The awards dinner will be hosted by entertainer and musician Paul Shaffer of The Late Show with David Letterman.
"This is a tremendous opportunity to recognize leaders in medicine around the world for their hard work in strengthening their communities through enhancing the health of their neighbors," said Diane Stover, MD, FCCP, President of The CHEST Foundation. "We are pleased to have the help of Paul Shaffer on an evening where we celebrate our long commitment to improving the lives of people throughout the world through education and advocacy."
On behalf of The CHEST Foundation, Shaffer will present $140,000 in grant money to the 22 award recipients at the dinner. The money will be used to strengthen the recipients' community health projects in 11 countries. This year, the grants will be used to bring primary medical services to elderly and disabled patients, children, and war victims in North and East Sri Lanka; lung function testing to coal miners and smokers in Silesia, Poland; tuberculosis consultation services in Denver, Colorado; organ donation education to African-Americans in Detroit, Michigan; and other needed services to people and communities around the globe.
This year will mark The CHEST Foundation's eighth year in supporting lung health and critical care initiatives in communities and its sixth year in providing awards and grants that recognize medical professionals for their outstanding community service and patient care projects.
The dinner will take place during CHEST 2004, the annual scientific assembly of the American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP). The CHEST Foundation is the philanthropic arm of the ACCP and strives to improve lung health for patients and communities through educational programs, research, and raising public awareness about diseases of the chest and their prevention.
Stover added, "Throughout the year, The CHEST Foundation supports national and local initiatives that educate communities on the importance of tobacco prevention and overall lung health. Through the awards dinner and annual meeting, we are able to publicly acknowledge ACCP members who go beyond their role as physicians to assure that patients in their communities have regular access to quality health care."
The Governors Community Service Awards Program encourages volunteer service by ACCP members to improve the health of individuals and communities through advocacy, direct patient care, and/or patient education activities. In 2004, The CHEST Foundation's Governors Community Service Awards program was recognized by the American Society of Association Executives as a recipient of the Associations Make a Better World award for social achievement.
The Foundation focuses on education and disease prevention in four key areas: tobacco cessation and prevention, critical care, end-of-life issues, and awards for research and community service. By giving life to projects in local communities and around the world, with special emphasis directed to those who can least afford it, The Foundation enables the ACCP to realize its vision of being the leading resource for the improvement in cardiopulmonary health and critical care worldwide.
For more information about The CHEST Foundation, please visit http://www.chestfoundation.org.