This year’s CHEST Annual Meeting—led with an extraordinary vision and coordination by 2025 Scientific Program Committee Chair Sandhya Khurana, MD, FCCP, and CHEST staff—was the largest and most impactful annual meeting yet. Our seven Networks were central to making this meeting so great. The dedication of our Network and Section Chairs, Vice-Chairs, and committee members has been exceptional. Their leadership, ideas, and countless hours of work shaped the scientific content, strengthened community engagement, and brought energy to the meeting in ways that were deeply felt throughout the entire week.
Throughout the past few years, the Networks have become increasingly more integrated into every aspect of the annual meeting. From program development to on-site engagement, the Networks are woven into the heart of the meeting—its vision, its energy, and its success.
One example was the Section presentations at Experience CHEST in the Exhibit Hall. These 22 short-format sessions—delivered by trainees and early career faculty—highlighted high-yield, diverse, and forward-looking teaching. These talks were chosen to include issues that are core to our work as a community.
The Networks Mixer reached new heights, drawing nearly 300 attendees and creating an exceptionally vibrant space to welcome and introduce new Network members, engage with the leadership, and share ideas on new projects and directions. The enthusiasm in the room reflected how central Networks have become to the culture and identity of CHEST.
The Networks hosted individual meetings, as well, highlighting the outstanding work within each of the Sections. Each Network also recognized its own Rising Star—an early career leader who has already made meaningful contributions to our field.
During these meetings, grant awardees were introduced and congratulated. Many of the Network meetings also featured special programming:
- Diffuse Lung Disease and Lung Transplant Network: Recognized last year’s highest-attended session submitters
- Thoracic Oncology and Chest Procedures Network: Adam Fox presented “Pulmonologists, Biomarker Testing, and Treatment of Lung Cancer”
- Chest Infections and Disaster Response Network: Hosted an energetic “Stump the Experts” session
- Pulmonary Vascular and Cardiovascular Network: Nick Rahaghi presented “AI in Radiology and Pulmonary Vascular Disease”
- Critical Care Network: Muhammad Siddique presented “Business Strategy for Excellence in the ICU”
Additionally, over the last year, the Networks advanced several high-impact special projects, including:
- The Disaster Response and Global Health Section’s infographic on measles diagnosis and treatment
- The Bronchiectasis Section’s webinar on bronchiectasis breakthroughs
- The Cardiovascular Medicine and Surgery Section’s podcast on cardiogenic shock and Society for Cardiovascular Angiography & Interventions classification
This year, our Council of Networks (comprising all the Chairs of each Network) made meaningful progress in building a structured, mentoring program for fellows involved in Network and Section activities. With the foundation now established, we look forward to reviewing early outcomes and strengthening the program further in the coming months.
As we celebrate the success of this year’s meeting, it is important to recognize something fundamental: For the Networks and their Sections, CHEST is not a once-a-year event—it is year-round. Network and Section leaders work continuously to develop programming, support early career members, create educational and clinical resources, and advance the broader mission of CHEST. Their work before, during, and after the annual meeting is what drives progress throughout the entire year.
If you have not yet joined a Network, we warmly welcome your involvement. Visit chestnet.org to explore each Network and meet their leadership. You may join as many as you wish; your participation strengthens our community and shapes what CHEST becomes next.
Thank you to every Chair, Network steering committee, and engaged member who contributed to making this CHEST Annual Meeting our strongest yet. I’m so excited to look forward to the year ahead!
