Thousands of people in Vermont suffer from lung diseases. On April 27, 2016, nearly 100 people attended the inaugural LUNG FORCE Expo - a new one-day educational event designed to provide healthcare professionals and lung disease patients and their caregivers with information about the latest trends, research and treatment for lung disease.
Lung cancer is the #1 cancer killer in Vermont and nationwide, COPD is the 3rd leading cause of death
Thousands of people in Vermont suffer from lung diseases. On April 27, 2016, nearly 100 people attended the inaugural LUNG FORCE Expo - a new one-day educational event designed to provide healthcare professionals and lung disease patients and their caregivers with information about the latest trends, research and treatment for lung disease. Hosted by the American Lung Association of Vermont, the event featured speakers from a variety of fields - including several from the University of Vermont College of Medicine - who presented current medical information on topics that have impacted those living with lung disease.
The event offered two distinct programs: one tailored to patients and their caregivers and the other tailored to health professionals looking to find the most up-to-date information on research and trends in lung disease treatment.
UVM lung disease experts Claire Verschraegen, M.D., M.S., professor of medicine, Anne Dixon, professor of medicine, Garth Garrision, M.D., assistant professor of medicine, Yolanda Mageto, M.D., M.P.H., professor of medicine, Haitham Nsour, M.D., assistant professor of medicine, and Prema Menon, M.D., assistant professor of medicine, discussed such topics as therapies for lung cancer, asthma, pulmonary fibrosis, and COPD, as well as palliative care options.
“Lung cancer is the number-one cancer killer in women, yet only one percent of women know this,” said Jeff Seyler, president and CEO of the American Lung Association of the Northeast, based in East Hartford, Conn. “The LUNG FORCE movement arose as a result of this lack of awareness among women. Our LUNG FORCE Expo is an opportunity to help raise awareness about lung cancer while bringing together patients and caregivers and the best minds in lung disease research to offer support and share the latest information.”
The University of Vermont is home to one of 17 clinical research centers across the country that comprise the American Lung Association Airways Clinical Research Centers (ACRC) Network. The ALA ACRC Network conducts large clinical trials that directly impact patient care for those living with COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder) and asthma and is the nation’s largest not-for-profit network of clinical research centers dedicated to asthma and COPD treatment research.
About the American Lung Association of the Northeast
The American Lung Association of the Northeast is part of the American Lung Association, the oldest voluntary health organization in the U.S. Established in 1904 to combat tuberculosis; our mission today is to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease. The focus is on air quality, asthma, tobacco control, and all lung disease. The American Lung Association in the Northeast serves Conn., Mass. Maine, N.H., N.Y., R.I., and Vt.
(This press release was produced by Ebony Walmsley of the American Lung Association of the Northeast.)