“All for one, and one for all.”
For John R. Addrizzo, MD, FCCP, this simple phrase was more than words; it was a way of life. When he was with his family, it meant loyalty and unity. In his work, it meant passion, persistence, and a commitment to advancing knowledge for the greater good.
Dr. Addrizzo’s career in pulmonary medicine spanned four decades, yet he never strayed far from his earliest research passion: sarcoidosis. From his first presentation in 1969 at the International Conference on Sarcoidosis in Prague, through his training in pulmonary medicine at Kings County/Downstate medical center in Brooklyn, New York, to founding a sarcoidosis clinic following his training, he was struck by both the rarity of the disease and the outsized effect it took on his patients, many of whom were from minority communities. For Dr. Addrizzo, something about sarcoidosis always called him back.
Today, his family honors that dedication through the John R. Addrizzo, MD, FCCP, Endowed Research Grant in Sarcoidosis, a transformative and permanent fund dedicated to advancing sarcoidosis research. This endowment is not only a tribute to a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and physician but also a beacon for progress and discovery.
“CHEST is a phenomenal place for this endowment to be because my father was first and foremost a clinician,” said CHEST Past President Doreen Addrizzo-Harris, MD, FCCP. “It is a really great place for his memory to live on, and in an area where he wished he could have done more.”
Enduring impact
An endowment is more than a gift for today; it is an investment in tomorrow. Endowments provide a steady, reliable foundation for innovation, discovery, and impact year after year. With each breakthrough supported, each researcher empowered, and each family given new hope, an endowment ensures that the legacy of one person’s passion can echo for generations.
“I wanted something that would live forever, beyond my involvement with CHEST and our family’s involvement with CHEST,” Dr. Addrizzo-Harris said.
The John R. Addrizzo, MD, FCCP, Endowed Research Grant in Sarcoidosis will continue to expand on its meaningful, early-stage progress, which included projects such as:
- Helping Divya Patel, DO, (2019 recipient) uncover an unpredicted response to sarcoidosis treatment with methotrexate and inspiring colleagues to explore new therapeutic approaches
- Backing Maneesh Bhargava, MD, PhD, FCCP, (2021 recipient) in identifying inflammatory proteins to distinguish multiorgan sarcoidosis from pulmonary sarcoidosis
- Supporting Michelle Sharp, MD, MHS, FCCP, (2023 recipient) in evaluating the feasibility of home air quality monitoring in a diverse cohort of individuals with pulmonary sarcoidosis
These are not just scientific milestones. They represent lives changed, possibilities opened, and a community strengthened.
A legacy that lives on
The John R. Addrizzo, MD, FCCP, Endowed Research Grant in Sarcoidosis reflects the heart of CHEST philanthropy: advancing bold ideas, shaping the future of chest medicine, and improving the lives of patients worldwide.
One man’s curiosity became a life’s passion. That passion inspired a family’s generosity. And now, through an endowment, it will empower generations of researchers to come.
Learn more at chestnet.org/philanthropy.
This article was originally published in the Summer 2026 issue of CHEST Physician.
