Toni-Denise P. Espina, MD, attended her first CHEST Annual Meeting in 2019—thanks to a CHEST Travel Grant—and hasn’t missed one since.

The CHEST Travel Grant program provides free registration, a travel stipend, a mentor, attendance to special events, and introductions to CHEST leadership. It’s a way to help early career clinicians foster professional growth and return to their communities with new knowledge, relationships, and momentum.

“I was a recipient of a travel award when I was in training, and it definitely made a great impact in my career,” Dr. Espina said. “Thankfully, I’m in a position to happily pay it forward.”

CHEST’s 90 for 90 Campaign aims to cover the costs of 90 travel grants for CHEST’s 2025 conference in Chicago. Dr. Espina is helping the cause by making a gift to CHEST that will fully cover the cost of a travel grant.

“I saw this opportunity to give directly to the fund itself,” Dr. Espina said. “I just hope that someone—a fellow out there who wants to go and see what the annual meeting is about, wants to learn more, and wants to connect with folks in the field—has that opportunity.”

Building bonds with colleagues

Dr. Espina was a second-year fellow in pulmonary and critical care medicine (PCCM) at the Medical College of Wisconsin when she first attended the CHEST Annual Meeting in 2019. Attending was greatly encouraged by her program director, and her entire fellowship class of five attended, many of whom received CHEST Travel Grants.

Dr. Espina with one of her cofellows at the CHEST Annual Meeting 2019

“The CHEST Annual Meeting definitely affected our group's closeness,” Dr. Espina said. “I’m still very good friends with my cofellows. I mean, how often do you get five fellows together when you don't have clinical duties? To have that time was so precious to solidify those friendships.”

They participated in the PCCM Fellows Course (where they had a day of peer quality time and the opportunity to review case reports the Saturday before the meeting kicked off), attended the conference, and, in their downtime, checked out the city and bonded with their mentors.

“It was invaluable,” Dr. Espina said. “It was a good bonding moment for us before we got blasted in the pandemic, and it became a touchstone for us to remember our closeness once in-person gatherings kicked off again.”

Sharing knowledge

Dr. Espina emphasized the importance of learning from other clinicians at the CHEST Annual Meeting, taking in updates on seemingly obscure concerns that pop up clinically and vary from region to region.

“As a fellow, you can sometimes lose sight of the big picture because you're still trying to manage so many moving parts,” Dr. Espina said. “Attending the CHEST Annual Meeting can help to step back and see issues that you may not encounter daily with your patients.”

You can also start learning even before the meeting begins—CHEST offers preconference courses on several clinical topics, Dr. Espina said.

“There are a lot of opportunities to get more training and knowledge to bring back to your team and patients,” she said.  

Staying connected

The CHEST Annual Meeting is a time to connect with new friends and colleagues, as well as reconnect with those from your past.

“I've run into people at the conference—former attendings, residents, even friends from college,” Dr. Espina said. “I look around and someone sitting next to me is someone I haven’t seen in more than 10 years, and I think it's pretty incredible how many times that's happened.”

Dr. Espina sees the importance of the annual meeting and of being a CHEST member—and wants other fellows and clinicians to benefit, too. She not only donates to CHEST philanthropy but spreads the word to her colleagues. 

“As an attending now, I am in the financial place to give back and support fellows who want to attend to see for themselves the value of CHEST membership and attending the conference,” Dr. Espina said.

She added, “I’m looking forward to October’s meeting—I haven’t missed a CHEST Annual Meeting yet!”