Already finding ourselves in the fall, it’s hard not to focus this column on the upcoming CHEST Annual Meeting, which will take place in Chicago from October 19 to 22. Whether you’re a longtime, repeat attendee or planning your first CHEST meeting, there’s so much to look forward to, including a celebration of the 90th anniversary of the American College of Chest Physicians. Looking back, we will honor nearly a century of progress in chest medicine, featuring sessions on the history of vaccines, lung cancer treatment, and more.
With more than 300 total sessions, there’s truly something for everyone in pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine, and the CHEST-Events app is the best way to navigate it all. The app includes smart filters and curated tracks like “Lung Cancer” and “Advanced” so you can zero in on sessions that meet your clinical interests and learning needs.
The app will also help you build a personalized schedule, connect with colleagues, and get real-time updates, making your time in Chicago as meaningful and efficient as possible.
To kick off the meeting, this year’s Opening Session on Sunday, October 19, at 8 am CT, is not one to miss. Providing a comprehensive overview of what’s ahead, we’ll also be welcoming Sean Swarner, a two-time cancer survivor, inspirational adventurer, and philanthropist, as our keynote speaker. His story of resilience and determination is sure to resonate and inspire.
One of the highlights of every CHEST Annual Meeting is the chance to network with peers, mentors, and more. This year offers many ways to do just that, including the Advanced Practice Provider (Sunday at noon) and Women in Chest Medicine (Monday at noon, sponsored by United Therapeutics) luncheons, the Network Mixer (Monday at 5:30 pm), and the Cultures and Communities Reception (Monday at 6 pm).
CHEST 2025 is also about investing in the future of our field, and we are proud to partner with Program Directors from top Illinois respiratory therapy programs to welcome students from Joliet Junior College, Kankakee Community College, and Malcolm X College for a day of immersive learning. They will have the chance to attend sessions and network with members of our Respiratory Care Interest Group to gain invaluable exposure to pulmonary medicine.
Additionally, through the Hennepin Healthcare Talent Garden CHEST Scholarship, we’ll be hosting four high school seniors as interns at CHEST 2025. They will connect with mentors, explore educational sessions, and see firsthand the inspiring work being done in chest medicine. It’s a privilege to help ignite their interest in health care careers.
Finally, don’t miss the expert-led round table discussions. These mini-sessions will bring together world-renowned leaders in chest medicine to facilitate small-group discussions on some of the most pressing topics in our field. It’s a rare chance to engage directly with the experts, ask questions, share perspectives, and deepen your understanding.
I hope you will join us as we come together to hear the latest advancements in the field and celebrate the remarkable milestone of 90 years of CHEST. As we look back on the rich history of medicine and the organization, we will also be looking ahead, imagining where the field of medicine may be when CHEST celebrates its 100th anniversary in a decade.
The CHEST Annual Meeting will be a celebration of knowledge, community, and innovation in chest medicine, and your participation is what will make it truly special.
I look forward to seeing you all in Chicago for this landmark event, where we’ll celebrate how far we’ve come and envision a strong, healthy future for CHEST and the patients we serve.
P.S. Continue to use #CHEST90 on all social media platforms before, during, and after CHEST 2025 to help us celebrate CHEST’s 90th anniversary!
This article was originally published in the Fall 2025 issue of CHEST Physician.
