The seven CHEST Networks will highlight the accomplishments of early career members during CHEST 2024 by handing out the inaugural Network Rising Star Awards. These awards recognize individual contributions in the areas of clinical care, education, research, and/or other scholarly activity and someone who has shown growth and potential within a particular Network and CHEST.

Each Network will celebrate its respective awardee during the concurrent Network Open Forums, Tuesday, October 8, from 11:15 am to 12:15 pm ET in the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center.

Hear from one of the Rising Stars their own words, below, and click here to read Q&As with the six other recipients.

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2024 Airways Disorders Network Rising Star

Megan Conroy, MD, MAEd, FCCP

Clinical Assistant Professor
Associate Program Director, Pulmonary and Critical Care Fellowship
The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center

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What have been your main focuses in the field? Which contributions or accomplishments are you most proud of?

As a Clinician Educator with a clinical focus in both critical care and severe asthma, my work in airways disorders has focused largely in delivering high quality care to complex asthma patients, teaching all levels of learners locally and beyond by creating educational products and programs thru CHEST. In addition to clinical work, teaching is my greatest passion and pride.  I’ve also been particularly thankful for the opportunity to serve on the CHEST guideline panel for the use of biologics in asthma—a forthcoming publication which should provide helpful guidance in an emerging clinical space.

What sparked your interest in the field? What excites you most about the future of this area and your involvement in it?

I developed an interest in severe and difficult to treat asthma as a fellow, finding it both complex, challenging, and rewarding work with the ability to deeply impact patient’s lives by liberating them from the burden of poorly controlled obstructive lung disease. As someone who also spends a considerable amount of my clinical life in the intensive care unit, balancing a pulmonary focus in asthma where I can usher patients to spaces of remission helps me to find balance and keep focus in clinical work.

What have the Networks and CHEST meant to you?

Over the last 7 years the CHEST Airways Disorders Network has truly given me the opportunity to build a clinical expertise in asthma. I first joined the Network as a Fellow-in-Training where I found sponsorship in the steering committee leadership, leading me into opportunities to present at the annual meeting, represent the Network and CHEST at a presentation to the Indian Chest Society, and to join the CHEST guidelines panel for the use of biologics in asthma. It has been through CHEST that I was able to advance my clinical expertise and further develop myself as an educator. Beyond the Networks, in CHEST I have found my professional home and opportunities which have helped to jump start and form my career as a clinician and educator.