August 31, 2004

Contact:
Andy Weisser, (818) 703-6444, aweisser@earthlink.net
www.californialung.org
or your local American Lung Association at (800) LUNG-USA.

Former San Bruno Councilman and San Diego Pulmonary Doctor to Lead American Lung Association of California and California Thoracic Society

(August 31, 2004, OAKLAND): The American Lung Association of California recently named Harry F. Redlick, a retired teacher and former San Bruno councilman, to chair its board of directors. The longtime volunteer and career educator hopes to help the organization become more effective while staying focused on its mission.

Timothy A. Morris, MD, associate professor of Clinical Medicine, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, University of California, San Diego (UCSD) School of Medicine, was selected to lead the California Thoracic Society, the American Lung Association of California’s medical section. The San Diego resident wants to focus on education and he would like to increase the level of collaboration with the American Lung Association and other professional societies concerned with lung health.

Redlick joined his local American Lung Association in 1991 when he was a councilman and has served on its board of directors since then. The San Francisco State University alumnus and San Bruno resident had recently retired from a 33-year teaching career at George Washington High School in San Francisco.

Over the years, Redlick has served in many leadership roles, including president of the American Lung Association of San Francisco & San Mateo Counties. He shares a passion for the mission and is proud of the 100-year-old organization’s history.

“The American Lung Association is making a huge difference, not only in the lives of people who have lung disease, but in the lives of everyone who breathes,” Redlick said. “We fought back tuberculosis, reduced smoking and we are the protectors of clean air. As we look to the next century, we need to make sure we are structured in a way that allows us to operate effectively and efficiently, while not losing site of our mission and the people we serve.”

Dr. Morris also wants to stay focused on the mission as he leads the California Thoracic Society, a 650-member organization that includes pulmonary physicians, critical care specialists, allergists, thoracic surgeons, advanced practice nurses and respiratory therapists. The society keeps its members as well as other providers, agencies and payers up-to-date on the latest advances in pulmonary care through educational papers and publications and its annual conference in Carmel, which attracts top pulmonary specialists from around the country.

As a medical academic, Dr. Morris is interested in continuing education. He has served on the California Thoracic Society’s Education Committee since he joined the organization in 1996. Dr. Morris, who directs the Respiratory Care Department and Pulmonary Function Laboratory at the UCSD Medical Center, also wants to increase collaboration with the American Lung Association and other healthcare professionals.

“We share a common goal,” Dr. Morris said. “We all have the patient’s interest and improved medical care at heart.”

Dr. Morris, who graduated from Georgetown University, volunteers for his local American Lung Association in San Diego and even serves as resident doctor for its annual weeklong asthma camp. He is also a big supporter of the association’s Asthma Walks, held around the state from April to October.

The California Thoracic Society works with the American Lung Association of California in a variety of areas including providing medical expertise, reviewing research projects for possible funding, and advocating for legislation to protect lung health.

“The American Lung Association represents the people we are trying to serve,” Dr. Morris said.

For 100 years, the American Lung Association has been the lead organization working to prevent lung disease and promote lung health. Lung disease death rates continue to increase while other leading causes of death have declined. The American Lung Association funds vital research on the causes of and treatments for lung disease. With the generous support of the public, the American Lung Association is “Improving life, one breath at a time.” For more information about the American Lung Association or to support the work it does, call 1.800.LUNG.USA (1.800.586.4872) or visit www.californialung.org or www.lungusa.org.call 1-800-LUNG-USA (1-800-586-4872) or visit www.californialung.org.