Three Faculty Receive Respiratory Health Awards at ATS Conference

Three faculty members from the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine received Respiratory Health Awards at the 2026 American Thoracic Society (ATS) conference. The awards recognize outstanding respiratory health contributions, from research and diagnosis to education and advocacy. 

Elizabeth Viglianti, MD, MPH, MSc, received the Jo Rae Wright Award for Outstanding Science, which recognizes rising leaders who show demonstrated potential for significant achievement and contributions to respiratory health. Dr. Viglianti’s research focuses on understanding the development, trajectories, and outcomes of persistent critical illness, with the goal of improving prognostication, decision-making, and long-term outcomes for critically ill patients and their families.

Jakob McSparron, MD, was awarded the Outstanding Educator Award for his outstanding achievements and excellence in pulmonary and critical care medical education. Dr. McSparron has served as program director of the Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine Fellowship program since 2020 and course director for several regional and national continuing medical education programs. His academic interests focus on procedural education, educational theory, and interdisciplinary teamwork in the ICU.

Marc Peters-Golden, MD, was selected to deliver the J. Burns Amberson Lecture, one of ATS’s highest honors, which recognizes major contributions to pulmonary science and academic medicine. The lecture is given in honor of James Burns Amberson, an internal authority on chest disease and tuberculosis. Dr. Peters-Golden is internationally recognized for his research on understanding lung inflammation, immunity, and tissue remodeling and has authored more than 300 scientific publications. His theme for this year’s lecture was “cyclic AMP and fibrosis resolution,” based on his work using molecular, biochemical, pharmacologic, and in vivo approaches to studying homeostasis and disease. 

These awards reflect the University of Michigan’s longstanding leadership in pulmonary and critical care medicine and continued commitment to advancing research, education, and dedication to improving respiratory health worldwide.