Racing Toward Improved Care

In 2022, CHEST and the CHEST Foundation will launch new, impactful programs continuing our efforts to improve patient lung health education and care. 

While there are a variety of ways to support these programs, including a direct donation to the foundation, one of the most anticipated fundraising events is the annual Belmont Stakes Dinner and Auction on June 11 in New York City. 

The Belmont Stakes event gathers members and friends of the chest medicine community for an evening of camaraderie for a good cause. This year’s event will benefit the CHEST Foundation’s work in patient education and CHEST initiatives to improve patient care. 

One of these initiatives is an outgrowth of the 2020 Foundation Listening Tour and will focus on helping clinicians increase trust, equity, and access to health care for their patients in traditionally marginalized communities. Currently in development, the first stage of this project will roll out in 2022.  

In another initiative aimed at better serving patients, CHEST is partnering with the Three Lakes Foundation on a program designed to shorten the time to diagnosis for pulmonary fibrosis (PF). This initiative will bring together pulmonologists and primary care physicians to work together on building a strategy for identifying this rare disease more quickly. Early diagnosis is critical to increasing quality of life for patients with PF.  

Funds raised at the Belmont Stakes event will also be used to support grants for research and community service. Since its inception, the CHEST Foundation has awarded more than 12 million dollars for grants and community service projects worldwide to improve patient care. In 2021 alone, the foundation provided $675,000 in clinical research and community service grants to 27 individuals. Grant applications for 2022 are now open through April 4. 

The newest grant sponsored by CHEST, the American Thoracic Society, and the American Lung Association created an opportunity for a student to pursue an education in the pulmonary and critical care field through the prestigious Harold Amos Medical Faculty Development Program, which supports applicants from historically marginalized backgrounds.

Along with silent bidding on auction items, mingling with colleagues and friends, and cheering on the teams during the race, an anticipated portion of the Belmont Stakes event will feature speeches from two patients living with chronic lung diseases who also serve as advocates for their illnesses. Fred Schick will speak about his experience living with and advocating for pulmonary fibrosis, while Betsy Glaeser will speak about living with and advocating for nontuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease and bronchiectasis. In the next blog, we will introduce you to Fred and Betsy to share their stories and their advocacy work.  

The evening will also feature an after-party for young professionals in attendance. Through the event, those starting off their careers are encouraged to network with established CHEST members and build relationships through social engagement. Attendees at the after-party will also be eligible to win a number of prizes. 

Through an evening of fun, attendees of the Belmont Stakes event will come together to share in a common goal of helping advance patient care for those living with lung disease.  

Learn more and purchase your ticket, or make a donation to support CHEST Foundation initiatives. If you can’t attend the live event, an online auction component will also be available soon.