DONOR SPOTLIGHT

SUMMER 2021

In this issue

In This IssuePresident’s LetterChampion’s CircleFounder’s SocietyPublication Information

SPOTLIGHT

Living With Passion

CHEST FOUNDATION PAST PRESIDENT DR. ED DIAMOND ENCOURAGES EVERYONE TO FOCUS ON THE “WHY”

In medicine, finding one’s passion is the key to success. For Ed Diamond, MD, MBA, FCCP, this passion is triggered by filling the voids in health care and staying focused on the “why” of medicine.

The years of education, the ostensibly never-ending shifts in the ICU, and the myriad of stressors all seem more tolerable when focused on a larger purpose. For Dr. Diamond, CHEST and the CHEST Foundation have been career-long recipients of his passion for asking “why?” and seeking the answer.

10 MINUTE READ

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OTHER ARTICLES IN THIS ISSUE

HEALTH CARE DISPARITIES ARE NOT LIMITED TO THE FEW

Physicians respond to lessons learned from Listening Tour

In October 2020, the CHEST Foundation launched a Listening Tour in five cities across the country to uncover health disparities in the United Stated from the patient’s perspective.

11 MINUTE READ

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NETWORKS COMPETE TO COMBAT HEALTH DISPARITIES

One way members get involved in CHEST’s philanthropic efforts takes place each year with the start of the NetWorks Challenge. CHEST members compete through their NetWorks – special interest groups that focus on particular areas of chest medicine – to raise funds that support Foundation microgrants.

5 MINUTE READ

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COMMUNITY SERVICE GRANTS BEDROCK OF SUPPORT FOR COMMUNITIES IN NEED

Community service grants are one way the Foundation strives to make a tangible, lasting impact on the lives of the patients we serve – they’re not just one-off projects with limited effects. But how do we really know that we’re making a difference?

8 MINUTE READ

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A DAY AT THE RACES!

Foundation hosts Belmont Stakes in NYC

This year’s Belmont Stakes Reception and Auction was our most successful event to date! Hosted in NYC at the Hotel Edison, the event raised more than $200,000 for the D. Robert McCaffree Community Service Grant Program, which focuses on helping those who face health disparities.

2 MINUTE READ

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The Donor Spotlight Summer 2021 issue is also available as a PDF  DOWNLOAD THE PDF »

Support the CHEST Foundation

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  • Champions Circle Annual Fund Giving Club donors

    Champion’s Circle is the CHEST Foundation’s annual giving club that recognizes our most committed donors in a calendar year, January 1 – December 31, 2020. The donor list below is recognized from January 1st – June 1, 2020.

    CHEST FOUNDATION FOUNDER AND HONORARY PATRON

    Bart Chernow, MD, Master FCCP and Peggy Chernow

    LIFE MEMBERS

    Amy Addrizzo, RN
    Doreen J. Addrizzo-Harris, MD, FCCP and Loren J. Harris, MD, FCCP
    W. Michael Alberts, MD, MBA, Master FCCP and Debra Alberts
    John C. Alexander Jr., MD, MBA, FCCP and Carol C. Alexander
    Adel Bassily-Marcus, MD, FCCP and Ginger J. Gardner, MD
    Sidney S. Braman, MD, Master FCCP and Judi D. Braman
    Jack D. Buckley, MD, FCCP
    Brian Carlin, MD, FCCP
    Cassandra C. Carr
    Christopher L. Carroll, MD, FCCP
    Charles Butt Foundation
    Bart Chernow, MD, Master FCCP and Peggy Chernow
    Clayton T. Cowl, MD, MS, FCCP and Cammy J. Cowl
    Mark Cuban
    Robert De Marco, MD, FCCP and Debbie De Marco
    Edward J. Diamond, MD, FCCP and Patrice Diamond, RN, MS
    Dobson Family
    Feldman Family Foundation
    Mike Fravell
    Neil S. Freedman, MD, FCCP
    Kim D. French, MHSA, CAPPM
    Frost Bank
    Allen I. Goldberg, MD, Master FCCP and Eveline A. M. Faure, MD
    The Graham and Elizabeth Weston Gift Fund
    Greehey Family Foundation
    The Gordon Hartman Family Foundation
    David D. Gutterman, MD, Master FCCP
    Nicola A. Hanania, MBBS, MS, FCCP

    Julianna Hawn Holt
    H-E-B, LP
    Corrina Holt Richter & HOLT CATERPILLAR CORP
    John A. Howington, MD, FCCP and Anne C. Howington
    Richard S. Irwin, MD, Master FCCP and Diane Irwin, RN
    J. Tullos Wells
    Saleh N. Jaafar, MD
    Jackson Pulmonary Associates
    Robert G. Johnson, MD, Master FCCP and Cindy Johnson
    Paul A. Kvale, MD, Master FCCP and Susan Kvale
    Las Aguilas Associates LLC
    Burton L. Lesnick, MD, FCCP
    Alvin Lever, MA, Honorary FCCP and Norine Lever
    Stephanie M. Levine, MD, FCCP and Richard T. Shaffer, MD
    Liberto Management Co Inc.
    Ramya Lotano, MD, FCCP and Vincent Lotano, MD, FCCP
    Scott Manaker, MD, FCCP and Alison Manaker
    Darcy D. Marciniuk, MD, FCCP and Carla Marciniuk, MD
    James B. D. Mark, MD
    Paul A. Markowski, CAE and Karen O. Markowski
    Janet R. Maurer, MD, MBA, FCCP
    Sheldon Marstine
    The Mays Family Foundation
    D. Robert McCaffree, MD, Master FCCP and Mary Anne McCaffree, MD, FCCP
    McCombs Family Foundation
    Jairo A. Melo, MD, FCCP & Texas IPS
    Stephen A. Mette, MD, FCCP
    Lisa K. Moores, MD, FCCP and Leon Moores, MD
    Ian T. Nathanson, MD, FCCP and Diane Nathanson
    Michael E. Nelson, MD, FCCP and Loretta R. Nelson, MD
    NuStar Foundation

    Jay I. Peters, MD, FCCP
    Barbara A. Phillips, MD, MSPH, FCCP
    Gregg Popovich
    Jill Popovich
    Udaya B. S. Prakash, MD, Master FCCP
    Suhail Raoof, MBBS, Master FCCP and Sabiha Raoof
    Michael E. Reed, JD
    The Richards Group
    Rico’s Products
    *Mark J. Rosen, MD, Master FCCP and Ilene Rosen
    Christian E. Sandrock, MD, FCCP
    Roslyn F. Schneider, MD, FCCP
    Select Rehabilitation, LLC
    Curtis N. Sessler, MD, FCCP and Pamela E. Kiser, MD
    Maggie Sharma
    Silver Eagle Distributors
    Gerard A. Silvestri, MD, MS, FCCP and Joanne Silvestri
    Steven Q. Simpson, MD, FCCP and Pamela J. Nicklaus, MD
    Spectrum Health
    Spurs Sports and Entertainment
    David J. Steiger, MBChB, FCCP and Bess Steiger
    John E. Studdard, MD, FCCP and Nancy Studdard
    Sugar Film Production
    Salim R. Surani, MD, FCCP and Zehra Surani, RRT, PhD
    Victor J. Test, MD, FCCP
    Alvin V Thomas Jr., MD, FCCP and Zorita Thomas
    Tito’s Handmade Vodka
    Kenneth G. Torrington, MD, FCCP
    Joseph Varon, MD, FCCP
    Stephen J. Welch and Beth Welch
    Whataburger
    *Sandra K. Willsie, DO, and Thomas E. Syverson, CMPE, MBA
    Wintrust Commercial Bank
    Zachry Industrial

    PATRON MEMBERS

    American Registry of Pathology
    Humayun Anjum, MD, FCCP
    George and Maureen Bain
    David L. Bowton, MD, FCCP
    Allan H. Bruckheim, MD
    Jacolyn and John Bucksbaum
    Aneesa M. Das, MD, FCCP
    Neeraj Desai, MD, FCCP and Judy Desai
    Naresh A. Dewan, MBBS, FCCP and Dr. Meera Dewan
    Tim Duncan
    Richard B. Evans, MD, MPH, FCCP
    FGMK, LLC
    Golf Acquisition Group
    Becky Hammon
    Carmel Joseph, MD, MBBS, FCCP
    Katten Munchin Rosenman, Inc.
    Kevin L. Kovitz, MD, FCCP
    Sylvan Stephen Lang
    Donald A. Mahler, MD, FCCP
    Med Center Intensivists of San Antonio PLLC
    Michael P. Bennett Foundation Inc.
    National Basketball Trainers Assoc. Foundation
    National Board for Respiratory Care, Inc.
    Jennifer T. Nemkovich, CAE
    Alexander S. Niven, MD, FCCP and Cathy Niven
    Prime Time Marketing
    Lois Rainer (In Memory of W. Gerald Rainer)
    Sanofi-Regeneron
    Karen and Robert Reuben
    Team Jeffrey for PF
    Patti Tuomey, EdD
    Visit San Antonio
    Walker Morton, LLP
    Wellvana
    Western Specialty Contractors

    SUSTAINING MEMBERS

    Action Elevator Inc.
    Rudy Anderson, CAE
    Preston and Robin Atkinson
    Augusta University
    Michel A. Boivin, MD, FCCP
    Nancy L. Brecheisen, MD, FCCP
    John Brozovich
    Marie M. Budev, DO, MPH, FCCP

    Theodore Chakos
    Comet Signs
    Carolyn M. D’Ambrosio, MD, FCCP
    P. Stratton Davies IV, CPA and Joanne Davies
    Noah Dorsky
    Chip Engelland
    Brian and Susan Farley
    Gallagher Bassett Services Inc.
    Chitoor S. Govindaraj, MD, FCCP
    Timothy Grant
    Monica and Bill Hall
    Chef Johnny Hernandez
    Candace A. Huebert, MD, FCCP
    Insmed Incorporated
    Chad E. Jackson, MS, RRT, FCCP and Katie Jackson
    Lisa C. Kanengiser, MD
    Norman Kellerman
    Roozehra Khan, DO, FCCP
    Sandhya Khurana, MD, FCCP
    Bart C. Koontz
    Lori Kwiatkowski
    Landscape Concepts Management
    Amy Lang, MD
    Tom and Renee Lardieri
    Deborah Jo Levine, MD, MS, FCCP
    Chris Mathis
    Methodist Health System
    Ronald M. Moen, CAE and Suellen G. Moen
    Ronald L. Morton, MD, FCCP
    Susan Murin, MD, FCCP
    Robert Musacchio, PhD and Susan L. Kelsey
    Genentech
    Kevin M. O’Neil, MD, FCCP and Debbie O’Neil
    James M. Parish, MD, FCCP and Denise Parish
    Angela Perillo, MBA
    Joe and Annette Perri
    Craig A. Piquette, MD, FCCP and Nancy VanderSluis, MD
    Robert and Cathy Petrillo
    Margaret A. Pisani, MD, MPH, FCCP
    Laxminarayana C. Rao, MD, FCCP
    Todd W. Rice, MD, FCCP
    Bernard J. Roth, MD, FCCP
    Robert F. Schmidt
    Sonali Sethi, MD, FCCP
    Maximiliano A. Tamae Kakazu, MD, FCCP

    Nancy Thiessen
    Michael R. Thiessen and Nancy E. Thiessen
    Bob Tober
    University of Texas at San Antonio
    Srinivasa R. Venkatesh, MBBS, FCCP (In Honor of All My Patients)
    Patrick Wong Jr., DO
    Brian and Cara Wright

    ADVOCATE MEMBERS

    A to Z Wineworks
    AB Distributing
    Able Engineering Services
    Able Services
    Muhammad Adrish, MD, FCCP
    Arzu Ari, FAARC, PhD, FCCP
    Nicki Augustyn, CAE
    Javier Barreda Garcia, MD, FCCP
    David G. Bell, MD, FCCP
    The Brantley Family
    Sherry Budziak
    Kenneth R. Casey, MD, MPH, FCCP
    Kevin M. Chan, MD, FCCP and Dr. Roxane Chan
    Clayco
    Nancy A. Collop, MD, FCCP
    Rany Condos, MD
    Vera A. De Palo, MD, FCCP
    Bradley Deutsch
    Jean M. Elwing, MD, FCCP
    Ernst & Young, LLP
    David Feldman
    Arthur F. Gelb, MD, FCCP
    Golub & Company
    Richard M. Hamrick III, MD, MBA, FCCP and Bonny D. Hamrick, RN, MS
    Gemzel A. Hernandez, MD, FCCP
    David Hiller
    GSEP Emergency Medicine
    Bruce Jennings
    Alamgir A. Khan, MBBS, FCCP
    Daren Kneezel
    Mitchell Kovitz
    Kovitz Investment Group Partners, LLC
    Lee County Sheriffs Posse Inc.
    Teofilo L. Lee-Chiong Jr., MD
    Matthews Family Foundation
    Mesirow Financial Inc.
    The Miriam Hospital
    Amy E. Morris, MD, FCCP

    Art Mueller
    National Basketball Association
    National Emphysema Foundation
    Anne E. O’Donnell, MD, FCCP
    Olympik Signs, Inc.
    David J. Prezant, MD, FCCP
    Proton Electric
    Robb Rabito, CHCP
    Linda Rogers, MD, FCCP
    Edward C. Rosenow III, MD, MS, Master FCCP
    Mark Rudzinski
    Catherine S. Sassoon, MD, FCCP
    Mary K. Schroth, MD, FCCP
    David A. Schulman, MD, MPH, FCCP
    Lynn T. Tanoue, MD, FCCP
    Mojdeh Talebian, MD, FCCP
    Corey Unger
    Wildberry Pancakes and Cafe
    Andrew Wilhelm, DO, FCCP and Chelle Wilhelm, MD
    Rosemary A. Zaccanti

    MEMBERS

    Amano McGann
    Abbie Begnaud, MD, BS
    Andrew R. Berman, MD, FCCP
    BKB Commercial
    Dean Caprini
    Jennifer Davino
    Amanda M. Dexter, RRT, MSc
    Donald W. Collier III Charitable Trust
    Tim Gallagher
    Integrated Respiratory Solutions
    Jeff Kreamer
    Sunita Kumar, MBBS, FCCP
    Janet Marciniak
    Midwest Risk Partners
    John Momper
    Michelle Olken
    Carlos Pagan
    Scott Popp
    Analisa Rodriguez
    David Sachs
    Paul D. Scanlon, MD, FCCP
    Spot Hero
    Standard Parking Plus Corp
    Stephen Stoute
    Texas de Brazil
    Mitchell Wilner

    SUPPORTERS

    James Anderson
    Stephen Ball
    Daniel Bekavac
    Pam Benassi
    Elisa Benjamin
    Kevin Bethyo
    Amit Bhatia
    Kamila Bilska
    Jef Block
    Brandon Boesch, DO
    Jacob Bovara
    Terry Byron
    Scott Ciukowski
    Cary Claver
    Beth N. Corey
    Otgonbaatar Demberel
    Heather Dethloff, MA, CHCP
    Brian Deutsch
    Robert DiPiazza
    Gary Edidin
    Marcy Shiner Edidin
    Michelle and Jay Ehrlich
    Laurence M. Feldman
    Mitchell C. Feldman
    Mara Feldman
    Robert Figura
    Robert Friedman
    Daniel Genisio
    Tony Genisio
    Aleksandr Gershik
    Bruce Gold
    Jack Goldberg
    Landon Goss
    Mark Alan Gottlieb
    Michael Juliano
    Mitchell Kalter
    Satish K. Kauta
    Kelly Keegan
    Jim Kelly
    Carrie Kennedy
    Sandra Kite
    Debra Kleeman
    Mitchell Knopoff
    Kristen Kozlowski
    Michael Krasny
    Thomas J. Lauman Jr
    Eliran Maman
    Michael J. Merar, DDS
    Kari Messenger

    Josh Miller
    Caitlin Moroney, MA
    James Nelson
    Mikela Peterson
    Jon Plain
    Sherry Plain
    David Pollans
    Jane Pyke
    Victoria M. Raymond, MS
    David Rouley
    Mark Ruenz
    Ryan Schuette
    Steven W. Siegel
    Jason Siegellak
    Andrew Silver
    Skyline Maintenance and Repair Service, Inc. Suzanne M. Sletto, CAE
    Peter Smolenski
    Corey A. Speck
    Darryl Stachniak
    Sherry Tober
    Mark Truger
    Scott Urbanowski
    Paul Verkoulen
    Renee Volpe
    Maryke Webb
    Peter N. Weil
    Kelly Wisecarver
    Randy Yaffe
    Chin Tsun Yang, MD
    James Young, PhD

    CHEST STAFF

    Lisa Alvarez
    Christine (Rosie) Alwahab Janet Amesse
    Rudy Anderson
    Nicki Augustyn, CAE
    Robin Billiter
    Rachel Cahill
    Karen Caraher
    Josh Coe
    Beth N. Corey
    Kristin Crowe
    P. Stratton Davies IV, CPA
    Jean Davis
    Heather Dethloff, MA, CHCP
    Jonathan D. Detrich
    Erika Devine, MS, CSM, CSPO

    Jody Egel, CMP, CAE
    Adrian Feld
    Missy Fleck
    Danae K. Fragakis, BS
    Olivia A. Garconita
    Margaret Gates
    Andrew Gillen
    Pamela L. Goorsky
    Lauren Hughes
    Morgan Jacobus
    Debra Janiszewski
    Kathy Jewett, MA
    Casey Keske

    Maggie Kosinski, MNM
    Michelle Kosobucki
    Tina Le
    Ronald M. Moen, CAE
    Caitlin Moroney
    Robert Musacchio, PhD
    Cheryl Myers, MA, CUA, PSM I
    Jenny Nemkovich, CAE
    Jennifer T. Nemkovich, CAE
    Angela Perillo, MBA
    Emily Petraglia
    Jane Pyke
    Robb Rabito, CHCP

    Rob Ramillosa
    Vanessa Rancine
    Melissa Roberts, SHRM-CP
    Mary Rodriguez
    Mark Ruenz
    Jeanne Schaschwary
    Richard Schuch, Ed D Suzanne M. Sletto, CAE
    Teresa Tam
    Mateo Velilla
    James Young, PhD
    Alexandra Zurbuchen

  • Founders Society members

    We thank our members of the Founder’s Society, which recognizes passionate health-care professionals and their families for their cumulative lifetime giving since the CHEST Foundation was founded in 1996 THANK YOU for your ongoing support and leadership level of giving.

    1996 VISIONARY CIRCLE

    Bart Chernow, MD, Master FCCP and Peggy Chernow
    Robert G. Johnson, MD, Master FCCP and Cindy Johnson
    Gregg Popovich
    Jill Popovich

    1935 MURRAY KORNFELD CIRCLE

    W. Michael Alberts, MD, MBA, Master FCCP and Debra Alberts
    Doreen J. Addrizzo-Harris, MD, FCCP and Loren J. Harris, MD, FCCP
    John C. Alexander Jr., MD, MBA, FCCP and Carol C. Alexander
    Robert De Marco, MD, FCCP and Debbie De Marco
    Edward J. Diamond, MD, FCCP and Patrice Diamond, RN, MS
    Feldman Family Foundation
    David D. Gutterman, MD, Master FCCP
    John A. Howington, MD, FCCP and Anne C. Howington, RN
    Stephanie M. Levine, MD, FCCP and Richard T. Shaffer, MD
    Darcy D. Marciniuk, MD, FCCP and Carla Marciniuk, MDD
    Robert McCaffree, MD, Master FCCP and Mary Anne McCaffree, MD, FCCP
    Jay I. Peters, MD, FCCP

    Curtis N. Sessler, MD, FCCP and Pamela E. Kiser, MD
    Maggie Sharma
    Gerard A. Silvestri, MD, MS, FCCP and Joanne Silvestri
    Spurs Sports and Entertainment
    John E. Studdard, MD, FCCP and Nancy Studdard
    Salim R. Surani, MD, FCCP and Zehra Surani, RRT, PhD
    *Sandra K. Willsie, DO, and Thomas E. Syverson, CMPE, MBA

    LEADERSHIP CIRCLE

    Sidney S. Braman, MD, Master FCCP and Judi D. Braman
    Jack D. Buckley, MD, FCCP
    Clayton T. Cowl, MD, MS, FCCP and Cammy J. Cowl
    Frost Bank
    Allen I. Goldberg, MD, Master FCCP and Eveline A. M. Faure, MD
    Greehey Family Foundation
    Kalpalatha K. Guntupalli, MD, FCCP
    Nicola A. Hanania, MBBS, MS, FCCP
    H-E-B
    Corrina Holt Richter & HOLT CATERPILLAR CORP
    Richard S. Irwin, MD, Master FCCP and Diane Irwin, RN

    Jackson Pulmonary Associates
    Paul A. Kvale, MD, Master FCCP and Susan Kvale
    Alvin Lever, MA, Honorary FCCP and Norine Lever
    Scott Manaker, MD, FCCP and Alison Manaker
    James B. D. Mark, MD
    Paul A. Markowski and Karen O. Markowski
    Janet R. Maurer, MD, FCCP
    McCombs Family Foundation
    Michael E. Nelson, MD, FCCP and Loretta R. Nelson, MD
    Barbara A. Phillips, MD, MSPH, FCCP
    Francis J. Podbielski, MD, MS
    Udaya B. S. Prakash, MD, Master FCCP
    Suhail Raoof, MBBS, Master FCCP and Sabiha Raoof
    Michael E. Reed, JD
    *Mark J. Rosen, MD, Master FCCP and Ilene Rosen
    NuStar Energy L.P.
    Christian E. Sandrock, MD, FCCP
    Select Rehabilitation, LLC
    David J. Steiger, MBChB, FCCP and Bess Steiger
    John E. Studdard, MD, FCCP and Nancy Studdard

  • Donor Spotlight publication information

    CHEST Foundation Board of Trustees

    Executive Committee

    Edward J. Diamond, MD, MBA, FCCP
    President & Trustee
    Ian T. Nathanson, MD, FCCP
    President-Elect & Trustee
    Doreen J. Addrizzo-Harris, MD, FCCP
    Immediate Past President & Trustee
    Robert De Marco, MD, FCCP
    President-Designate & Trustee
    Stephanie M. Levine, MD, FCCP
    CHEST President
    Clayton T. Cowl, MD, MS, FCCP
    CHEST Past President
    Robert A. Musacchio, PhD
    CHEST Executive Vice President and CEO

    Trustees

    Christopher L. Carroll, MD, FCCP
    Sai P. Haranath, MD, MPH, FCCP
    Candace A. Huebert, MD, FCCP
    Roozehra Khan, DO, FCCP
    Burton L. Lesnick, MD, FCCP
    Donald A. Mahler, MD, FCCP
    Jairo A. Melo, MD, FCCP
    Barbara A. Phillips, MD, MSPH, FCCP
    Jill Popovich
    David J. Steiger, MBChB, FCCP
    Patti Tuomey, EdD

     

    CHEST Foundation Staff

    Robert A. Musacchio, PhD
    CHEST Executive Vice President and CEO
    Rudy Anderson, CAE
    Associate Executive Director, CHEST Foundation
    Angela Perillo, MBA
    Director, Development & Foundation Operations
    Caitlin Moroney, MA
    Individual Giving Manager, CHEST Foundation
    Andrew Gillen
    CHEST Foundation Programs and Development Specialist

    CHEST Foundation Founder and Honorary Patron

    Bart Chernow, MD, Master FCCP and Peggy Chernow

    CHEST Publishing & Production Staff

    Nicki Augustyn, CAE
    SVP, Marketing, Communications, and Publishing
    Kavitha Reinhold, MA | Director, Publishing
    Pam Goorsky | Manager, Editorial Resources
    Martha Zaborowski
    Publications & Digital Content Editor
    Claudia Egresits | Senior Branded Design Specialist

President’s Letter


It’s All About the Why

In recent months my 3-year-old grandson ends every conversation with the word “why.” “Why do I have to eat vegetables?” “Why do cement trucks make cement?” “Why do I have to like my sister?” This prompted me to ask why do we do what we do? Why did
I choose to be a pediatric pulmonologist and others choose to be nurses, respiratory therapists, intensivists, or transplant specialists? I  suspect that the common why is that we are fascinated with how the pulmonary system provides the body with oxygen, and this drives us to help people whose lungs fail to operate optimally.

Similarly, the CHEST Foundation is supported by people from many walks of life who donate personal resources so that we can carry out our mission to provide education and support research and community service projects. Why do they support the CHEST Foundation? In this issue of Donor Spotlight, former Foundation President, Dr. Ed Diamond, talks about the purpose of philanthropy for him and how he now channels this into his support of the CHEST Foundation.

While you consider Ed’s personal commitment, let me tell you about another former Foundation President, Dr. Doreen Addrizzo-Harris and her family. Doreen is a pulmonologist, as was her late father, and her husband is a thoracic surgeon. For the past several years, Doreen’s family, including her mother, sisters, brother, and daughter, has worked tirelessly to create a fundraising gala in New York City. This year’s event honored Dr. Bob McCaffree for his support for CHEST Foundation’s community service grants. It was a wonderful event and raised well over $200,000.

But not all commitments come from people with a direct connection to CHEST. Last year, the CHEST Foundation sponsored a listening tour that focused on the major health care equity issues people from vulnerable populations face when seeking treatment. We also learned that often, doctors do not ask about important social issues that affect the health of patients. This prompted the CHEST Foundation to explore the development of a clinician education program called “The First 5 Minutes” to teach providers how to ask patients about social determinants of health. This was presented to officials in San Antonio’s Bexar County who thought this was such a compelling idea that they pledged significant support for us to implement this initiative.

The heartwarming stories of Drs. Diamond, Addrizzo-Harris, and McCaffree and the managers of Bexar County plus thousands of other supporters of the CHEST Foundation each exemplify the “why.” So, as you ask yourself why you do what you do, I hope you will consider how you can help us continue the mission to champion lung health.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

Ian T. Nathanson, MD, FCCP