President's Message: Resilience, Responsibility, and Recommitment
As I accept the gavel at the ATS 2025 International Conference in San Francisco, I do so with deep hope, humility, and resolve. It is an honor to serve as President of a Society whose values I share and whose mission I believe in so profoundly: to accelerate global innovation in respiratory health through multidisciplinary collaboration, education, and advocacy.
This is not an ordinary moment in history. We find ourselves navigating a world increasingly shaped by uncertainty – where trust in science is challenged, public health resources are strained, and the burden on clinicians, educators, and researchers continues to rise. Yet in these times, the work of the ATS is more vital than ever. And I firmly believe that our Society is uniquely positioned to rise to the challenge – not only to withstand these pressures, but to lead with courage and conviction.
Throughout my career as a pulmonary physician-scientist and academic leader, I’ve seen firsthand the power of science to heal and the power of community to sustain that work. The ATS represents both. We are a global home for the brightest minds in respiratory, critical care, and sleep medicine. But just as importantly, we are a community built on trust, shared purpose, and a commitment to service.
In the year ahead, my focus will be to maintain the ATS premier status – an anchor for our members, a defender of scientific integrity, and a force for good in a world where facts must not waver. We will champion data-driven solutions, support and protect our workforce, and advocate boldly for public health policies rooted in science. We are a society by all of us, for the benefit of all of us. A member-driven organization that provides members with a space to meaningfully contribute and a place to belong and thrive.
Each year, the ATS Board of Directors sets annual goals that reflect the Society’s top priorities across its core strategic domains. For 2025, these goals reinforce what values we must protect and what objectives we must pursue to stay strong and future focused. Our commitments this year include advancing cutting-edge science through increased grantmaking, ensuring the continued excellence of our International Conference, and developing stronger pathways for PhD researchers. The Society will continue to grow its support for non-MD members and actively measure how our educational offerings, at the International Conference and beyond, contribute to real-world knowledge and skill development.
We are also renewing our focus on professional development, emphasizing inclusive education and career support. This includes launching a comprehensive, year-round learning strategy informed directly by member feedback. Conference programming features like the Networking Supercenter will be refined to create even more meaningful connections among members.
In advocacy and global health, the ATS will remain steadfast in its commitment to improving respiratory health worldwide. We will continue to lead through policy engagement in areas such as air quality, tobacco control, and research funding. We also look forward to expanding international engagement through increased attendance at the conference and the strengthening of relationships with global respiratory societies. Our long-running MECOR (Methods in Epidemiologic, Clinical, and Operations Research) program continues to evolve into a globally connected research and education community for both students and faculty. With increasingly structured and robust courses, MECOR now operates across multiple regions – including Africa, Southeast Asia, China, India, Latin America, and Türkiye.
More than just a training initiative, MECOR serves as a platform to strengthen long-term collaboration with national and regional respiratory societies, while advancing research capacity and professional development worldwide. At the same time, it is creating a vibrant hub for mentoring, networking, and community-building within the global respiratory field.
On the clinical front, our Society remains committed to setting the highest standards for respiratory care. In 2025, we anticipate the publication of 15 clinical documents, including four new guidelines. Our quality improvement initiatives will address pressing needs such as vaccine uptake, and we will continue to equip clinicians with evidence-based tools and resources that enhance patient care. Central to this work is the inclusion of the patient and caregiver voice through the ATS Public Advisory Roundtable, which provides strategic guidance at multiple levels throughout the Society’s governance structure to keep patients at the forefront of activities and programming.
Equally vital is our commitment to strengthening the ATS community. Following an in-depth market research survey conducted in late 2024, we are refining our focus – not only on growing our membership, but on aligning our programs and offerings more closely with the professional goals of both current and prospective members. We recognize that our members are the heart of the Society; their expertise, passion, and commitment are what drive our mission forward. That’s why we are not only investing in improved systems and streamlined processes to enhance engagement but also prioritizing the growth of our membership. Creating an inclusive, supportive environment where all members feel valued, seen, and empowered is essential to advancing respiratory health worldwide – and central to who we are as a society. ATS will remain a large tent for all including a home for clinicians, researchers, educators, and innovators; a place for U.S. and international members; a space for trainees, junior faculty, and seasoned professionals, as well as patients and families.
Beyond that, our annual goals are closely aligned with our broader Strategic Framework, which the ATS Board adopted in October 2024. The framework is more than a roadmap; it reflects who we are. It affirms our commitment to scientific discovery, professional development, global health, patient care, and organizational community. It calls us to maintain our welcoming and inclusive culture, enhance our educational offerings, and strengthen our financial sustainability. In short, it guides us not just in what we do, but how we do it – with integrity, transparency, and passion.
If there is one thing we have learned in recent years, it is that strength lies in solidarity. The ATS is more than an organization. It is a movement – driven by clinicians, scientists, educators, researchers, patients, and partners who believe in the power of respiratory health to transform lives. As President, I will protect that movement with vigilance and determination. We will meet challenges head-on, guided by focus and intent. We will remain adaptive without being reactive. And we will always ground our work in science and service to help the world breathe.
I invite every member of our community to be a part of this journey – through your research, your advocacy, your leadership, or simply by showing up for one another. As you explore what ATS can do for you, I encourage you to also explore what you can do for ATS so that our organization can continue to grow and thrive as it supports its members. Our future depends on it. Thank you for your trust, your talent, and your tireless commitment to the mission of our Society.
I look forward to serving you. Together, we help the world breathe.
Raed A. Dweik, MD, MBA, ATSF
ATS President