Olympian, Best-selling Author Dara Torres to Speak at Luncheon for National Jewish Health

Dara Torres, four time Olympic gold medalist with 12 medals overall in swimming, and New York Times best-selling author, will speak on Wednesday, March 4, 2020, at the New Directions for Women Luncheon to benefit National Jewish Health, the leading respiratory hospital in the nation. The luncheon is from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Boca West Country Club, 20583 Boca West Drive in Boca Raton.

The annual New Directions for Women Luncheon is a premier fundraising event for National Jewish Health and raises awareness for asthma care and research. National Jewish Health physician-scientists are on the cutting edge of asthma research — studying the disease from all angles to improve understanding and discover new treatments for this complex and prevalent disease. It is the place in the United States where physicians refer their most difficult asthma cases.

National Jewish Health pioneered asthma research and treatment since it first emerged as a public health threat in the 1950s. Drawing upon its expertise in the treatment of lung conditions, National Jewish Health created the nation’s first large inpatient adult asthma service. In 1960, National Jewish Health scientists developed the first clinically useful method of diagnosing asthma.

Many of the most effective medications for asthma and allergies, including Advair^®, Claritin^® and Xolair^®, have been introduced to the marketplace as a direct result of the clinical trial work performed at National Jewish Health. Today, the organization has one of the largest pulmonology divisions in the nation and a unique focus on care and research around respiratory illnesses.

Torres, who has struggled with exercise-induced asthma, will speak at the luncheon about her own experience with the disease and about overcoming life’s obstacles to become an elite athlete. Luncheon co-chairs are Elyssa Kupferberg and Jan Savarick. Anne Jacobson is the honorary chair.

A limited number of tickets for the luncheon are available. For more information, visit flnewdirections.org or contact Danielle Ross at 561.477.5400 or rossd@njhealth.org.