Atul Malhotra, MD
Q: What have you found most gratifying during your term as president?
A: My focus has been on the next generation, and attracting and attaining top talent in the field. In my time on the ATS Executive Committee, this has led to the culmination of programs, including the Global Scholars and International Conference offerings, such as the Fellows Track Symposium, Resident Boot Camp, and Student Scholars.
The growth of these programs is astounding, and like all my work at the national/international level, our success was made possible with the help of a dedicated staff and fellow executive committee members.
Q: What do you hope to accomplish in your upcoming role as immediate past president?
A: My primary objective will be offering support to President-Elect David Gozal, MD. I will continue to be a resource to the ATS Executive Committee. And though my role is shifting, my commitment remains the same. I will be available to help align our common goals and help sustain the Society’s long-term progress. Like many past presidents, our work with the ATS remains a lifelong endeavor.
Q: As a leader of the Society and a leader in the field, what do you believe is the biggest challenge to pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine?
A: I’m concerned about the vanishing physician-scientist. The ATS has sought to address this issue with bridge grants to early career researchers, such as those awarded by the ATS Foundation. At a broader level, we’re also advocating for increased funding from the National Institutes of Health, pushing for a greater investment in scientific research, and placing a higher priority on the development of new treatments and therapies.
Additional areas of concern, such as air pollution, can be found in my May President’s Message at news.thoracic.org.
Authored Sleep Medicine Resources
ATS President Atul Malhotra, MD, is an expert on sleep at the University of California, San Diego. During his ATS presidency, he authored or co-authored the following articles in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, and the Annals of the American Thoracic Society.
What Is the Future of Sleep Medicine in the United States?
Volume 192, Issue 8 (October 15, 2015)
Trazodone Effects on Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Non-REM Arousal Threshold
Volume 12, Issue 5 (May 2015)
High Prevalence of Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Patients With Moderate to Severe Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Volume 12, Issue 8 (August 2015)
Clinical Use of Loop Gain Measures to Determine Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Efficacy in Patients With Complex Sleep Apnea. A Pilot Study
Volume 12, Issue 9 (September 2015)
Sleep-Disordered Breathing in Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Volume 12, Issue 9 (September 2015)
Reply: http://www.atsjournals.org/doi/full/10.1513/AnnalsATS.201506-379LE
Treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Prospects for Personalized Combined Modality Therapy
Volume 13, Issue 1 (January 2016)
View a collection of sleep articles published in the past year, including original research findings, updates, perspectives, letters, editorials, and focused reviews at news.thoracic.org.