The Women’s Forum at the ATS 2022 International Conference recognizes the achievements of women in pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine and research. It is sure to be an inspirational hub for bonding and networking this year.

“It’s usually standing room only,” said ATS Membership Director Jennifer Marotta Collin. “The conversations afterward are the best. The keynote is amazing, but then the camaraderie at the tables where colleagues connect and discuss their challenges — everyone leaves with a big smile on their face. It’s a really inspirational afternoon.”

This year’s forum, 11:45 a.m.-1:15 p.m. PT on Monday, May 16, in the Yerba Buena Ballroom Salon 1 (Lower B2 Level) at the San Francisco Marriott Marquis, will feature keynote speaker Patricia Finn, MD, former president of the ATS and past recipient of the ATS Elizabeth A. Rich Award, announced at the Women’s Forum each year.

Dr. Finn is an Earl M. Bane professor, associate dean for strategic initiative, head of the Department of Medicine, and an associate program director for the Medical Scientist Training Program at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

As a physician scientist, she focuses on the microbiome and immune-mediated pulmonary diseases, including sarcoidosis, transplantation, lung injury, and asthma.

Dr. Finn has also placed an emphasis on fostering health equality in respiratory diseases. She has spoken extensively to the media about growing up poor and the inequities in health care it presented. She also has discussed how she has approached exhaustion.

The 2022 Elizabeth A. Rich Award will be presented at the Women’s Forum. It recognizes an outstanding woman who has made significant contributions in the fields of pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine. This year’s honoree is Patricia Sime, MD, FRCP, chair of the Department of Internal Medicine at Virginia Commonwealth University.

Nominees for the award are judged on four equally weighted criteria: contributions to the field, leadership, mentorship, and ATS service. Competition for the award gets stronger every year.

“It gets harder and harder to judge every year,” Ms. Collin said. “In past years, there were maybe five to choose from. This year we had about 38.”

The forum is organized and presented by the ATS Membership Committee, Committee Chair Clement Ren, MD, MBA, ATSF, and Vice Chair Meshell Johnson, MD.

Tickets to this event are sold out.