At the request of the American College of Chest Physicians® (CHEST), the City of Phoenix and Mayor Kate Gallego officially proclaimed October 18, 2026, as Love Your Lungs Day for Phoenix, Arizona. The proclamation coincides with the first day of the CHEST Annual Meeting 2026 in Phoenix, where more than 6,000 experts will convene to discuss advancements in pulmonary health care.
Love Your Lungs Day highlights the critical importance of respiratory health in alignment with Healthy Lung Month and underscores CHEST’s mission to advance patient care through education, advocacy, and innovation in pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine. Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego recognizes the importance of increased awareness and respiratory health care.
Investing in respiratory wellness benefits every resident and helps families lead healthier lives, and I am proud to welcome CHEST and declare Love Your Lungs Day. More than 80,000 children across Maricopa County have pediatric asthma-something I experienced. I recognize the importance of raising awareness, encouraging preventative care, supporting research, and expanding access to quality respiratory care so every resident can live a healthier life.”
Mayor Kate Gallego
Respiratory disease has a significant impact on communities across the Phoenix area. In Maricopa County, there are approximately 410,000 cases of adult asthma, more than 187,000 cases of COPD, and more than 1,700 cases of lung cancer. These figures reinforce the need for continued research, education, advocacy, and access to quality respiratory care.
“We are grateful to Mayor Gallego and the City of Phoenix for recognizing October 18 as Love Your Lungs Day and for welcoming the CHEST community to Phoenix,” said Neil Freedman, MD, FCCP, 2026 President of CHEST. “This proclamation celebrates the thousands of clinicians who dedicate their careers to improving respiratory health while also bringing greater attention to the impact of lung disease in communities across Arizona. As CHEST 2026 begins, we look forward to joining Phoenix in recognizing health care professionals and reinforcing the importance of education, research, prevention, and access to high-quality respiratory care.”
In addition to bringing thousands of pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine clinicians to Phoenix to explore the latest advances in respiratory health, CHEST philanthropy is partnering with the Arizona Asthma Coalition, the Arizona Coalition for Change, and Phoenix Children’s Breathmobile as this year’s CHEST Community Connections.
The city’s proclamation recognizes the commitment and dedication of CHEST to improving respiratory health and transforming the lives of patients around the world.
CHEST members and residents of Phoenix are encouraged to help raise awareness for respiratory health and Love Your Lungs Day by using the hashtag #LoveYourLungs and tagging @accpCHEST on social media platforms. Share your stories of struggles, strength, and hope in the face of lung disease.
