Meet the 2026 Awardee: Gerald S. Zavorsky, PhD, RRT, RPFT, FACSM
Gerald S. Zavorsky, Ph.D., RRT, RPFT, FACSM, is a Full Professor (Adjunct Series) in the Department of Physiology and Membrane Biology at the UC Davis School of Medicine and teaches in the School of Medicine and in the College of Biological Sciences. He is the founding Editor-in-Chief of Pulmonary Function Diagnostics; an Elsevier journal launched in 2025. He also serves on the American Thoracic Society Pulmonary Function Diagnostics Committee and the Global Lung Function Initiative Network and was the previous Vice-Chair for the Clinical & Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) revised C46 document on blood gas, co-oximetry, and related analyses.
Dr. Zavorsky earned his Ph.D. in Experimental Medicine from the University of British Columbia (2001), his M.A. in Kinesiology from McGill University (1997), and his B.S. in Respiratory Care from Loma Linda University (2024, Cum Laude). He also holds a Graduate Diploma in Biostatistics from the University of Louisville (2022). His professional credentials include registration as a Respiratory Therapist (RRT) and Pulmonary Function Technologist (RPFT) and has licensure as a General Clinical Laboratory Supervisor (Blood gas, Chemistry/Toxicology). He is a Fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine (FACSM).
With approximately 70 first-authored peer-reviewed publications and approximately 30 last-authored publications, Dr. Zavorsky is ranked in the top 1% of Life Sciences researchers globally and holds the #7 worldwide specialty ranking in pulmonary diffusing capacity (ScholarGPS®). His research focuses on pulmonary diffusing capacity for nitric oxide (DLNO) and carbon monoxide (DLCO), blood gas analysis, spirometry reference equations, and the development of innovative diagnostic tools for respiratory assessment. He has made foundational contributions to the standardization of the single-breath DLNO measurement, the double diffusion technique for detecting cardiopulmonary disease, and the use of segmented regression for pulmonary function reference equations. In 2026, he was honoured with the ATS RSF Dr. Robert Crapo Memorial Innovative Research Methodologies Award, presented by the American Thoracic Society Assembly on Respiratory Structure & Function.
Dr. Zavorsky also serves as an Associate Editor for BMJ Open Respiratory Research and Frontiers in Physiology: Respiratory Physiology & Pathophysiology and sits on the editorial board of Respiratory Physiology and Neurobiology and Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise. His current work continues to advance the clinical application of DLNO, pleural fluid diagnostics, and blood gas interpretation across diverse patient populations.
Award Description
The award honors the life achievements of Robert Crapo, M.D., an international leader in pulmonary function diagnostics research. Dr. Crapo’s seminal work focused on novel approaches to standardizing pulmonary function testing that greatly advanced our understanding of the importance of such testing. This award will honor Dr. Crapo by recognizing a mid-career researcher who is developing new techniques or approaches that show potential for markedly enhancing our understanding of the respiratory structure-function relationship. Nomination of diverse candidates is encouraged.
The award consists of a certificate and an honorarium, which will be presented at the ATS International Conference. RSF gratefully acknowledges Medical Graphics Corporation (MGC Diagnostics) for their support.
Criteria
- Mid-career investigator at the rank of assistant or associate professor, or equivalent
- Emerging record of developing techniques – which may be experimental, computational or analytical and applied at the preclinical or clinical stage – to enhance understanding of the respiratory structure-function relationship
- Normally RSF Assembly membership, but suitable candidates from other ATS Assemblies will be considered
- Nominee’s current curriculum vitae including a list of the nominee’s publications
- Nominator’s letter of recommendation
- Support letters, which are optional but recommended
Nomination/ support letters should describe nominee's
- Research impact, including description of development of new techniques or approaches for elucidation of respiratory structure-function relationship
- Involvement in ATS, including any involvement in RSF Assembly
- Service to the broader scientific or medical community
- Mentorship or teaching record