Advocacy

The division is actively involved in many advocacy functions locally, nationally and internationally that promote the advancement of clinical care, teaching and research in pediatric pulmonary disorders.

Patient Care

• The division plays a key role in the annual Durham fundraiser for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation known as Great Strides.  Funds are distributed nationally to support programs focused on care, teaching and research in cystic fibrosis.
• Division faculty have played key roles in the establishment of national standards for clinical care and teaching in cystic fibrosis by serving on the national Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Center Committee.
• Faculty have participated in national consensus conferences on lung transplantation in cystic fibrosis and the establishment of guidelines for the care of patients with Duchenne's muscular dystrophy.

Education

• The division produces the department's longest running post-graduate education conference, the Alexander Spock Symposium, named after the division's first chief.  The conference is targeted for residents, physician extenders and family physicians and pediatricians from the southeastern United States.
• Division faculty have established the first web site of the Pediatric Assembly of the American Thoracic Society . This web site provides important clinical and educational information and links for the world-wide audience of pediatric pulmonologists.

Research

Divisional research advocacy is demonstrated nationally and internationally.

• Peer review of manuscripts submitted to every major international journal in the field of pulmonology
  
• National peer review of NIH grant applications in seven different study sections
• International peer review of national grant applications from Canada, Australia, Ireland and Israel
  
• Chairing of the organizing committee of three of the five Young Investigators' International Symposia on Smooth Muscle