The Passing of Fran Comi
It is with great sadness and heavy hearts that we inform you of the passing of our dear colleague and friend Fran Comi, who passed away on Sunday, June 5th, surrounded by family and friends.
It is hard to imagine the ATS and planning an ATS International Conference without Fran. She spent her entire professional career at the ATS. She cared deeply about the organization, its members, and her colleagues. She had a special way of leaving a positive impact on everyone she interacted with. She loved the members and her colleagues, regarding them as family.
After earning her Bachelor of Science in Health Science at Brooklyn College, Fran joined the American Lung Association on July 16, 1981. Over the years, under her leadership the conference program evolved and grew tremendously. She oversaw the transition to new technologies (think of going from paper scientific abstracts to online submissions) and from in-person to online conferences in 2020 and 2021 and then back to our most recent in-person conference in San Francisco.
At ATS 2022 Fran received the Distinguished Achievement Award, the first Respiratory Health Award given to a staff member. She was also the first member of staff to receive a Presidential Commendation during ATS 2001.
The love of past International Conference Committee chairs was evident as they gathered at the award ceremony to honor her.
Fran will be greatly missed.
Receive the ATSF Mark of Distinction
The ATS Fellow designation (ATSF) is a mark of distinction that recognizes the accomplishments, dedication, and contributions of ATS members to the Society and the fields of pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine.
ATSF applications are available for individuals who have been an ATS member for five or more of the past 10 years.
We will spotlight ATS Fellows on the ATS website, in member publications, and at the ATS International Conference. Fellows will also receive a certificate.
Learn more and apply!
Deadline: Aug. 31, 2022
Upcoming Events
Research and Clinical Advances in Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM): A Rare Neoplastic Disease of Women
When: 4 p.m. ET, June 8, 2022
Register now!
The New Longitudinal Knowledge Assessment (LKA): ABIM updates for Physicians Certified in Pulmonary Disease, Critical Care Medicine, and Sleep Medicine
When: 1 p.m. ET, June 9, 2022
Register now!
Industry Innovations, “A Deep Dive into the “I’s” of Non-Cystic Fibrosis Bronchiectasis”
Experts in non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis (NCFB) will discuss current challenges in diagnosis and management, characterization of disease severity, and emerging treatment strategies for severe NCFB.
When: 12 p.m. ET, June 13, 2022
Register now!
Sponsored by Zambon
Neighborhood-Level Disadvantage Impacts on Patients with Fibrotic Interstitial Lung Disease
When: 1 p.m. ET, June 15, 2022
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Annual Meeting of the Aging Interest Group
When: 2 p.m. ET, June 16, 2022
Register now!
SRN Town Hall, “Beyond Biological Limits: The Role of Sleep in Professional Burnout”
When: 3:30 p.m. ET, June 16, 2022
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PI-TB - PINE: Microbiome
When: 11 a.m. ET, June 21, 2022
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2022 Aging Interest Group Meeting, "Career Transitions"
When: 1 p.m. ET, June 22, 2022
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Aging in Critical Care and Clinical Pulmonary Subgroups Combined Business Meeting
When: 12 p.m. ET, June 23, 2022
Register now!
Telerehabilitation for Chronic Respiratory Disease: A Randomized Controlled Equivalence Trial
When: 5 p.m. ET, June 28, 2022
Register now!
ATS 2022 On-Demand
ATS 2022 On-Demand Highlights are here! Learn more about the scientific sessions, industry presentations, and e-posters available now!
If you joined us in San Francisco, no additional registration is required. If you weren’t able to join us, you can still take advantage of the on-demand option! Register now!
The ATS 2022 On-Demand platform is open through June 24.
Grant Resource Guide
In an effort to promote grant opportunities to early career investigators, the Members in Transition and Training or MITT Committee has developed a Grant Resource Guide, featuring prominent and timely grant opportunities that directly support predoctoral, postdoctoral, and clinical fellows as well as early career faculty in Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine.
