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ATS Gives Walsh Public Service Award, Presidential Commendation; Dr. Trapnell Receives Martin Distinguished Achievement Award
TORONTO, Canada – The American Thoracic Society (ATS) named John W. Walsh recipient of its 2008 Public Service Award at a ceremony Sunday, May 18, at the ATS international conference. Walsh is President and CEO of the Alpha-1 Foundation and President of the COPD Foundation.
Former ATS President William J. Martin II, MD, now on the Board of the Alpha-1 Foundation, presented the award.
The Public Service Award has been bestowed since 1991 “only upon those who have made outstanding contributions in the public health arena related to respiratory disease and medicine,” said ATS President David H. Ingbar, MD, in announcing the honor. “Moreover, recipients must have made significant life-long contributions to the field.”
After the Public Service Award announcement, Ingbar made a surprise announcement of another honor, presenting Walsh with a Presidential Commendation. ATS presidents have the authority to present their own Presidential Commendations, usually to a very small number of people.
From Left: Ted Koppel, former ABC Nightline anchor; his wife, Grace Anne Dorney Koppel, who will deliver the 2008 President’s Lecture; Donna Appell, RN, chair of ATS PAR; John W. Walsh; Bruce C. Trapnell, MD, MS, 2008 recipient of ATS PAR’s William J. Martin, II Distinguished Achievement Award; Eileen Rubin Zacharias, JD, chair-elect of ATS PAR; Margaret S. Herridge, MD, MPH, MSc, recipient of the 2008 PAR Excellence Award; and William J. Martin, II, MD.
