Over 150 delegates participated in the 17th Conference of The Union North American Region, titled "TB:The Air We Share", which took place in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada from February 28- March 2, 2013. The meeting highlighted TB in Children, Indigenous TB, TB in the City, and the Science of TB Transmission. A STOP-TB televised session was integrated into the meeting, with speakers from Pakistan, Bangladesh, Geneva and Australia. Sixteen travel grants were given to national and international scholars. Lifetime achievement awards were given to Dr. Edward Ellis (Canada) and Dr. C.Fordham Von Reyn (USA). Service awards went to Dr. Margarita Elsa Villarino and Dr. Reynard J. McDonald. The new President-Elect of NAR is Dr. Randall Reves (USA) and the President is Dr. Pamela Orr (Canada). The next regional meeting will be held at the Sheraton Boston Hotel in Boston MA, USA, from February 27 to March 1, 2014. The next (44th) Union World Conference on Lung Health will be held in Paris October 30 - November 3, 2013.

The speaker presentations from the 17th Conference of The Union North American Region are now available online at the BC Lung Association’s website.

The recent conference of The Union North American Region, held February 28-March 2, 2013 in Vancouver BC hosted a plenary session on TB among Indigenous Peoples. Presentations were made by Gail Turner (Labrador, Canada), Gonzalo Alvarez (Nunavut, Canada), Jon Iralu and Zena Smith (New Mexico, USA) and Michael Cooper (Alaska, USA). Common themes emerged in their successes as well as failures. Community ownership and control, engagement through the use of culturally appropriate media and venues, attention to both social determinants and health systems were common threads among the former. Resurgent or continued outbreaks continue to be seen in regions that drop activities, use "top-down" hierarchical health systems, skimp on resources, or fail to recognize and adapt to local culture. In preparation for the upcoming 12th session of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (May 20-31, 2013), the editors of Health Diplomacy Monitor have published an issue devoted to Indigenous Health concerns, including TB. You can find here. Health Diplomacy Monitor is published online by Carleton University in Ottawa Canada.

 May 17-22, 2013 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

The ATS International Conference, one of the largest gatherings of pulmonary, critical care and sleep clinicians and researchers in the world, provides a comprehensive review of the latest information on the diagnosis and treatment of respiratory diseases, critical illnesses and sleep disorders. Attendees will gain new perspectives on the clinical, basic science, and translational discoveries that are shaping the future of adult and pediatric respiratory care.

Situated in the heart of Philadelphia at the Pennsylvania Convention Center, the 2013 conference will feature more than 400 sessions, 5,500 scientific research abstracts and clinical case reports, and several postgraduate courses and hands-on workshops. Among the represented specialties will be allergy/immunology; behavioral science; environmental and occupational health; hospitalists; infectious disease; nursing; and pediatric pulmonary, critical care, and sleep. A digital Advance Program with registration instructions will be available in January 2013 at http://conference.thoracic.org.

For more information, please contact the ATS International Conference Department at (212) 315-8652, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Date: 30 October - 3 November 2013
Location : Paris, France
Theme: Shared air, safe air?

Description:  The 44th Union World Conference on Lung Health, will be held at the Palais des Congrès in Paris, France on 30 October–3 November 2013.

The conference theme is "Shared Air, Safe Air?" This theme reflects growing concerns about the need to improve or preserve the quality of the air we breathe for both healthy and vulnerable persons alike.

The vital importance of "Shared Air, Safe Air?" will be a recurrent theme throughout the five-day scientific programme, which will also present the latest developments in the related fights against tuberculosis, HIV, lung disease, non-communicable diseases and the global campaign for tobacco control.
The Venue:
Palais des Congrès de Paris
2, Place de la Porte Maillot
75017 Paris
France

Contact: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it