National Jewish Medical and Research Center President and CEO Honored During Largest Gathering of Lung Specialists in World
Lynn M. Taussig, MD, Receives Distinguished Achievement Award
from American Thoracic Society
ATLANTA - Lynn M. Taussig, MD, President and CEO of National Jewish Medical and Research Center, received the American Thoracic Society (ATS) Distinguished Achievement Award last night, May 19, during the 98th ATS International Conference in Atlanta, Georgia. The conference is the largest gathering in the world of lung related specialists, with 14,000 attendees.
The Distinguished Achievement Award is bestowed annually "to someone who has made outstanding contributions to the mission of the American Thoracic Society: to prevent and fight respiratory disease through research, education, patient care and advocacy," said Adam Wanner, MD, ATS President.
"Dr. Taussig has had an exceptional career of research, teaching and professional service, which makes him an excellent candidate for the Distinguished Achievement Award," said Robert S. Tepper, MD, PhD, Professor of Pediatrics at Indiana University. Dr. Tepper nominated Dr. Taussig for the award for his devotion to understanding the childhood origins of lung diseases in adults, for his development of a training program for pediatric pulmonologists, for his 160 scientific publications, seven books and monographs and for service to his profession-Dr. Taussig has served on more than 40 national committees, including ATS, American Lung Association, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Society of Pediatric Research and National Institutes of Health. He currently chairs the steering committee for the National Institutes of Health Childhood Asthma Research and Education (CARE) network. In addition, Dr. Taussig was "central to the development of Pediatric Pulmonology as a subspecialty with the American Board of Pediatrics," Dr. Tepper said.
Prior to taking the helm at National Jewish in 1993, Dr. Taussig had been Professor and Head of the Department of Pediatrics and Director of the Steele Memorial Children's Research Center at the University of Arizona College of Medicine in Tucson. His clinical interests have focused on childhood asthma and cystic fibrosis, and his research has concentrated on the childhood origins of chronic lung disease, especially asthma; lung growth and development as related to health and disease; and cystic fibrosis.
National Jewish is the only medical and research center in the United States devoted entirely to respiratory, allergic and immune system diseases, including asthma, tuberculosis, emphysema, severe allergies, AIDS, cancer, and autoimmune diseases such as lupus. Founded in 1899, National Jewish is dedicated to enhancing prevention, treatment and cures through research, and to developing and providing innovative clinical programs for treating patients regardless of age, religion, race or ability to pay.