ATS Breathe Easy

Episoder

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  ATS Breathe Easy - Engineered Stone, Silicosis, and the Fight to Protect Workers 18.08.2026 21min

   There has been a sharp spike in silicosis diagnoses among workers who work with engineered stone countertops. The ATS released a report in 2026 on the subject, “Silicosis in the Artificial Stone Countertop Industry: An Official American Thoracic Society Workshop Report”. One of the report’s authors Kristin Cummings, MD, MPH, California Department of Public Health, and expert Maeve McMurdo, MBChB, Cleveland Clinic, discuss why engineered stone can cause severe, rapidly progressive lung disease in young workers as well as the limitations of current workplace protections. On this episode of the ATS Breathe Easy podcast, they also highlight safer alternatives, the importance of recognizing occupational exposures, and what clinicians, employers, and consumers can do to help protect workers. Important resources: Read the full ATS report: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42363709/ Failure of wet methods to control silica exposures: Soo et al. Respirable dust and respirable crystalline silica exposures among workers at stone countertop fabrication shops in Georgia from 2017 through 2023: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40249150/ Prevalence of silicosis among Australian countertop workers: Hoy et al. Prevalence and risk factors for silicosis among a large cohort of stone benchtop industry workers https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37328266/Rapid progression of artificial stone silicosis after exposure cessation: Leon-Jimenez et al. Artificial Stone Silicosis: Rapid Progression Following Exposure Cessation: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32563682/ California engineered stone silicosis dashboard (updated weekly): https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CCDPHP/DEODC/OHB/Pages/essdashboard.aspx 
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  ATS Breathe Easy - ATS 2026: How Data Science and Precision Medicine go Hand-in-Hand 11.08.2026 13min

  Clinicians and medical providers rely on data to tailor care plans to their patients. Aartik Sarma, MD, University of California, San Francisco, Pat Lyons, MD, Oregon Health & Science University, and host Lekshmi Santhosh, MD, the University of California, San Francisco, discuss the use of data science in critical care medicine and how it has evolved over time. They dive into how new technologies benefit ICU patients, and how the medical infrastructure can be further improved.
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  ATS Breathe Easy - ATS 2026: How A New Oral Medication Could Change OSA Treatment 04.08.2026 15min

  The most common treatment for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is an at-home CPAP machine, but patients often remove their mask in their sleep or stop using the machine all together. Neomi Shah, MD, Mount Sinai Hospital, and host Ugo Ezema, MD, Tulane University, discuss a novel oral medication that opens a patient’s airway, exponentially improving their quality of sleep.  
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  ATS Breathe Easy - ATS 2026: Improving Urban Air Quality, One Result at a Time 28.07.2026 18min

  Cities are working to make congestion zones safer for their populations, especially for sensitive groups like children and those with respiratory conditions. Emilia Simeonova, PhD, John Hopkins University, and James Scales, PhD, Queen Mary University of London, discuss how decisions made in major metropolises like New York City, Stockholm, and London affect the quality of air and overall health of individuals. Hosted by Erika Moseson, MD, host of the Air Health Our Health podcast. This episode highlights the research of clean air zones and the challenges that arise during the process of implementing these changes. 
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  ATS Breathe Easy - How Funding Cuts Could Endanger Tuberculosis Research 21.07.2026 16min

   Tuberculosis is a difficult, infectious respiratory disease, and patients often have a low quality of life. Organizations like the ATS and the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union) are looking to combat health inequities and support patient communities. However, due to recent funding cuts, future research on tuberculosis and other respiratory diseases are in jeopardy. Host Patti Tripathi and Executive Director of The Union Cassandra Kelly-Cirino, PhD, discuss the effect of these funding cuts and what it will take to continue supporting research and patients alike. 
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  ATS Breathe Easy – ATS 2026: New Pavlov Study Could Help Sleep Apnea Patients Rest Easier 14.07.2026 13min

  Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a condition that affects millions globally, causing daytime sleepiness, lack of oxygen, and higher risks of developing cardiac issues. A new randomized control trial, called the Pavlov study, evaluated the efficacy and long-term conditioning effects of a positional therapy device for treating positional obstructive sleep apnea. Irene Cano-Pumarega, MD, PhD, Ramón y Cajal Hospital, discusses how she and her team developed the study, the initial results, and what future positional treatments for OSA could look like on this episode of the ATS Breathe Easy podcast. 
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  ATS Breathe Easy - Innovations in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Care 07.07.2026 18min

  Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive and often fatal lung disease, which has unknown causes and no cure. But researchers are working tirelessly to uncover more about this deadly disease. On this episode of the ATS Breathe Easy podcast, host Patti Tripathi interviews pulmonologist and transplant specialist Steven Nathan, MD, about advances in the treatment IPF, the importance of earlier diagnosis, ongoing challenges in treatment and lung transplantation, and promising results from the Phase 3 TETON clinical trials of inhaled treprostinil, which could become a fourth approved therapy for IPF. This episode is sponsored by United Therapeutics. 
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  ATS Breathe Easy - ATS 2026: How a Rare Genetic Disorder Could Change Lung Disease Care 30.06.2026 20min

  Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome (HPS) is a rare genetic disorder that causes albinism, bleeding problems, and a high risk of developing pulmonary fibrosis. However, patients with HPS provide an important population for researchers looking for biomarkers that predict the onset and progression of pulmonary fibrosis. On this ATS Breathe Easy podcast episode, expert Resat Cinar, PhD, MBA, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, and patient advocate and founder of the Hermansky-Pudlak Syndrome Network Donna Appell, RN, discuss how HPS has helped researchers better understand pulmonary fibrosis, and how research on rare diseases can generate insights that benefit much larger patient populations. 
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  ATS Breathe Easy - Understanding NTM Lung Disease 23.06.2026 18min

  On this episode of the ATS Breathe Easy podcast, delve into journalist Terry Greene Sterling’s journey of being diagnosed with nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) lung disease. Greene Sterling's piece on living with NTM lung disease, funded by the Pulitzer Center, recently aired on KJZZ, the NPR affiliate in Phoenix. Host Patti Tripathi also interviews NTM specialist and Greene Sterling’s doctor, Charles Daley, MD, National Jewish Health, on the causes and symptoms of this disease. Learn how NTM is often missed in the initial screening, plus the environmental factors that can lead to infection, challenges in treatment, and the importance of ongoing research, public awareness, and clinician education. KJZZ Arizona Public Radio: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/kjzz-91.5-fm-phoenix/ The Pulitzer Center: https://www.linkedin.com/company/pulitzer-center/ Conecta Arizona: https://www.linkedin.com/company/conectaarizona/ Terry Greene Sterling: https://www.linkedin.com/in/terrygreenesterling/ NTM Info and Research: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ntmir/ Bronchiectasis and NTM Association: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bronchiectasis-and-ntm-association/ 
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  ATS Breathe Easy - ATS 2026: Delving into the Future of Rare Lung Disease 16.06.2026 19min

  Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) is a rare lung disease that has become more treatable thanks to dedicated efforts from researchers and patient advocacy groups. ATS Past President Gregory Downey, MD, ATSF, National Jewish Health, discusses advances in understanding and treating LAM with host Ugo Ezema, MD. What role do patient networks play and what does the future hold for research? 
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  ATS Breathe Easy: Tackling Bacterial Pneumonia in ICU Patients 09.06.2026 27min

  Hospital-acquired bacterial pneumonia (HABP) and ventilator-associated bacterial pneumonia (VABP) are serious conditions that often affect critically ill patients in ICUs. These infections carry a high risk of mortality and are frequently caused by multidrug-resistant bacteria like MRSA. On this episode of the ATS Breathe Easy podcast, Scott Micek, PharmD, University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis, explains to host Eddie Qian, MD, Vanderbilt University, why treating HABP/VABP needs to be tailored to the patient, how rapid diagnostics have pros and cons, and the importance of balancing aggressive early treatment with careful reassessment. This episode is sponsored by Innoviva Specialty Therapeutics.
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  ATS Breathe Easy – Hantavirus: Beyond the Headlines with ATS Expert, Dr. Michelle Harkins 02.06.2026 19min

  When news of the Andes strain of the hantavirus broke out, the world seemed to hold its breath. But what do we know about the hantavirus? Expert Michelle Harkins, MD, University of New Mexico, discusses what the hantavirus is and how it is transmitted. She and host Ugo Ezema, MD, Tulane University, delve deeper at the ATS International Conference into how this hantavirus outbreak differs from the spread of COVID, what tests are used to detect hantavirus, and what research is happening in prevention and treatment of hantavirus. 
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  Re-Release: ATS Breathe Easy - ATS 2026 Keynotes Preview 26.05.2026 28min

  Host Ugo Ezema, MD, Tulane University, speaks with University of Cincinnati's Laurah Turner, PhD, one of ATS 2026's keynote speakers who addressed the hot topic of AI in medical education. Check out ATS NOW, tailored education anytime, anywhere. All #ATS2026 attendees get free access to this innovative, on-demand platform through the end of the year. Learn more: https://atsnow.thoracic.org/ 
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  ATS Breathe Easy – How Pulse Oximeters Lead to Delayed Care for Patients of Color 19.05.2026 29min

  Pulse oximetry is a key technology, providing a quick, non-invasive way to estimate blood oxygen levels. But one issue with this tool is that it can overestimate oxygen levels in patients with darker skin pigmentation, which means they can appear less sick than they are, leading to delays in receiving treatments. Ashraf Fawzy, MD, MPH, Johns Hopkins Medicine, and host Eddie Qian, MD, Vanderbilt University, discuss how this disparity can affect patient care, the push to develop more broadly-tested equitable tools, and more on this episode of the ATS Breathe Easy podcast. 
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  ATS Breathe Easy: ATS 2026 Keynotes Preview, Part 2 12.05.2026 28min

  ATS 2026 is quickly approaching, and with so many great events, attendees are sure to enjoy every minute of the conference. On this second keynote preview, host Ugo Ezema, MD, Tulane University, is speaking with University of Cincinnati's Laurah Turner, PhD, Tuesday’s keynote speaker who will be addressing the hot topic of AI in medical education. There’s still time to register for ATS 2026! https://registration.experientevent.com/ShowATS261/Flow/ATT?atslogin=1&marketingcode=YOUTUBE 
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  ATS Breathe Easy: ATS 2026 Keynotes Preview, Part 1 05.05.2026 28min

  ATS 2026 is quickly approaching! This iteration of the international conference will feature amazing panels, speakers, and forums. On this episode of the ATS Breathe Easy, host Ugo Ezema, MD, Tulane University, gives us a preview by highlighting the keynotes on Sunday and Monday. Katherine Hisert, MD, PhD, National Jewish Health, discusses the Sunday keynote: "Vaccines - Past, Present and Future" by Demetre Daskalakis, MD, MPH. Joshua Fessel, MD, PhD, ATSF, talks about the Monday keynote he will be moderating: "The Supreme Court, the Administrative State, and You" with Stephen Vladeck, JD. There’s still time to register for ATS 2026! https://registration.experientevent.com/ShowATS261/Flow/ATT?atslogin=1&marketingcode=YOUTUBE 
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  ATS Breathe Easy - Why Advocating for Vaccines is Key to a Healthy Future 28.04.2026 22min

   Vaccines are essential to public health, yet the current Department of Health and Human Service leadership has led changes in vaccine recommendations that are not grounded in scientific evidence. Experts Tina Hartert, MD, MPH, Vanderbilt University, and Ryan Maves, MD, Wake Forest University, discuss with host Patti Tripathi the multi-professional society effort to protect and promote a science-based vaccine schedule for patients and health care providers, and to equip individuals with clear, practical ways to advocate for evidence-based immunization policies. 
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  ATS Breathe Easy - The ATS AI Taskforce is Tackling Technological Questions 21.04.2026 32min

  Artificial intelligence is at the center of dozens of new tools and technological advances, but how should clinicians and researchers integrate them into their practice and research? The ATS AI Taskforce was formed to help answer this question, explore the latest innovations in the space, and how it fits into the needs of ATS members. Shirin Shafazand, MD, MS, FAASM, ATSF, University of Miami, and past-president of the ATS David Gozal, MD, MBA, Marshall University, join host Eddie Qian, MD, Vanderbilt University, to discuss this new taskforce, talk about AI programming at ATS 2026, and how AI is helping to shape the future of medicine. 
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  ATS Breathe Easy – Advancements and Challenges in Sarcoidosis Research 14.04.2026 20min

   April is Sarcoidosis Awareness Month! Host Patti Tripathi speaks with Mary McGowan, president and CEO of the Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research, about the importance of continuing research on sarcoidosis, advocacy and policy efforts in the field, and fighting for paid leave for those participating in clinical trials. Learn more about the Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research at https://www.stopsarcoidosis.org/ Learn more about The Champions for Change: https://site.thoracic.org/press-releases/champions-for-change-paid-time-off-initiative-just-made-clinical-trials-participation-easier Learn more about the bipartisan Congressional Sarcoidosis Caucus: https://gottheimer.house.gov/posts/release-gottheimer-launches-bipartisan-sarcoidosis-caucus-to-battle-the-debilitating-disease-in-memory-of-his-mother 
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  ATS Breathe Easy - How Much Is A Life Worth? Ask the EPA, Part 2 07.04.2026 22min

    The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) changed the dollar value of a statistical life in January 2026, essentially dropping it to zero. What does that mean for the average American? As Anthony Gerber, MD, PhD, University of Kentucky, explains to Air Health Our Health host Erika Moseson, MD, MA, this means the agency will no longer account for the healthcare costs of air pollution and lost lives when determining how account how clean air policies and other key legislation affect communities. In this conclusion of a two-part series on the EPA’s dollar value of a statistical life, Dr. Gerber explains what this change means and why is it significant.