Benefit participants celebrated on the dance floor with colleagues and awardees.
With the theme song from the film “Rocky” as an introduction, the Foundation of the ATS kicked off its Fifth Annual ATS Foundation Research Program Benefit on Saturday evening.
Such an inspiring beginning was fitting. The event marks 11 years of helping launch highly successful careers, and this year the Foundation raised $410,000. Using the format originally introduced in 2012 with music, dancing, and food stations, this year’s event served up culinary delights of Philadelphia set against a relaxed atmosphere as a backdrop. More than 600 attendees gathered in the Grand Ballroom of the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown to socialize with friends, honor grant awardees and recognize Gerard “Gerry” M. Turino, MD.
Since 2002, the Foundation has awarded $10 million in grants to more than 100 junior investigators, launching the careers of a new generation of researchers.
“Our investigators have attracted over $100 million in subsequent grant funding, published hundreds of articles relevant to their ATS Foundation awards and have, in turn, become mentors,” said James F. Donohue, MD, chair of the ATS Foundation Board of Trustees.
“For this year only, in response to congressional sequestration, the Foundation will award three unrestricted research awards in pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine in addition to seven one-year recognition awards for talented early-stage investigators,” Dr. Donohue noted. “Through the funds raised yesterday, we hope to be able to continue to help protect struggling young investigators who represent the future of our profession.”
Devoted to recognizing the best and the brightest in pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine, the Foundation presented the 2013 Breathing for Life Award to Dr. Turino. This award is the highest honor given by the ATS Foundation in recognition of philanthropy.
A past president of ATS, Dr. Turino has earned the reputation of being a legend in the pulmonary and internal medicine world and a visionary in the fields of COPD and Alpha-1 antitrypsin. Dr. Turino is the director of the James P. Mara Center for Lung Disease in St. Luke’s—Roosevelt Hospital Center Division of Pulmonary Critical care and Sleep Medicine.
The ATS Foundation especially thanks Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., for its support at the Platinum Level. For the most up-to-date list of our generous supporters, visit foundation.thoracic.org/research-program-benefit/2013-corporate-benefit-supporters.php.