FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Michelle Ng Gong, MD, MS, ATSF, Takes the Helm as
American Thoracic Society President
Orlando, FL – May 19, 2026 – Michelle Ng Gong, MD, MS, ATSF today added president of the American Thoracic Society to her long list of accomplishments. The announcement came on the heels of the Plenary Session at the ATS 2026 International Conference. Dr. Gong succeeds Raed Dweik, MD, MBA, ATSF.
In an interview with Healio ahead of the International Conference, Dr. Gong shared her vision for her tenure as ATS President, which includes ensuring that members’ careers are nurtured: “Our members have a great depth of expertise in research, clinical expertise, career guidance and setting guidelines in advocacy, policy and environment. Some of our members are not just leaders within the field of pulmonary and critical care but are oftentimes leaders at their own institution.
“All of that provides resources that we can use to help promote early investigators, mid-investigators and members of the ATS community who may be looking for different career paths and growth in their career trajectory.”
Dr. Gong is chair of Medicine at Montefiore Medical Center and Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Previously, she was chief of the Division of Critical Care Medicine and chief of the Division of Pulmonary Medicine. She joined the ATS in 1998 and is a member of the Critical Care Assembly.
As a member of the ATS Executive Committee, Dr. Gong will oversee all aspects of ATS activities and will collaborate with the Board of Directors to formulate strategic priorities for the Society.
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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 22,000 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.
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