Dear ATS Nursing Community and ATS Members in Minnesota,
The American Thoracic Society shares in the deep grief and distress felt across our community following the tragic killing of ICU nurse Alex Pretti, RN, and the recent death of Renee Nicole Good and all others killed by ICE agents. Our hearts are with all nurses — especially those in Minnesota, our colleagues in critical care, and every professional across the Veterans Administration who are mourning a coworker and friend during this unimaginably painful time.
We know that ICU nurses serve at the very center of critical care. They run toward crisis, deliver compassionate care on the hardest days of patients’ and families’ lives, and uphold the highest standards of humanity in the face of extraordinary pressures. The ATS profoundly respects and values their work. We also recognize the escalating threats of violence faced by nurses nationwide and the fear and uncertainty many experience about safety in the workplace, including concerns about immigration enforcement activities within care settings.
Please know that ATS leadership hears your anguish and urgent calls for accountability and transparency. We fully acknowledge the depth of feeling across our membership regarding the recent tragedies and the broader climate of violence affecting nurses.
We stand with you. We see the critical role you play in our ICUs, clinics, homes, and communities. And we remain committed to advocating for safe, equitable, and humane conditions for all who deliver and receive care.
With deep gratitude for all you do.
Raed Dweik, MD, MBA, ATSF, President
Michelle Ng Gong, MD, MS, ATSF, President-Elect
Jesse Roman, MD, ATSF, Secretary
Irina Petrache, MD, ATSF, Immediate Past President
Gregory Tino, MD, ATSF, Treasurer
Karen J. Collishaw, MPP, CAE, Chief Executive Officer
Assembly