Meet the 2026 Panelists
Alexandra Noël, PhD, MSc, BSc
Associate Professor and Director of the Inhalation Research Facility at Louisiana State University’s School of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Noël’s research focuses on the pulmonary effects of environmental pollutants. She also serves as Chair of the ATS Membership Committee (2025–2026) and is a member of the NIH Advisory Committee on Research on Women’s Health
Annie Pardo, PhD
Distinguished Professor at the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Dr. Pardo is a pioneer in biomedical research on fibrotic lung diseases and aging. She was the first non-U.S. woman to receive the ATS Recognition Award for Scientific Achievement and is a recipient of both Mexico’s National University Award and National Science Award
Kathleen Oare Lindell, PhD, RN, ATSF
Associate Professor and Mary Swain Endowed Chair in Palliative Care Health at the Medical University of South Carolina, Dr. Lindell’s work centers on improving care for patients with serious respiratory illness. She is the developer of A Program of SUPPORT™ for patients with Pulmonary Fibrosis and serves on the ATS Board of Directors
Mary B. Rice, MD, MPH
Mark and Catherine Winkler Associate Professor of Environmental Respiratory Health and Director of the Center for Climate, Health, and the Global Environment (C-CHANGE) at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Dr. Rice’s research explores the impact of air pollution and climate change on respiratory health. She also leads multiple NIH-funded programs and serves on the EPA’s Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee
M. Patricia Rivera, MD, ATSF
Professor of Medicine and Oncology and the C. Jane Davis & C. Robert Davis Distinguished Professor in Pulmonary Medicine, Chief of the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, and an Associate Director at Wilmot Cancer Center in the University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York. Her clinical expertise includes screening, diagnosing, and staging lung cancer, as well as managing treatment complications. Through NCI-funded research, she studies the delivery, quality, and outcomes of lung cancer screening and examines interventions to increase screening rates. Throughout her career, Dr. Rivera has held numerous leadership positions in professional societies, including President of the American Thoracic Society from 2023 to 2024. Dr. Rivera is passionate about research, teaching, mentoring, and developing the next generation of leaders in pulmonary and critical care medicine.