Major League Baseball player Ryan Spilborghs will be a patient speaker during “Keeping the Immunosuppressed Well: TB and not TB,” today, when he will reflect on his experience with lung disease after the death of his mother.

Spilborghs, an outfielder with the Colorado Rockies, is squeezing in his appearance while the team travels from Washington, D.C., to Chicago. The tight schedule demonstrates his commitment to making the public more aware of lung disease.

A little more than one year ago, his mother, Esperanza, died from lung disease while Mr. Spilborghs was in spring training with the Rockies.

Mr. Spilborghs said that before his mother’s illness, he was unaware of the impact of lung disease.

He will talk about what he learned during his mother’s illness, and his hopes to raise awareness of lung disease.