Attendees at the CHEST 2022 Opening Session on October 16 got a sneak peek into plans and priorities for CHEST President Doreen J. Addrizzo-Harris, MD, FCCP, in 2023 – and some insights into her own path to the role.
A longtime leader at CHEST, she shared how members’ pandemic response reminded her of the great impact the organization can have. In March 2020, Dr. Addrizzo-Harris was overseeing ICU staffing at NYU Langone Health’s Bellevue Hospital Center and organizing dozens of volunteer physicians to help meet the pandemic care burden.
Dr. Doreen J. Addrizzo-Harris
“I knew all too quickly that we wouldn’t have enough intensivists,” said Dr. Addrizzo-Harris. “It was a quick call very late one night, probably around 1 am, that I made to CHEST CEO, Bob Musacchio, that helped materialize a monumental effort ... many of these physicians were CHEST members themselves. They were fearless and unselfish, and they came to help us in our time of need.”
She saw this same spirit of dedication and drive in CHEST’s leadership and staff, she said – one she will continue and expand upon during her presidency.
“I’ve watched our last three presidents lead by great example ... with innovation and nimbleness, in a time when we were so isolated from each other and so tired from the long hours that we worked each day,” she said. “They, along with the Board of Regents, the CEO, and our phenomenal staff, were able to keep CHEST amazingly alive and vibrant and more connected than ever. They are truly inspiring. For 2023, I hope to take this incredible energy to the next level.”
As CHEST president, Dr. in the United States and advancing international outreach initiatives launched by CHEST Past President David Schulman, MD, MPH, FCCP. This also includes supporting and building upon CHEST’s ongoing commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives to encourage greater representation in the field and improve patient care.
“Whether it’s through supporting our clinical research grants, expanding patient education and advocacy, or programs like the First 5 Minutes™ and the Harold Amos scholarship program, we want to train our leaders for the future,” she said.
Revisit the September issue of CHEST Physician, and watch future issues to learn more about Dr. Addrizzo-Harris and her plans for the presidency.