‘Your Lung Health’ Public Forum to Launch during International Respiratory Congress

For Immediate Release

November 19, 2003 (DALLAS) – On December 10, 2003, the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC) will launch its first-ever “Your Lung Health” Public Forum. The event occurs during the International Respiratory Congress slated for December 8-11, at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

The International Respiratory Congress is the world's largest cardiopulmonary show, attracting more than 7,000 attendees annually.

“The Congress is like no other gathering of respiratory experts in the world,” says Melanie Giordano, RN, RRT, co-organizer of the public forum. “This is the first time that we will share the expertise of our speakers with the very patients and families we serve, those suffering from respiratory diseases,” she adds.

Adds Margaret F. Traband, MEd, RRT, former AARC president and co-organizer of the forum, “The AARC believes that Las Vegas is a prime location for the launch of ‘Your Lung Health’ because the health demographics for Clark County clearly show a large population of people who could benefit from more information about their lung health.”

As a matter of fact, the co-organizers emphasize that the Clark County demographics are ahead of the national trends in this area.

“Your Lung Health” begins at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, December 10, at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Following the lecture series, participants may tour the Exhibition Hall. The lectures feature:

I Don't Get Any Respect: Living with Lung Disease (Diagnosis, Treatment, Medication and Outlook for New Therapies), Patrick Dunne MEd, RRT, FAARC

Health Care May Be Hazardous to your Health : How to Avoid Medical Mistakes, Kevin Shrake MA, RRT, FACHE, FAAMA, FAARC

An Apple A Day Keeps the Doctor Away : Healthy Living Tips for those with Lung Diseases, Helen M. Sorenson MA, RRT, FAARC

The American Association for Respiratory Care, a professional membership association of respiratory therapists, focuses primarily on respiratory therapy education and research. Its goals are to ensure that respiratory patients receive safe and effective care from qualified professionals and to benefit respiratory health care providers. The Association continues to advocate, on behalf of pulmonary patients, for appropriate access to respiratory services provided by qualified professionals.

Suggested Sidebar:
The Lung Health of Clark County & Nevada

• 12 percent of Clark County residents suffer from lung disease
• Las Vegas has an extraordinarily high death rate from lung disease, at 10 percent higher than the national average
• In 1999, Nevada had the highest smoking prevalence, equaling 31.5 percent
• The state of Nevada has the highest lung cancer rate for women, weighing in at 28.8 percent

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Contact:
Sherry Milligan
Communications Manager
972-406-4690, Milligan@aarc.org