Leading lung health groups sponsor Harold Amos Scholar to improve diversity in respiratory care
The American College of Chest Physicians, the American Thoracic Society and the American Lung Association partner to support historically marginalized physician-scientists targeting lung disease
February 2, 2022
The American College of Chest Physicians
(CHEST), the American Thoracic Society (ATS) and
the American Lung Association are
pleased to announce that they are partnering to sponsor a scholar in
pulmonary and critical care medicine in the prestigious
Harold Amos Medical Faculty Development Program (AMFDP), a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation initiative.
Developed to increase the pool of applicants from historically marginalized
backgrounds pursuing careers in medicine, dentistry or nursing, the AMFDP
invites applicants to apply each year to help shape medicine into a more
equitable, more accessible practice.
Together, CHEST, the ATS and the American Lung Association will provide
funding for awards of $420,000 over 4 years to support pulmonary/critical
care medicine scholars.
“I am immensely proud to be leading an initiative that has continued to
help shape the careers of so many physician-scientists in such a meaningful
way,” said David Wilkes, MD, National Director of the Harold Amos Medical
Faculty Development Program for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and a
member of the ATS and CHEST. “That these three highly-respected respiratory
societies are joining efforts to help fulfill the AMFDP’s mission speaks
volumes about their commitment as allies and influencers in the quest to
eliminate lung health disparities. This is a model for other specialty
societies to collaborate on addressing disparities.”
"In the context of an increasingly diverse population, it is more important
than ever that our patients have confidence and trust in those who care for
them, something that will be easier to develop as we diversify our
workforce,” said CHEST President David Schulman, MD, MPH, FCCP. “CHEST is
incredibly excited to be working with the American Lung Association, the
American Thoracic Society and the Harold Amos Medical Faculty Development
Program to fund training for individuals who have been traditionally
underrepresented in medicine as they pursue careers in pulmonary and
critical care medicine.”
“Health equity is woven into the fabric of the ATS,” said ATS President
Lynn Schnapp, MD, ATSF. “And, partnering with our peers in the pulmonary
and critical care space is a wonderful opportunity to advance our shared
goal of cultivating the next generation of leaders in health access and
equity.”
“The American Lung Association has historically funded researchers at the
beginning of their careers, helping to build the foundation for the next
great group of leaders,” said Albert Rizzo, MD, Chief Medical Officer for
the American Lung Association. “It is critical to the advancement of lung
health and the care of patients to have physicians and scientists from
diverse backgrounds, so we are honored to provide support for these
individuals and increase diversity in pulmonary medicine.”
The call for application is now open. To learn more and to apply, go here.
About CHEST
The American College of Chest Physicians® (CHEST) is the global leader in
the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of chest diseases. Its mission is
to champion the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of chest diseases
through education, communication and research. It serves as an essential
connection to clinical knowledge and resources for its 19,000+ members from
around the world who provide patient care in pulmonary, critical care and
sleep medicine. For information about the American College of Chest
Physicians, visit chestnet.org.
About the American Thoracic Society
Founded in 1905, the American Thoracic Society is the world's leading
medical society dedicated to accelerating the advancement of global
respiratory health through multidisciplinary collaboration, education and
advocacy. Core activities of the Society’s more than 16,000 members are
focused on leading scientific discoveries, advancing professional
development, impacting global health and transforming patient care. Key
areas of member focus include developing clinical practice guidelines,
hosting the annual International Conference,
publishing four peer-reviewed journals,
advocating for improved respiratory health globally and developing an array
of patient education and career development resources. Please visit our website to learn more.
About the American Lung Association
The American Lung Association is the leading organization working to save
lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease through
education, advocacy and research. The work of the American Lung Association
is focused on four strategic imperatives: To defeat lung cancer, to
champion clean air for all, to improve the quality of life for those with
lung disease and their families and to create a tobacco-free future. For
more information about the American Lung Association, a holder of the
coveted 4-star rating from Charity Navigator and a Gold-Level GuideStar
Member, or to support the work it does, call 1-800-LUNGUSA (1-800-586-4872)
or visit: Lung.org.
About the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) is the nation’s largest
philanthropy dedicated solely to health. RWJF works to help achieve health
equity and expand opportunity to pursue the best health possible, through
investments in four broad areas: Health systems, healthy communities,
healthy children and families and health leadership. The AMFDP is one of its longest-term initiatives.