FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Dr. Tyra Bryant-Stephens to Receive the
American Thoracic Society 2026 Public Service Award
for Promoting Respiratory Health
ATS 2026, Orlando, Fla. (May 16, 2026) – The American Thoracic Society is proud to announce that Tyra Bryant-Stephens, MD, has been nominated and will receive a 2026 Public Service Award. This honor celebrates her outstanding work at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
Dr. Bryant-Stephens and other award recipients will be recognized for their achievements at the ATS 2026 International Conference taking place on Orlando, Fla., Friday through Wednesday. The awards recognize outstanding respiratory health contributions, from research and diagnosis to education and advocacy.
Dr. Bryant-Stephens, a pediatrician for more than 30 years, is a national advocate for health equity whose work focuses on improving health for children with asthma and addressing the structural causes of health disparities.
The Public Service Award recognizes recipients like Dr. Bryant-Stephens for contributions to public and population health equity related to – for example – improvements in air quality, the eradication of tobacco use, the prevention of lung disease, advocacy, and better management of communicable respiratory diseases. The award also acknowledges work that improves the ethical delivery of health care in areas related to lung diseases, sleep health or critical care.
This year’s ATS awards have placed a special emphasis on efforts designed to eliminate health disparities, and award winners are a diverse group inclusive of all genders, ethnicities and disciplines.
To learn more about the 2026 Respiratory Health Awards, visit our website.
###
About the American Thoracic Society:
Founded in 1905, the American Thoracic Society is the world's leading medical society dedicated to accelerating the advancement of global respiratory health through multidisciplinary collaboration, education, and advocacy. Core activities of the Society’s more than 30,000 members are focused on leading scientific discoveries, advancing professional development, impacting global health, and transforming patient care. Key areas of member focus include developing clinical practice guidelines, hosting the annual International Conference, publishing four peer-reviewed journals, advocating for improved respiratory health globally, and developing an array of patient education and career development resources.
Please visit our website to learn more. Join the conversation and our community on Bluesky, Twitter/X, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.