The Public Advisory Roundtable platforms patient perspectives and unites them with care team specialists to optimize patient care and the relationship between providers and those they care for.

The Patients & Experts Forum at the ATS 2025 International Conference, now in its 19th year, will be held from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. PT on Saturday, May 17, at the InterContinental Hotel in San Francisco. The annual patient and family education event is free to attend. This year’s theme is “Personalized Medicine in Pulmonary Care – What it Means to be the Patient.”

“We’re excited about this year’s Patients & Experts Forum program because personalized medicine is a forward-looking topic that many PAR members, and plenty of others in thoracic medicine and beyond, are interested in learning more about,” explained American Thoracic Society President Irina Petrache, MD, ATSF.

Over the first two hours of the forum, speakers will share their insights on the following key topics:

“The presence of the patient’s voice is a critical reminder of what it means to be a doctor,” Dr. Petrache said. “PAR is all about bringing patient voices to life, including those who have had negative experiences with the health care system in the past, and showing that there are professionals like those at the International Conference who are there to advocate for patients and provide the resources they need.”

Breakout discussions with experts selected by the PAR members and a complimentary lunch will follow the presentations.

Caregivers and respiratory health professionals of all ages are encouraged to attend.

“This forum is a great opportunity for student scholars or other early career professionals to be exposed to the issues that are truly impacting patients,” Dr. Petrache said.

There is no cost to attend the Patients & Experts Forum and lunch, but an RSVP is required by emailing [email protected] or [email protected].

PAR will also host the scientific symposium “Breath of Collaboration: Accelerating Diverse Patient Accrual in Respiratory Trials” from 2:15 – 3:45 p.m. on Monday, May 19. The session will examine the efforts of funding organizations and industry to increase diverse participation in clinical trials.

Discussions will focus on how effective collaboration can overcome the challenges associated with low enrollment and elucidate strategic initiatives that reduce barriers to participation and ultimately improve inclusivity in clinical trials. This symposium aims to explore ways these groups can leverage their collective resources, expertise, and influence to form a collaborative approach that can lead to more efficient resource use, broader reach, and, ultimately, more representative and impactful clinical research.

To learn more about the PAR, visit https://site.thoracic.org/advocacy-patients/par.

ATS thanks Genentech, Inc., Insmed Incorporated, and United Therapeutics for their generous support of the ATS 2025 Patients & Experts Forum.