2010: The Year of the Lung

About 2010: The Year of the Lung
2010: The Year of the Lung (YOL) is a global initiative instituted by the Forum of International Respiratory Societies (FIRS), a collaboration of the world’s leading professional respiratory organizations, including the American College of Chest Physicians. YOL aims to raise awareness of and advocate for lung health globally and at the country level to reduce lung disease morbidity and mortality.

The ACCP and 2010: The Year of the Lung: From Prevention to Intervention
As part of YOL, the ACCP will encourage worldwide lung health from Prevention to Intervention, with core initiatives focusing on the areas of tobacco prevention, as well as the diagnosis and management of COPD and lung cancer. The ACCP will coordinate with all national and international members to integrate YOL messages and promote YOL initiatives, including targeted Web pages that highlight ACCP clinical and patient tools and education material.

Tobacco Prevention
For the last decade, members of the ACCP and The CHEST Foundation, the ACCP’s philanthropic arm, have delivered The Foundation’s Lung Lessons^sm program to schoolchildren across the United States and around the world. As part of the program, students learn how to keep their lungs healthy and about the dangers of tobacco use from ACCP members and other ambassadors of the College. Each year, the ACCP organizes a special education program for schoolchildren in the host city during the College’s annual meeting. The next Lung Lessons^sm school outreach event will take place in November 2010 in Vancouver, BC, Canada, coincident with the ACCP CHEST 2010 annual meeting.

Beyond the Lung Lessons^sm program, the ACCP and The CHEST Foundation will showcase and distribute the ACCP Evils of Tobacco, a culturally-sensitive CD-ROM-based program for Indian communities that illustrates the severe hazards of tobacco use. The program, which includes talking points and material for presenters, has been developed in seven Indian languages and has already been shared with thousands of children around the world.

COPD
Through its regional COPD education program, COPD: What Really Works? A Best Practices Workshop for Primary Care, the ACCP will provide pertinent COPD screening, diagnosis, and treatment information to primary care health clinicians. In 2010, the programs will be hosted in 20 major markets around the country and will be a timely vehicle for spreading the YOL messages, especially as they relate to COPD.

Lung Cancer
The ACCP publishes Diagnosis and Management of Lung Cancer, one of the leading evidence-based guidelines in lung cancer diagnosis, staging, and management. Throughout the YOL, the ACCP will build on the strong foundation of the guidelines to increase awareness regarding lung cancer prevention, diagnosis, and management. The ACCP also will provide education material for clinicians, patients, and patient families regarding critical care units and end-of-life and critical care family assistance.

Key Events for ACCP 2010: The Year of the Lung Promotion

• Urge your legislators to support 2010: The Year of the Lung - On February 26, 2010, US Representative John Lewis (D-GA-5) submitted a resolution, H Res 1122, supporting the goals and ideals of 2010: The Year of the Lung. Senators Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) and Mike Crapo (R-ID), FCCP(Hon), submitted a similar resolution, S Res 432, on March 3. Using the ACCP Legislative Action Center, urge your representative and senators to cosponsor H Res 1122 and S Res 432 to show their support for the goals and ideals of 2010: The Year of the Lung.


• ACCP Industry Advisory Council and The CHEST Foundation’s Community Outreach Event, November 1, 2010, Vancouver, BC, Canada – Members of The CHEST Foundation Ambassadors group will visit a local elementary school to teach children about the dangers of smoking.


• CHEST 2010, October 30 to November 4, 2010, Vancouver, BC, Canada – The ACCP annual meeting will feature a YOL session each day.


• Regional COPD Programs – The ACCP will provide pertinent COPD screening, diagnosis, and treatment information to primary care clinicians.


• Lung Health Programs for Children – The ACCP and The CHEST Foundation Lung Lessons^sm program will be presented at elementary schools around the country.


• Tobacco Cessation Materials – In spring 2010, the ACCP will launch the new edition of its Tobacco Dependance Treatment Tool Kit, an online, interactive program to help patients stop smoking.


• Awards in Lung Health Research – The CHEST Foundation will dedicate up to $680,000 in lung health research awards and humanitarian awards throughout the year.


• Partnerships – The ACCP will work with the newly formed COPD Alliance, representing over 300,000 clinicians, and asthma/COPD coalitions to encourage participation in YOL.

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