case, billing is based only on time.

5. According to CMS’s current regulatory stance, teaching physicians have to be physically present to charge for services involving residents at the end of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency. Congress, on the other hand, stepped in and passed legislation to expand Medicare coverage of a number of telehealth services. In accordance with the expanded telehealth policies adopted by Congress, CMS is recommending that teaching physicians be permitted to employ audio/video real-time communications technology when the resident physician provides telehealth services to Medicare beneficiaries for CY 2024.

The CMS’s document is fairly comprehensive, so please visit this link for more information

The suggested Medicare Physician Fee Schedule for calendar year (CY) 2024 was announced by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) in July 2023. Physicians who specialize in pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine will be impacted by a number of policy and payment changes. Additionally, keep in mind that this is the proposed rule. Following are some of the key points for our readers:

1. The conversion factor that CMS is suggesting for 2024 is $32.75, which represents a $1.14 (–3.34%) reduction. The current conversion factor is $33.89. This is specifically meant to lower total Medicare spending.

2. It is forecast that pulmonary specialists will experience an estimated 1.09% reduction in Medicare reimbursements if the proposed changes are approved. Medicare reimbursements for critical care specialists will be reduced by 2.51%, and sleep medicine specialists will be seeing a 0.75% increase.

3. Interestingly, CMS is proposing a Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) code G2211 that will have a distinct add-on payment starting on January 1, 2024. With the help of this add-on code, the resource costs of evaluation and management visits for primary care and long-term treatment of difficult patients will be more accurately recognized. In general, it will be used as an additional payment for outpatient office visits in recognition of the potential expenditures that doctors may face when treating a patient’s single, significant, or complex chronic condition over time. Payment for this add-on code would have a redistributive impact on all other CY 2024 payments, which are still lower than what was previously predicted for this policy in CY 2021 under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, which was not implemented at the request of various surgical specialties.

4. As you all are aware, split (or shared) E/M visits in hospitals and other institutional settings are those that are provided in part by doctors and in part by other practitioners of the same specialty but billed under a single provider. Thankfully CMS is recommending delaying the application of the “substantive portion” definition of more than 50% of the total period to at least December 31, 2024. Instead, they are going to keep the present definition of the “substantive portion” for CY 2024, which permits use of either more than half of the visit’s total time or one of the three major components (history, exam, or MDM) to determine who bills the visit. Please remember that Critical Care services (99291/99292) may also be shared or split; however, in this case, billing is based only on time.

5. According to CMS’s current regulatory stance, teaching physicians have to be physically present to charge for services involving residents at the end of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency. Congress, on the other hand, stepped in and passed legislation to expand Medicare coverage of a number of telehealth services. In accordance with the expanded telehealth policies adopted by Congress, CMS is recommending that teaching physicians be permitted to employ audio/video real-time communications technology when the resident physician provides telehealth services to Medicare beneficiaries for CY 2024.

The CMS’s document is fairly comprehensive, so please visit this link for more information

Earlier this year, CHEST released new clinical resources on sepsis and antibiotic stewardship developed by the Sepsis Resources Steering Committee with grant support from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The resources – including infographics, videos, podcasts, and research commentaries – aim to help clinicians increase their knowledge of sepsis prevention and treatment, especially when considering the use of antibiotics.

According to CHEST Past President, Steven Q. Simpson, MD, FCCP, who serves as Chair of the Sepsis Resources Steering Committee, sepsis is the number one cause of death in U.S. hospitals . It’s also the most expensive condition treated in those hospitals.

“Perhaps the single most important tool we have to fight sepsis is our array of antimicrobial therapies, including antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral agents,” Dr. Simpson said. “It is vital that we use the antibiotics we have wisely and preserve them for future use.”

He pointed to the apparent tension between the need to administer broad-spectrum antimicrobials quickly to patients with sepsis and the need to limit the use of broad-spectrum agents as much as possible. But these concepts aren’t at odds with each another, he said. They’re allies in the sepsis war.

CHEST’s new resources can help clinicians practice good antimicrobial stewardship as they balance these needs. Included in the collection is a two-part video discussion exploring conservative and aggressive approaches to antibiotic use in suspected sepsis. A series of podcasts delves into complex sepsis cases, and easy-reference infographics outline key components of an antimicrobial stewardship program, rapid diagnostics for infectious diseases in the ICU, and sepsis mimics.

Steering committee members were chosen from CHEST’s membership for their clinical expertise in sepsis, infectious diseases, and antimicrobial stewardship. The committee selected topics based on current practice and knowledge gaps where education is most needed.

Working with the CDC increases CHEST’s impact in this area. Much of the care of patients with sepsis happens before they reach the ICU. The CDC’s broad reach with general and specialty medical audiences allows CHEST to share these resources with a wide array of clinicians who practice inside and outside of the ICU.

“Cooperation with the CDC gives us an opportunity to spread CHEST’s knowledge and expertise to a much broader audience, making the CDC a powerful partner and allowing us to serve the nation and beyond in a way that we cannot do by ourselves,” Dr. Simpson said.

Access the full collection of sepsis resources at chestnet.org/topic-collections/sepsis.

Earlier this year, CHEST released new clinical resources on sepsis and antibiotic stewardship developed by the Sepsis Resources Steering Committee with grant support from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The resources – including infographics, videos, podcasts, and research commentaries – aim to help clinicians increase their knowledge of sepsis prevention and treatment, especially when considering the use of antibiotics.

According to CHEST Past President, Steven Q. Simpson, MD, FCCP, who serves as Chair of the Sepsis Resources Steering Committee, sepsis is the number one cause of death in U.S. hospitals . It’s also the most expensive condition treated in those hospitals.

“Perhaps the single most important tool we have to fight sepsis is our array of antimicrobial therapies, including antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral agents,” Dr. Simpson said. “It is vital that we use the antibiotics we have wisely and preserve them for future use.”

He pointed to the apparent tension between the need to administer broad-spectrum antimicrobials quickly to patients with sepsis and the need to limit the use of broad-spectrum agents as much as possible. But these concepts aren’t at odds with each another, he said. They’re allies in the sepsis war.

CHEST’s new resources can help clinicians practice good antimicrobial stewardship as they balance these needs. Included in the collection is a two-part video discussion exploring conservative and aggressive approaches to antibiotic use in suspected sepsis. A series of podcasts delves into complex sepsis cases, and easy-reference infographics outline key components of an antimicrobial stewardship program, rapid diagnostics for infectious diseases in the ICU, and sepsis mimics.

Steering committee members were chosen from CHEST’s membership for their clinical expertise in sepsis, infectious diseases, and antimicrobial stewardship. The committee selected topics based on current practice and knowledge gaps where education is most needed.

Working with the CDC increases CHEST’s impact in this area. Much of the care of patients with sepsis happens before they reach the ICU. The CDC’s broad reach with general and specialty medical audiences allows CHEST to share these resources with a wide array of clinicians who practice inside and outside of the ICU.

“Cooperation with the CDC gives us an opportunity to spread CHEST’s knowledge and expertise to a much broader audience, making the CDC a powerful partner and allowing us to serve the nation and beyond in a way that we cannot do by ourselves,” Dr. Simpson said.

Access the full collection of sepsis resources at chestnet.org/topic-collections/sepsis.

Earlier this year, CHEST released new clinical resources on sepsis and antibiotic stewardship developed by the Sepsis Resources Steering Committee with grant support from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The resources – including infographics, videos, podcasts, and research commentaries – aim to help clinicians increase their knowledge of sepsis prevention and treatment, especially when considering the use of antibiotics.

According to CHEST Past President, Steven Q. Simpson, MD, FCCP, who serves as Chair of the Sepsis Resources Steering Committee, sepsis is the number one cause of death in U.S. hospitals . It’s also the most expensive condition treated in those hospitals.

“Perhaps the single most important tool we have to fight sepsis is our array of antimicrobial therapies, including antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral agents,” Dr. Simpson said. “It is vital that we use the antibiotics we have wisely and preserve them for future use.”

He pointed to the apparent tension between the need to administer broad-spectrum antimicrobials quickly to patients with sepsis and the need to limit the use of broad-spectrum agents as much as possible. But these concepts aren’t at odds with each another, he said. They’re allies in the sepsis war.

CHEST’s new resources can help clinicians practice good antimicrobial stewardship as they balance these needs. Included in the collection is a two-part video discussion exploring conservative and aggressive approaches to antibiotic use in suspected sepsis. A series of podcasts delves into complex sepsis cases, and easy-reference infographics outline key components of an antimicrobial stewardship program, rapid diagnostics for infectious diseases in the ICU, and sepsis mimics.

Steering committee members were chosen from CHEST’s membership for their clinical expertise in sepsis, infectious diseases, and antimicrobial stewardship. The committee selected topics based on current practice and knowledge gaps where education is most needed.

Working with the CDC increases CHEST’s impact in this area. Much of the care of patients with sepsis happens before they reach the ICU. The CDC’s broad reach with general and specialty medical audiences allows CHEST to share these resources with a wide array of clinicians who practice inside and outside of the ICU.

“Cooperation with the CDC gives us an opportunity to spread CHEST’s knowledge and expertise to a much broader audience, making the CDC a powerful partner and allowing us to serve the nation and beyond in a way that we cannot do by ourselves,” Dr. Simpson said.

Access the full collection of sepsis resources at chestnet.org/topic-collections/sepsis.

In an ideal world, change would be progressive, the direction would be clear, and adoption would be easy. We learned in these past few years that sometimes change cannot wait. The vulnerabilities of the health care system were laid bare by the pandemic, including vast disparities in treatment and the urgent need to grow our profession.

In the light of these truths, CHEST looked within and asked a difficult question: Are we doing everything we can? This question probably sounds very familiar – one you ask every day, one you know the importance of asking. It was time we asked it of ourselves.

Milestones are a good time to reevaluate

Philanthropy is not new to CHEST. We celebrated 25 years of the CHEST Foundation in Nashville during CHEST 2022. Stories about community and clinical research grants were circulated in website blogs, emails, and newsletters and on social media for years. Our committee member volunteers worked hard developing accurate and credible patient education content for the CHEST Foundation website. Because of our faithful donors, communities around the world had access to better medical care and healthier environments.

This is amazing work, but it was time to ask:

• What can CHEST provide that others cannot?
• Where are the gaps we can fill?
• What is our community passionate about changing?

Working collectively, CHEST and CHEST Foundation leadership, along with staff, rigorously reviewed the success of our past fundraising efforts, areas of commitment our donors had specified, and the direction of interest our membership was leading us toward – like social accountability, growth and diversification of our profession, grassroots community impact, and partnerships to expand our reach. The process took nearly a year to complete – but, in the realm of big changes, that’s equal to the time needed for one good, deep breath.

Focusing on significant change means narrowing our scope

Meeting these goals would mean changing how we worked and letting go of areas better served elsewhere. CHEST needed to:

1. Align philanthropy with our mission to elevate the value placed on giving, making it a core priority and responsibility of CHEST as an organization.

2. Consolidate philanthropy under CHEST to reduce administrative costs and create efficiencies, allowing more funds to go directly to our philanthropic efforts.

3. Establish clear and transparent areas of giving that resonate with our members as a way to grow our impact and make real change.

With the full support of the CHEST Board of Regents, the CHEST Foundation Board of Advisors – under the guidance of Advisory Chair, Robert De Marco, MD, FCCP, and CHEST Foundation President, Ian Nathanson, MD, FCCP – approved a merger of the CHEST Foundation with CHEST.

In order to increase our impact and create greater awareness of CHEST philanthropic efforts, the Board of Advisors got to work defining a giving strategy that would meet the philanthropic goals and priorities of the CHEST membership. Four areas were defined and are referred to as our philanthropic pillars: clinical research, community impact, support of the profession, and dedication to education.

These pillars were approved by the Board of Regents at their spring leadership meeting.
 

Giving goals without support are just dreams

This transition puts the responsibility for funding the giving pillars in the hands of CHEST. The first step is ensuring the members see the impact of their donations.

“When you see your donation in action, you never doubt that you made a good decision,” said CHEST CEO, Robert A. Musacchio, PhD. “If we can show that to every member, the next 25 years of CHEST philanthropy are limitless.”

Helping connect donors to that experience is Meggie Cramer, the new Director of Philanthropy and Advancement , who has experience working directly with health care systems like Rush University Medical Center in Chicago and Hospital Sister Health System in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

“When you are giving to programs you are passionate about, you feel good about being a part of making a difference,” explained Cramer. “That’s my goal – to help our members find areas they care about and know their gift is part of creating real change.”

For frequently asked questions about the transition, please visit our website.

In an ideal world, change would be progressive, the direction would be clear, and adoption would be easy. We learned in these past few years that sometimes change cannot wait. The vulnerabilities of the health care system were laid bare by the pandemic, including vast disparities in treatment and the urgent need to grow our profession.

In the light of these truths, CHEST looked within and asked a difficult question: Are we doing everything we can? This question probably sounds very familiar – one you ask every day, one you know the importance of asking. It was time we asked it of ourselves.

Milestones are a good time to reevaluate

Philanthropy is not new to CHEST. We celebrated 25 years of the CHEST Foundation in Nashville during CHEST 2022. Stories about community and clinical research grants were circulated in website blogs, emails, and newsletters and on social media for years. Our committee member volunteers worked hard developing accurate and credible patient education content for the CHEST Foundation website. Because of our faithful donors, communities around the world had access to better medical care and healthier environments.

This is amazing work, but it was time to ask:

• What can CHEST provide that others cannot?
• Where are the gaps we can fill?
• What is our community passionate about changing?

Working collectively, CHEST and CHEST Foundation leadership, along with staff, rigorously reviewed the success of our past fundraising efforts, areas of commitment our donors had specified, and the direction of interest our membership was leading us toward – like social accountability, growth and diversification of our profession, grassroots community impact, and partnerships to expand our reach. The process took nearly a year to complete – but, in the realm of big changes, that’s equal to the time needed for one good, deep breath.

Focusing on significant change means narrowing our scope

Meeting these goals would mean changing how we worked and letting go of areas better served elsewhere. CHEST needed to:

1. Align philanthropy with our mission to elevate the value placed on giving, making it a core priority and responsibility of CHEST as an organization.

2. Consolidate philanthropy under CHEST to reduce administrative costs and create efficiencies, allowing more funds to go directly to our philanthropic efforts.

3. Establish clear and transparent areas of giving that resonate with our members as a way to grow our impact and make real change.

With the full support of the CHEST Board of Regents, the CHEST Foundation Board of Advisors – under the guidance of Advisory Chair, Robert De Marco, MD, FCCP, and CHEST Foundation President, Ian Nathanson, MD, FCCP – approved a merger of the CHEST Foundation with CHEST.

In order to increase our impact and create greater awareness of CHEST philanthropic efforts, the Board of Advisors got to work defining a giving strategy that would meet the philanthropic goals and priorities of the CHEST membership. Four areas were defined and are referred to as our philanthropic pillars: clinical research, community impact, support of the profession, and dedication to education.

These pillars were approved by the Board of Regents at their spring leadership meeting.
 

Giving goals without support are just dreams

This transition puts the responsibility for funding the giving pillars in the hands of CHEST. The first step is ensuring the members see the impact of their donations.

“When you see your donation in action, you never doubt that you made a good decision,” said CHEST CEO, Robert A. Musacchio, PhD. “If we can show that to every member, the next 25 years of CHEST philanthropy are limitless.”

Helping connect donors to that experience is Meggie Cramer, the new Director of Philanthropy and Advancement , who has experience working directly with health care systems like Rush University Medical Center in Chicago and Hospital Sister Health System in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

“When you are giving to programs you are passionate about, you feel good about being a part of making a difference,” explained Cramer. “That’s my goal – to help our members find areas they care about and know their gift is part of creating real change.”

For frequently asked questions about the transition, please visit our website.

In an ideal world, change would be progressive, the direction would be clear, and adoption would be easy. We learned in these past few years that sometimes change cannot wait. The vulnerabilities of the health care system were laid bare by the pandemic, including vast disparities in treatment and the urgent need to grow our profession.

In the light of these truths, CHEST looked within and asked a difficult question: Are we doing everything we can? This question probably sounds very familiar – one you ask every day, one you know the importance of asking. It was time we asked it of ourselves.

Milestones are a good time to reevaluate

Philanthropy is not new to CHEST. We celebrated 25 years of the CHEST Foundation in Nashville during CHEST 2022. Stories about community and clinical research grants were circulated in website blogs, emails, and newsletters and on social media for years. Our committee member volunteers worked hard developing accurate and credible patient education content for the CHEST Foundation website. Because of our faithful donors, communities around the world had access to better medical care and healthier environments.

This is amazing work, but it was time to ask:

• What can CHEST provide that others cannot?
• Where are the gaps we can fill?
• What is our community passionate about changing?

Working collectively, CHEST and CHEST Foundation leadership, along with staff, rigorously reviewed the success of our past fundraising efforts, areas of commitment our donors had specified, and the direction of interest our membership was leading us toward – like social accountability, growth and diversification of our profession, grassroots community impact, and partnerships to expand our reach. The process took nearly a year to complete – but, in the realm of big changes, that’s equal to the time needed for one good, deep breath.

Focusing on significant change means narrowing our scope

Meeting these goals would mean changing how we worked and letting go of areas better served elsewhere. CHEST needed to:

1. Align philanthropy with our mission to elevate the value placed on giving, making it a core priority and responsibility of CHEST as an organization.

2. Consolidate philanthropy under CHEST to reduce administrative costs and create efficiencies, allowing more funds to go directly to our philanthropic efforts.

3. Establish clear and transparent areas of giving that resonate with our members as a way to grow our impact and make real change.

With the full support of the CHEST Board of Regents, the CHEST Foundation Board of Advisors – under the guidance of Advisory Chair, Robert De Marco, MD, FCCP, and CHEST Foundation President, Ian Nathanson, MD, FCCP – approved a merger of the CHEST Foundation with CHEST.

In order to increase our impact and create greater awareness of CHEST philanthropic efforts, the Board of Advisors got to work defining a giving strategy that would meet the philanthropic goals and priorities of the CHEST membership. Four areas were defined and are referred to as our philanthropic pillars: clinical research, community impact, support of the profession, and dedication to education.

These pillars were approved by the Board of Regents at their spring leadership meeting.
 

Giving goals without support are just dreams

This transition puts the responsibility for funding the giving pillars in the hands of CHEST. The first step is ensuring the members see the impact of their donations.

“When you see your donation in action, you never doubt that you made a good decision,” said CHEST CEO, Robert A. Musacchio, PhD. “If we can show that to every member, the next 25 years of CHEST philanthropy are limitless.”

Helping connect donors to that experience is Meggie Cramer, the new Director of Philanthropy and Advancement , who has experience working directly with health care systems like Rush University Medical Center in Chicago and Hospital Sister Health System in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

“When you are giving to programs you are passionate about, you feel good about being a part of making a difference,” explained Cramer. “That’s my goal – to help our members find areas they care about and know their gift is part of creating real change.”

For frequently asked questions about the transition, please visit our website.

“Ew, gross.”

“Um, no way.”

“Of course not.”

Earlier this summer, I partnered with Dr. Melissa Keene, the medical director of a federally qualified health center in southwest Virginia, to talk about tobacco with middle school students. A few minutes after our arrival, it was clear to us that cigarettes weren’t cool anymore.

We asked hundreds of kids if they or their friends smoked cigarettes. The above quoted responses were repeated over and over.

Tobacco health advocates have spent decades working on public health messaging surrounding cigarette use, which is clearly working in this Virginian middle school.

But our patients, friends, and family who are already dependent on tobacco products still face addiction, morbidity, and premature mortality. And the ever-changing forms of tobacco delivery pose new challenges for our collective cessation efforts.

The Summer 2023 issue of CHEST Advocates features parents, lawyers, doctors, and nonprofit leaders who all share their inspiring stories of action in the fight against tobacco use.

Learn from tobacco experts, Dr. Susan Walley and Dr. Evan Stepp, about evidence-based approaches to tobacco cessation in young people –including why we should start having conversations by age 11 about smoking or vaping and why it’s important to inform youth about big tobacco marketing strategies.

Read an interview with Dr. Anne Melzer, who shares lessons from her career in tobacco advocacy centered in a US veteran population. Dr. Melzer suggests free resources that are available to all clinicians who sometimes struggle to help patients find the best way to quit.

Watch a video of Dr. Iyaad Hasan and Dr. Roy St. John, who run The Breathing Association, a nonprofit in Ohio serving individuals who are underinsured or uninsured. This organization offers a mobile medical unit that provides a free, evidenced-based program to help with smoking cessation via education, counseling, and personalized quit plans.

Learn from Natasha Phelps, JD, the Director of Equity-Centered Policies at The Center for Black Health & Equity. For more than 2 decades, this organization has focused on building community capacity to give local constituents the tools needed for sustainable health improvements, including tobacco cessation.

Hear from Dr. Panagiotis Behrakis, who – after decades of advocacy against tobacco use—the World Health Organization recognized in May for his Smoke Free Greece program. He explains why his work focuses on a two-pronged approach that places equal emphasis on both cessation and prevention.

Listen to a podcast featuring an amazing organization called Parents Against Vaping e-cigarettes, which started in response to a predatory marketing strategy by a tobacco company in a school system.

See how CHEST is fighting the battle against smoking and vaping, as told by Dr. Frank Leone, Chair of the Tobacco/Vaping Work Group for the CHEST Health Policy and Advocacy Committee. And, lastly, interact with a timeline of CHEST’s advocacy work in tobacco cessation and regulation through the decades.

As Dr. Melzer so eloquently stated in her interview featured in this issue, “tobacco cessation is a process that belongs to everybody, and, therefore, sometimes to nobody.” We hope this issue will inspire you to advocate for your patients and partner with your communities in our shared mission to improve education, awareness, and action against tobacco use.

“Ew, gross.”

“Um, no way.”

“Of course not.”

Earlier this summer, I partnered with Dr. Melissa Keene, the medical director of a federally qualified health center in southwest Virginia, to talk about tobacco with middle school students. A few minutes after our arrival, it was clear to us that cigarettes weren’t cool anymore.

We asked hundreds of kids if they or their friends smoked cigarettes. The above quoted responses were repeated over and over.

Tobacco health advocates have spent decades working on public health messaging surrounding cigarette use, which is clearly working in this Virginian middle school.

But our patients, friends, and family who are already dependent on tobacco products still face addiction, morbidity, and premature mortality. And the ever-changing forms of tobacco delivery pose new challenges for our collective cessation efforts.

The Summer 2023 issue of CHEST Advocates features parents, lawyers, doctors, and nonprofit leaders who all share their inspiring stories of action in the fight against tobacco use.

Learn from tobacco experts, Dr. Susan Walley and Dr. Evan Stepp, about evidence-based approaches to tobacco cessation in young people –including why we should start having conversations by age 11 about smoking or vaping and why it’s important to inform youth about big tobacco marketing strategies.

Read an interview with Dr. Anne Melzer, who shares lessons from her career in tobacco advocacy centered in a US veteran population. Dr. Melzer suggests free resources that are available to all clinicians who sometimes struggle to help patients find the best way to quit.

Watch a video of Dr. Iyaad Hasan and Dr. Roy St. John, who run The Breathing Association, a nonprofit in Ohio serving individuals who are underinsured or uninsured. This organization offers a mobile medical unit that provides a free, evidenced-based program to help with smoking cessation via education, counseling, and personalized quit plans.

Learn from Natasha Phelps, JD, the Director of Equity-Centered Policies at The Center for Black Health & Equity. For more than 2 decades, this organization has focused on building community capacity to give local constituents the tools needed for sustainable health improvements, including tobacco cessation.

Hear from Dr. Panagiotis Behrakis, who – after decades of advocacy against tobacco use—the World Health Organization recognized in May for his Smoke Free Greece program. He explains why his work focuses on a two-pronged approach that places equal emphasis on both cessation and prevention.

Listen to a podcast featuring an amazing organization called Parents Against Vaping e-cigarettes, which started in response to a predatory marketing strategy by a tobacco company in a school system.

See how CHEST is fighting the battle against smoking and vaping, as told by Dr. Frank Leone, Chair of the Tobacco/Vaping Work Group for the CHEST Health Policy and Advocacy Committee. And, lastly, interact with a timeline of CHEST’s advocacy work in tobacco cessation and regulation through the decades.

As Dr. Melzer so eloquently stated in her interview featured in this issue, “tobacco cessation is a process that belongs to everybody, and, therefore, sometimes to nobody.” We hope this issue will inspire you to advocate for your patients and partner with your communities in our shared mission to improve education, awareness, and action against tobacco use.

“Ew, gross.”

“Um, no way.”

“Of course not.”

Earlier this summer, I partnered with Dr. Melissa Keene, the medical director of a federally qualified health center in southwest Virginia, to talk about tobacco with middle school students. A few minutes after our arrival, it was clear to us that cigarettes weren’t cool anymore.

We asked hundreds of kids if they or their friends smoked cigarettes. The above quoted responses were repeated over and over.

Tobacco health advocates have spent decades working on public health messaging surrounding cigarette use, which is clearly working in this Virginian middle school.

But our patients, friends, and family who are already dependent on tobacco products still face addiction, morbidity, and premature mortality. And the ever-changing forms of tobacco delivery pose new challenges for our collective cessation efforts.

The Summer 2023 issue of CHEST Advocates features parents, lawyers, doctors, and nonprofit leaders who all share their inspiring stories of action in the fight against tobacco use.

Learn from tobacco experts, Dr. Susan Walley and Dr. Evan Stepp, about evidence-based approaches to tobacco cessation in young people –including why we should start having conversations by age 11 about smoking or vaping and why it’s important to inform youth about big tobacco marketing strategies.

Read an interview with Dr. Anne Melzer, who shares lessons from her career in tobacco advocacy centered in a US veteran population. Dr. Melzer suggests free resources that are available to all clinicians who sometimes struggle to help patients find the best way to quit.

Watch a video of Dr. Iyaad Hasan and Dr. Roy St. John, who run The Breathing Association, a nonprofit in Ohio serving individuals who are underinsured or uninsured. This organization offers a mobile medical unit that provides a free, evidenced-based program to help with smoking cessation via education, counseling, and personalized quit plans.

Learn from Natasha Phelps, JD, the Director of Equity-Centered Policies at The Center for Black Health & Equity. For more than 2 decades, this organization has focused on building community capacity to give local constituents the tools needed for sustainable health improvements, including tobacco cessation.

Hear from Dr. Panagiotis Behrakis, who – after decades of advocacy against tobacco use—the World Health Organization recognized in May for his Smoke Free Greece program. He explains why his work focuses on a two-pronged approach that places equal emphasis on both cessation and prevention.

Listen to a podcast featuring an amazing organization called Parents Against Vaping e-cigarettes, which started in response to a predatory marketing strategy by a tobacco company in a school system.

See how CHEST is fighting the battle against smoking and vaping, as told by Dr. Frank Leone, Chair of the Tobacco/Vaping Work Group for the CHEST Health Policy and Advocacy Committee. And, lastly, interact with a timeline of CHEST’s advocacy work in tobacco cessation and regulation through the decades.

As Dr. Melzer so eloquently stated in her interview featured in this issue, “tobacco cessation is a process that belongs to everybody, and, therefore, sometimes to nobody.” We hope this issue will inspire you to advocate for your patients and partner with your communities in our shared mission to improve education, awareness, and action against tobacco use.