Breathe Easy

 We're taking a breather this August as we work on bringing you more great episodes of the ATS Breathe Easy podcast. But we're not going off the air - instead, we're bringing back some of our best episodes of the last season. See you in September for season two! Erika Moseson, MD, of the Air Health Our Heath podcast hosts this week's episode with guest Daniel Croft, MPH, ATSF. Dr. Croft is associate professor in the Department of Environmental Medicine at the University of Rochester Medical Center. On this episode we share insights from the Climate Change and Respiratory Health: Opportunities to Contribute to Environmental Justice: An Official American Thoracic Society Workshop Report. For additional discussion on environmental health, please also view our recent Breathe Easy episode 12 “EPA Rollbacks Spell Grave Impacts on Public Health” for an up-to-date discussion of current national changes related to health care, environmental health and environmental justice. 

We're taking a breather this August as we work on bringing you more great episodes of the ATS Breathe Easy podcast. But we're not going off the air - instead, we're bringing back some of our best episodes of the last season. See you in September for season two! On this episode of ATS Breathe Easy, host Patti Tripathi welcomes two leading experts to discuss the critical role of vaccines in protecting children and high-risk populations. Paul Offit, MD, renowned scientist and vaccine advocate, and Tina Hartert, MD, MPH, professor of medicine and director of the Center for Asthma Research, provide an in-depth look at vaccine policies, hesitancy, and the consequences of declining immunization rates. 

The second part of our ATS Breathe Easy series on the SOAR Act, in collaboration with the Pulmonary Hypertension Association (PHA). This episode was first posted on PHA's PH Insights podcast.Host Jaeger Spratt, MSW, highlights the voices of long-time pulmonary hypertension patient advocates Amy Burant and Colleen Connor, who share their experiences with oxygen access and how those challenges have shaped their journeys with this illness and using supplemental oxygen. They also discuss their advocacy work and call on all members of lung disease communities, especially health care professionals, to advocate for the SOAR Act and help lung disease patients breathe easier.

 The Supplemental Oxygen Access Reform Act (SOAR Act) is a piece of pending legislation establishes certain requirements with respect to the payment and provision of supplemental oxygen and related services under Medicare. But how would this legislation affect patients, and how is the ATS Nursing Assembly leading the charge in advocating for their needs? Host Patti Tripathi explores this question, and more, with Susan Jacobs, RN, MS, research nurse manager at Stanford University; and Jaeger Spratt, MSW, advocacy and treatment access program manager at the Pulmonary Hypertension Association. This episode is the first in a two-part series collaboration with the Pulmonary Hypertension Association podcast, PH Insights. The Pulmonary Hypertension Association Advocacy Action Center: https://phassociation.org/advocate/ Did you miss the ATS 2025 International Conference? Or were you unable to attend some key sessions? Go to conference.thoracic.org/program/conference-highlights/ to purchase your ATS Conference Highlights Package. Be sure to check out the Out of the Blue podcast from the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, which takes you out of the pages of the Blue Journal and into the minds of the most brilliant researchers in the fields of respiratory, critical care, and sleep medicine. Tune in wherever you listen to podcasts! 

At the 2025 ATS International Conference, Joshua Fessel, MD, PhD, ATSF, formerly of the NIH, and Shade Afolabi, MD, a pediatric pulmonologist practicing in Texas, sat down to discuss the extensive ramifications the cuts to the NIH caused researchers, clinicians, and patients. With host Erika Moseson, MD, MA, they explore the effects of losing funding on critical research projects, how patient families have been dealing with pauses on disease research, and how the field can help retain and support early career professionals affected by these policy decisions. Did you miss the ATS 2025 International Conference? Or were you unable to attend some key sessions? Go to conference.thoracic.org/program/conference-highlights/ to purchase your ATS Conference Highlight Package. Be sure to check out the Out of the Blue podcast from the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, which takes you out of the pages of the Blue Journal and into the minds of the most brilliant researchers in the fields of respiratory, critical care, and sleep medicine. Tune in wherever you listen to podcasts! 

 On this episode of the ATS Breathe Easy podcast, meet the newly-elected ATS President, Raed Dweik, MD, MBA, ATSF. Host Amy Attaway, MD, MS, talks with Dr. Dweik on his vision for the ATS, and what he is most excited for in the fields of respiratory health, critical care, and how the ATS is braced to help members face ongoing challenges. Did you miss the ATS 2025 International Conference? Or were you unable to attend some key sessions? Go to conference.thoracic.org/program/conference-highlights/ to purchase your ATS Conference Highlight Package. Be sure to check out the Out of the Blue podcast from the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, which takes you out of the pages of the Blue Journal and into the minds of the most brilliant researchers in the fields of respiratory, critical care, and sleep medicine. Tune in wherever you listen to podcasts! 

On this edition of the ATS Breathe Easy: The Latest, host Patti Tripathi and Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research President and CEO Mary McGowan discuss sarcoidosis research and the Champions for Change movement to encourage companies to allow employees to use paid time off to enroll in clinical trials. To learn more, go to ignorenomore.org. Did you miss the ATS 2025 International Conference? Or were you unable to attend some key sessions? Go to conference.thoracic.org/program/conference-highlights/ to purchase your ATS Conference Highlight Package. Be sure to check out the Out of the Blue podcast from the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, which takes you out of the pages of the Blue Journal and into the minds of the most brilliant researchers in the fields of respiratory, critical care, and sleep medicine. Tune in wherever you listen to podcasts! 

 In our continuing series on What You May Have Missed at ATS 2025, Sunil Kapoor, MD, Medical College of Georgia, and host Erika Moseson, MD, MA, of the Air Health Our Heath podcast, discuss their takeaways from the "Strategies to Reduce Pulmonary and Critical Care Practice Emissions" networking event at ATS 2025. This includes how practices can reduce their carbon footprint and how better climate change policies can help patient outcomes. Did you miss the ATS 2025 International Conference? Or were you unable to attend some key sessions? Go to conference.thoracic.org/program/conference-highlights/ to purchase your ATS Conference Highlight Package.Be sure to check out the Out of the Blue podcast from the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, which takes you out of the pages of the Blue Journal and into the minds of the most brilliant researchers in the fields of respiratory, critical care, and sleep medicine. Tune in wherever you listen to podcasts! 

 This week, in our series on What You May Have Missed at ATS 2025, host Eddie Qian, MD, of the Vanderbilt University Medical Center, discusses post intensive care syndrome with Justin Banerdt, MD, MPH, Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Dr. Banerdt presented his research on the subject, “Characterizing Critical Illness Recovery Trajectories: Exploring Risk Factors for Post Intensive Care Syndrome”, at ATS 2025 this past May. Did you miss the ATS 2025 International Conference? Or were you unable to attend some key sessions? Go to conference.thoracic.org/program/conference-highlights/ to purchase your ATS Conference Highlight Package. Be sure to check out the Out of the Blue podcast from the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, which takes you out of the pages of the Blue Journal and into the minds of the most brilliant researchers in the fields of respiratory, critical care, and sleep medicine. Tune in wherever you listen to podcasts! 

Continuing our series on What You May Have Missed at ATS 2025, host Amy Attaway, MD, MS, of Cleveland Clinic, dives into key topics from the Clinical Year in Review with Sara Auld, MD, MSc, Emory University. Did you miss the ATS 2025 International Conference? Or were you unable to attend some key sessions? Go to conference.thoracic.org/program/conference-highlights/ to purchase your ATS Conference Highlight Package. 

This latest episode in the series "What You May Have Missed at ATS 2025," features Donna Appell, RN, immediate-past-chair of  the Public Advisory Roundtable (PAR), a unique feature of the American Thoracic Society. Helping to integrate the patient perspective in research and clinical care, PAR is comprised of nearly 15 respiratory-related patient organizations. Ms. Appell sat down with host Patti Tripathi to discuss PAR events at ATS 2025 as well as the work of the Hermansky-Pudlak Syndrome Network, Inc, of which Ms. Appell is founder and executive director.6:40 How do groups like the Hermansky-Pudlak Syndrome Network work with the ATS on grand funding?16:35 Why is it important that PAR have a presence at the International Conference?

This week's episode dives into COPD treatment. When considering inhaler devices, what is the best strategy for COPD patients? Host Amy Attaway, MD, MS, associate director of the COPD Center at  Cleveland Clinic welcomes Anthony Anzueto, MD, professor of medicine at the University of Texas Health Science Center and chief of the pulmonary section for the South Texas Veterans Healthcare System in San Antonio.Support for this podcast is brought to you by Viatris and Theravance BioPharma.

This episode begins our series on "What you may have missed at ATS 2025."We produce over 450 million tons of plastics each year, the vast majority of which has accumulated in the environment. Increasing evidence suggests that microplastics can accumulate in a number of different organs such as the brain, but what of the lungs? In this episode, Adam Soloff, PhD (self-described "Lorax of the Thorax"), associate professor, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, walks us through his research to find out what these ever-present microplastics do to the lungs and the pulmonary immune system in particular. Spoiler alert: once inhaled, microplastics pass through the lung seeding many tissues of the body including the heart, brain, gut, liver, and spleen. "We found it everywhere we looked," said Dr. Soloff whose team's work begins to shed light on how microplastics damage lung immunity and may predispose us to lung disease in the future.4:16 What is a microplastic?6:19 Where is the most established evidence of how microplastics affects our health?

Erika Moseson, MD, of the Air Health Our Heath podcast hosts this week's episode with guest Daniel Croft, MPH, ATSF. Dr. Croft is associate professorin the Department of Environmental Medicine at the University of Rochester Medical Center. On this episode we share insights from the Climate Change and Respiratory Health: Opportunities to Contribute to Environmental Justice: An Official American Thoracic Society Workshop Report - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40311081/For additional discussion on environmental health, please also view our recent Breathe Easy episode 12 “EPA Rollbacks Spell Grave Impacts on Public Health” for an up-to-date discussion of current national changes related to health care, environmental health and environmental justice:  And for ATS members, please review the Washington Letter for up to date actions ATS is taking to protect respiratory health:  https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__site.thoracic.org_about-2Dus_news_washington-2Dletter&d=DwMFAg&c=shNJtf5dKgNcPZ6Yh64b-ALLUrcfR-4CCQkZVKC8w3o&r=cBcAqdnwqc2JZQ0oH6i362XLRsQ-_Tz-M1Wc9UELJNs&m=MdI_1W73157uyTefcBrkHA9wu2ITlxReWhEVndIGRsDlh5tkbX4XmkSOaeWSnB1a&s=yhFeE9pojesBPCkULoIjDdlcHL_vqKUR6d_rwIEVw0Y&e=

Host Patti Tripathi talks to Alpha-1 patient advocate Len Geiger ahead of his ATS 2025 International Conference plenary presentation. He was diagnosed at age 35 with a rare lung disease. He almost lost it all, but Len didn't lose his fight. "Everybody can do something more than they're doing right now," he says.

Patti Tripathi talks with Margot Kushel, MD,  and Robynne Rose-Haymer ahead of their keynote presentation on providing care to the unhoused population on May 18 at ATS 2025. Dr. Kushel is chief of the Division of Health Equity and Society and director of the UCSF Center for Vulnerable Populations and the UCSF Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative. Ms. Rose-Haymer is the director of the California Legislative Staff Education Institute at Capitol Impact Consulting.09:36 What can the VA's initiatives among the homeless population teach clinicians?13:25 How can we create solutions?Register for the ATS 2025 International Conference at conference.thoracic.org

This episode is part two of our discussion on AI. Host Eddie Qian, MD, (Vanderbilt University Medical Center) and Matthew Churpek, MD, PhD, MPH(University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health) explore the use of large language models in clinical practice, weigh the benefits vs risks and the role clinicians may play in establishing guardrails."Patients don't just walk out of the textbook," as Dr. Qian noted. These models still require input from experienced clinicians to ensure the best outcome for patients. Listen to Part I of our AI discussion: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZInoIjGht0&list=PLFyO68a-Ji3lKQLBIdtgUlFkEBp3t1RA5&index=8Like what you heard? Get more of Dr. Qian on the ICU Ed and Todd-cast wherever you listen to podcasts.

Rolling back major EPA policies that protect our health from air pollution exposure is dangerous and even fatal in some cases. This episode features the chair and vice-chair of the ATS Environmental Health Policy Committee, Alison Lee, MD, (Icahn School of Medicine, Mount Sinai) and Gillian Goobie, MD, PhD (University of British Columbia). Patti Tripathi hosts. 09:00 What is the evidence for policy-led air pollution reductions?14:35 Who benefits from EPA rollbacks?22:36 How does EPA deregulation affect global health?Resources:The Southern California Children's Health Study:  https://healthstudy.usc.edu/The Ella Roberta Foundation:  https://www.ellaroberta.org/about-ellaSilent Spring by Rachel Carson:  https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27333.Silent_Spring

Host Amy Attaway, MD, (Cleveland Clinic) is joined by two leaders in sleep medicine— Neomi Shah, MD, MPH,  (Icahn School at Mount Sinai)  and Reena Mehra, MD, MS, ATSF (University of Washington)—to discuss the recent ATS Workshop Report: “The Great Controversy of OSA Treatment for Cardiovascular Risk: Advancing the Science Through Expert Consensus.”Together, they explore the complex relationship between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and cardiovascular outcomes. Workshop Report here: https://www.atsjournals.org/doi/full/10.1513/AnnalsATS.202409-981ST09:45 What gaps have past studies brought to light regarding major cardiovascular events and OSA?                 11:59 How does the Report help inform discussions with patients?33:24 Is CPAP the answer?

MaryLuz Fuentes, MD, a former clinician and double-lung transplant survivor will typically say this to other IPF patients: "We patients may be short of breath, but not short of hope." On this episode with host Patti Tripathi, Dr. Fuentes talks about what led up to her double-lung transplant three years ago and what's in store for her at the ATS 2025 International Conference in May. 

Nirav Bhakta, MD, was the lead author of the ATS Workshop Report on Race-Neutral Testing. He joins Meredith McCormack, MD, MHS, on the latest Breathe Easy podcast to discuss the origin of race-based algorithms and advice on implementing race-neutral testing in your pulmonary function lab. Amy Attaway, MD, Cleveland Clinic, hosts. ATS statement on race and ethnicity in pulmonary function test interpretation: https://www.atsjournals.org/doi/10.1164/rccm.202302-0310ST05:03 How did adjustments for race come about?13:08 What is the global lung function initiative and what is its relationship to race-neutral testing?14:16 How can pulmonary function labs implement race-neutral testing recommended by ATS?

Internationally-recognized tuberculosis expert Philip Hopewell, MD, reflects on the impact of funding cuts on TB research and infections both in the U.S. and abroad. Eddie Qian, MD, hosts. Dr. Qian is also co-host of the ICU Ed and Todd-cast podcast.06:47 Why Kansas?09:13 How does TB infection rates compare to HIV globally?14:48 What are new guidelines for TB treatment?Resources:Updates on Treatment for Drug-Susceptible and Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis:  An Official ATS/CDC/ERS/IDSA Clinical Practice Guideline https://www.atsjournals.org/doi/full/10.1164/rccm.202410-2096STLearn more: WHO Global TB Reporthttps://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240101531#:~:text=Overview,years%20can%20be%20found%20here.The Black Angels by Maria SmiliosEverything is Tuberculosis by John Green

This episode dives into lessons learned from the ATS Vaccine Initiative with Robert Stansbury, MD, ATSF, the West Virginia University Medicine vaccine project lead. Dr. Stansbury talks about vaccine uptake in the rural population as compared to urban areas. Joining him is Dona Upson, MD, of the University of New Mexico, and a member of the ATS Vaccine Initiative Advisory Council. Dr. Upson shares how she broaches the subject of vaccination with her patients. 06:45 - What are key takeaways from the ATS Vaccine Initiative?09:39 - What motivates patients to get vaccinated?13:07 -   How soon in the visit do you raise the subject of vaccination?

M. Patricia Rivera, MD, ATSF, immediate past-president of the American Thoracic Society and lung cancer expert, offers up a compelling argument for trusting science. As we're buffeted by government actions and disease outbreaks, it is critical that clinicians and public health officials work together to minimize the impact. Patti Tripathi hosts.06:46 What is immune amnesia and how does it relate to measles?08:51 What is the role of federal health agencies?10:07 What is the ripple effect generated by research funding?12:36 Why should the public trust science?

In this episode of ATS Breathe Easy, host Patti Tripathi welcomes two leading experts to discuss the critical role of vaccines in protecting children and high-risk populations. Paul Offit, MD, renowned scientist and vaccine advocate, and Tina Hartert, MD, MPH, professor of medicine and director of the Center for Asthma Research, provide an in-depth look at vaccine policies, hesitancy, and the consequences of declining immunization rates.

ATS Scholar editor Nitin Seam, MD, ATSF - clinical professor of Medicine at George Washington University and the Uniformed Services University - shares some takeaways from his editorial on the ATS journals' position on the evolving role of artificial intelligence on scientific research and review. Eddie Qian, MD, of Vanderbilt University Medical Center, hosts.06:35 - What are the main takeaways of the ATS editorial?09:13 - Should large language models be authors?09:59 - Why would a reviewer want to upload a paper to an LLM?21:08 - What are topics around AI and LLMs that should be studied in medicine?Read the editorial in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine:  https://www.atsjournals.org/doi/full/10.1164/rccm.202411-2208ED

Amy Attaway, MD, hosts the latest ATS Breathe Easy episode with former ATS President Monica Kraft, MD, and Asthma and Allergy Network's Chief Research Officer, De De Gardner, DrPH, discuss the benefits and challenges of biologics for asthma. What factors guide selection of a specific biologic for asthma? When should a patient transition from one biologic to another? 08:15 What does shared decision making mean?09:12 How often does a patient need to take a biologic? 12:58 What if you need to renew your biologic but you've stopped taking your inhaler?21:53 What's a strategy for combining biologics for asthma?

Self-described pulmonary fibrosis warrior and former journalist, Teresa Barnes, joins host and former CNN news anchor Patti Tripathi for the premiere episode of ATS Breathe Easy, the Latest. Ms. Barnes is chief executive of Pulmonary Fibrosis Warriors and former chair of the ATS Public Advisory Roundtable. PAR is comprised of 12-15 executives of respiratory-related patient interest organizations like the Pulmonary Fibrosis Warriors. 

Resources provided by podcast participants:National Lung Cancer Round Table-https://nlcrt.org/Lung Plan- https://nlcrt.org/lungplan-overview/Standing Facility Lung Program-https://cancer.wvumedicine.org/about-us/programs/lung-cancer-screening-programMobile Lung Program- https://cancer.wvumedicine.org/about-us/programs/mobile-cancer-screening-program/lucasLiving Beyond Cancer Podcast Series(Patient, Survivors, and Caregivers)-https://cancer.wvumedicine.org/about-us/podcasts/

Lung cancer care begins with prevention. This podcast aims to provide expert insights and practical advice on quitting smoking. We explore the opt-out approach, an effective strategy for initiating conversations about quitting smoking, and provide a comprehensive overview of pharmacotherapy options available to support the patients through their smoking cessation journey. Tune in as we tackle common questions and concerns faced by patients, offering practical tips and guidance to help you kick the habit for good. Disclosures: no financial interests in the production of this material

A practical case-based approach to the management setting and titrating the ventilator in ARDS

Drs. Katherine Cox-Flaherty and Meghan Cirulis dissect a challenging case of decompensated RV failure in a patient with pulmonary hypertension. Tune in for pearls on how to recognize and treat this condition with PH and RV expert, Dr. Corey Ventetuolo. 

Drs. Meghan Cirulis and Katherine Cox-Flaherty discuss key issues surrounding reproductive health in pulmonary hypertension with two national experts on the subject: Dr Anna Hemnes and Dr. Elizabeth Sonntag.

In this episode of the Elevator Pitch, we talk to Dr. Anica Law, chair of the Critical Care Assembly Planning Committee to learn more about what the committee does and how ATS members can get involved.

 In this episode of the Elevator Pitch, we talk to Dr. Lauren Ferrante, chair of the Critical Care Assembly Program Committee to learn more about what the committee does and how ATS members can get involved.

Please join Helena Schotland as she chats with the ATS SRN Web Director, Nancy Stewart, about the sleep-related programs at the ATS 2024 international conference. 

Dr. Naftali Kaminski chats with Dr. MeiLan Han as she shares her journey into becoming Chief of Division of Pulmonary Critical Care at University of Michigan, starting off at a Veterinary facility in her first year of medical school and her non-linear career path; shares some advice in staying the course even if it isn't the traditional route. 

Dr. Naftali Kaminski chats with Dr. Mark Gladwin as he discusses his role as the Dean of University of MD, School of Medicine, and Vice President of Medical Affairs, shares his upbringing in a social science home in an ever-changing environment that has led him to become extremely adaptable and discusses his keys to success and advice. 

Dr. Naftali Kaminski chats with Dr. Jose Heraza Maya as he discusses his trajectory in becoming a Division Chief, how his international background influences his work-style approach and his fascination with heights and planes. 

In the Elevator Pitch, we talk to scientists behind recent studies to understand how their research can impact the way we practice in the ICU. 

Drs. Khushboo Goel and Kathryn del Valle have a conversation with Drs. Stephen Chan and Andrea Frump, Pulmonary Circulation Assembly Programming Chairs for the ATS 2024, about the sessions and events they are most looking forward to in San Diego…and also how to make the most of #ATS2024 as a trainee or early career attendee!

American Thoracic Society-Sleep and Respiratory Neurobiology is pleased to present the new podcast, Sleep Pioneers. Join us as we get to know trailblazers in the field better through conversations about their insights working in the field of sleep.

American Thoracic Society-Sleep and Respiratory Neurobiology is pleased to present the new podcast, Sleep Pioneers. Join us as we get to know trailblazers in the field better through conversations about their insights working in the field of sleep.

The AI in Sleep Medicine Podcast series (2 episodes) will help users apply the principles of machine learning to clinical care and conceptualize future applications of AI in pediatric and adult sleep medicine. In episode 2, the guest speakers delve into current use cases,  potential opportunities, and possible challenges of AI in sleep medicine.