CHEST Networks give members unique, intimate opportunities to connect with peers—and now, a new competitive grant program offers the funds to cultivate new projects within those Networks.
The just-launched Networks Advancement Fund offers financial support for projects that directly advance CHEST’s philanthropic pillars while furthering the mission of an individual Network.
“Many high-impact ideas generated within Networks fall outside CHEST’s current grant strategies but have a clear alignment with CHEST’s philanthropic pillars and can further our mission,” said Deborah Jo Levine, MD, MS, FCCP, who served as Chair of the CHEST Council of Networks in 2025 and drove development of the Networks Advancement Fund.
“CHEST is launching the fund to expand the reach of its philanthropy beyond existing programs and into clinician member-led projects,” Dr. Levine said. “It will give each Network the ability to select, design, and implement projects that serve the real-world needs of their specialty.”
CHEST Networks bring together members who share a clinical focus according to their subspecialties—there’s a Network for airways disorders, chest infections and disaster response, critical care, diffuse lung disease and lung transplant, pulmonary vascular and cardiovascular practice, sleep medicine, and thoracic oncology and chest procedures. By belonging to one or more of these Networks, clinicians can connect and collaborate with one another on the initiatives that matter most to them.
“The Networks Advancement Fund is personally important to me as so much of my professional growth was shaped by my time working within the Networks,” Dr. Levine said. “Networks are where I found mentorship, collaboration, leadership opportunities, and a sense of belonging within CHEST.”
Dr. Levine said that many of the most meaningful ideas she encountered among colleagues emerged from discussions within the Networks. “Great ideas, but too often there was no clear pathway to bring those ideas to life. The Networks Advancement Fund directly addresses that gap.”
Grant submissions will be reviewed on a quarterly basis throughout 2026, and each grant will provide support for a project that advances research, education, or community impact. Grants can provide seed funding for Network-led research, support the development of educational tools or workshops, or fund community-facing health intervention materials for clinicians. The possibilities are vast for projects that align with CHEST’s philanthropic pillars.
“The fund validates the work of engaged members and provides tangible support for clinician-led solutions,” Dr. Levine said. “For me, this initiative reflects a core belief: The individuals closest to patient care, education, and research are best positioned to identify unmet needs and design impactful solutions.”
Successful grant proposals will set clear goals, timelines, and deliverables while defining their philanthropic impact. Awardees will deliver a final report and presentation at an upcoming Network meeting and the CHEST Annual Meeting.
In addition, by making a gift to CHEST’s Dedication to Education philanthropic pillar, clinicians have the opportunity to support their own innovative ideas, as well as those of their colleagues, in a way that is personal and meaningful to their specific specialties, Dr. Levine added.
“CHEST Networks are truly the heart of CHEST—it is where each specialty group discusses specific challenges and opportunities,” she said. “This fund will help Network members apply their expertise to develop what they feel is needed in their fields and the specific clinical communities we serve.”
Submit a proposal for a Networks Advancement Fund grant today.
The Networks Advancement Fund is an exclusive CHEST member benefit. Belonging to a Network is required to apply for a grant.
If you’re a CHEST member but haven’t yet joined a Network, it’s quick and easy. Simply sign up through your CHEST account.
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