May 2026 President’s Letter
Raed A. Dweik, MD, MBA, ATSF
As I prepare for my final ATS International Conference as President of the American Thoracic Society, but certainly not the last, I am reflecting on the extraordinary moment we are living in as a profession. Medicine is changing before our eyes. Artificial intelligence, digital platforms, and new scientific tools are transforming how we learn, how we discover, and how we care for patients. We are part of a true technological revolution – and ATS is helping to lead it.
That spirit will be evident from the very beginning of the ATS 2026 International Conference in Orlando, starting with the Opening Ceremony on Saturday, May 16, featuring Robert M. Wachter, MD, professor and chair of the Department of Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, and one of the most influential voices in health system innovation. In his address, “How AI Is Transforming Health Care,” Dr. Wachter will explore how artificial intelligence is already entering hospitals and clinics, reshaping everything from diagnosis to decision-making, and challenging us to think differently about the future of medicine. His work reminds us that the changes ahead are not theoretical – they are happening now, and we must be ready to lead them.
I thank Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. for their generous support of the ATS 2026 Opening Ceremony.
Throughout the conference, we will continue to explore how technology is opening new possibilities for our field. This year, attendees will experience the new AI Lab exposition space, a dedicated showcase highlighting how artificial intelligence and emerging technologies are transforming pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine. We are also expanding our digital ecosystem with ATSConference365, our interactive program and planning platform, and ATS Now, our new on-demand learning experience that delivers personalized education and conference content anytime, anywhere. These innovations reflect our commitment to meeting members where they are and giving them the tools to learn, connect, and grow in ways that were not possible even a few years ago.
And yet, as we move deeper into this era of customization, automation, and rapid discovery, we are reminded that the practice of medicine is not defined by technology alone.
One of the most meaningful moments of ATS 2026 will be the Plenary Session on Tuesday, May 19, featuring keynote speaker and longtime ATS member Rana Awdish, MD, a pulmonary and critical care physician and author of the bestselling memoir In Shock. In her address, “After Shock, The Redemptive Power of Hope,” Dr. Awdish will reflect on the role of attention, relationships, and compassion in healing – lessons shaped by her own experience as a critically ill patient early in her career. Her story reminds us that even as science advances at breathtaking speed, the most powerful force in medicine remains our willingness to stay present with one another in moments of vulnerability and uncertainty.
Attendees will also have an opportunity to receive a signed advance copy of Dr. Awdish’s forthcoming book, After Shock: Learning to Reinhabit My Body After Illness, which will be published later this year. Dr. Awdish has generously donated copies of the book to ATS Philanthropy in support of the ATS Research Program, and signed copies will be available at the ATS Store, located in the Networking Super Center at ATS 2026 (with a suggested donation of $25). This is a meaningful way to reflect on the themes of compassion and healing highlighted in her address while also supporting the research that will shape the future of respiratory health.
I thank GSK for their generous support of the ATS 2026 Plenary Session.
For me, this balance between innovation and humanity captures what makes the ATS so special. We are a community that pushes science forward, embraces new ideas, and adapts to change – but we never lose sight of why we do this work. Every discovery, every new technology, every breakthrough ultimately exists for one purpose: to improve the lives of patients.
That is why, as my presidential year comes to a close, I am especially proud to introduce the Friends of Raed: Celebrate and Support Science campaign in support of the ATS Research Program. The future we are building – one defined by precision-medicine, artificial intelligence, and new therapies – depends on the research we fund today. Please consider donating, as your support of the ATS Research Program helps launch the careers of investigators whose work continues to shape the future of respiratory health.
This year, I am personally committed to this effort. I will match every dollar donated to the campaign, because investing in science is one of the most meaningful ways we can honor the patients we serve and the communities we share.
As we gather in Orlando, I hope you will take a moment to appreciate what we are part of. We are living through a time of remarkable change. We have more knowledge, more tools, and more opportunities than ever before. But what defines us as physicians, scientists, and members of this Society is not only our ability to innovate – it is our commitment to care, to connect, and to move forward together.
I look forward to seeing you at ATS 2026!
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Raed A. Dweik, MD, MBA, ATSF
President, American Thoracic Society