jay_petty.asp

For Immediate Release

IRVING, TX (January 14, 2004) – The nation’s respiratory therapists honored Tom Petty, MD, FAARC, professor of medicine and anesthesiology at the University of Colorado Medical School, with the highest award their profession has to give — the prestigious Jimmy A. Young Medal — at their national meeting in Las Vegas, NV, in December.

“We’re honored to bestow this award on a man who has been a true and loyal friend to the respiratory care profession and respiratory patients for decades,” said Sam Giordano, MBA, RRT, FAARC, executive director of the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC), who presented Dr. Petty with the medal at the awards ceremony.

Established in the 1970s to honor the memory of a pioneering member of the respiratory therapy profession, the Jimmy A. Young Medal is awarded annually at the AARC’s International Respiratory Congress to recognize an individual who has exceeded all expectations for meritorious service to the AARC and advancement of the respiratory care profession.

Dr. Petty is being acknowledged for his nearly five decades in the medical profession, during which time he has led the way in clinical research into respiratory conditions, published more than 130 scientific papers, and broken new ground in the use of home oxygen to allow greater freedom of movement for patients with chronic respiratory disease. He also introduced the principles of pulmonary rehabilitation and founded one of the first pulmonary rehab programs in the country.

Most recently, Dr. Petty has been actively involved in promoting earlier detection and treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD. He founded the National Lung Health Education Program (NLHEP) in the 1990s to promote the use of a simple test called spirometry in physicians' offices aimed at uncovering the disease before it gets out of control. Since then, he has been working closely with the AARC and respiratory therapists across the country to bring this level of care to more patients.

Dr. Petty graduated from the University of Colorado Medical School in 1958. He completed his internship at Philadelphia General Hospital, then went on to serve as assistant resident in medicine at the University of Michigan. From there, he returned to the University of Colorado for another residency, a fellowship in pulmonary medicine, and the chief resident position. He joined the faculty in 1962, climbing the ranks from instructor of medicine to head of the division of pulmonary medicine, a position he held between 1971 and 1983.

In addition to serving as professor at the University of Colorado, Dr. Petty is professor of medicine at Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke’s Medical Center in Chicago, clinical professor of medicine at Oklahoma State University in Tulsa, Okla., and a consultant with HealthONE. Over the years he has also held an academic appointment at the University of North Dakota and served as a consultant to Fitzsimons General Hospital. He served as director of the Webb-Waring Lung Institute from 1983 to 1988, and was director of the respiratory care unit at the University of Colorado from 1965 to 1985. He was the director of academic and research affairs at HealthONE Center for Health Sciences Education from 1989 to 1995.

Dr. Petty has served on the editorial boards of numerous scientific publications and has won many other awards during his distinguished career, including the University of Colorado’s Silver and Gold Award for Excellence, the Master Award from the American College of Chest Physicians and the Master Award from the American College of Physicians. He was named a fellow in the AARC in 1999.

Respiratory therapists are specially trained health care professionals who assist physicians in treating and managing respiratory patients in hospitals, outpatient centers, physicians’ offices, skilled nursing facilities, and patients’ homes.

The American Association for Respiratory Care is a professional membership organization of respiratory therapists dedicated to respiratory therapy education and research. Among its goals are to advocate on behalf of pulmonary patients for appropriate access to respiratory services provided by qualified professionals and to benefit respiratory health care providers.

Contact:
Sherry Milligan AARC Communications Manager (972) 406-4656, milligan@aarc.org

		Respiratory Therapists Honor Tom Petty, MD, with Highest Award For Immediate Release IRVING, TX (January 14, 2004) – The nation’s respiratory therapists honored Tom Petty, MD, FAARC, professor of medicine and anesthesiology at the University of Colorado Medical School, with the highest award their profession has to give — the prestigious Jimmy A. Young Medal — at their national meeting in Las Vegas, NV, in December. “We’re honored to bestow this award on a man who has been a true and loyal friend to the respiratory care profession and respiratory patients for decades,” said Sam Giordano, MBA, RRT, FAARC, executive director of the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC), who presented Dr. Petty with the medal at the awards ceremony. Established in the 1970s to honor the memory of a pioneering member of the respiratory therapy profession, the Jimmy A. Young Medal is awarded annually at the AARC’s International Respiratory Congress to recognize an individual who has exceeded all expectations for meritorious service to the AARC and advancement of the respiratory care profession. Dr. Petty is being acknowledged for his nearly five decades in the medical profession, during which time he has led the way in clinical research into respiratory conditions, published more than 130 scientific papers, and broken new ground in the use of home oxygen to allow greater freedom of movement for patients with chronic respiratory disease. He also introduced the principles of pulmonary rehabilitation and founded one of the first pulmonary rehab programs in the country. Most recently, Dr. Petty has been actively involved in promoting earlier detection and treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD. He founded the National Lung Health Education Program (NLHEP) in the 1990s to promote the use of a simple test called spirometry in physicians' offices aimed at uncovering the disease before it gets out of control. Since then, he has been working closely with the AARC and respiratory therapists across the country to bring this level of care to more patients. Dr. Petty graduated from the University of Colorado Medical School in 1958. He completed his internship at Philadelphia General Hospital, then went on to serve as assistant resident in medicine at the University of Michigan. From there, he returned to the University of Colorado for another residency, a fellowship in pulmonary medicine, and the chief resident position. He joined the faculty in 1962, climbing the ranks from instructor of medicine to head of the division of pulmonary medicine, a position he held between 1971 and 1983. In addition to serving as professor at the University of Colorado, Dr. Petty is professor of medicine at Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke’s Medical Center in Chicago, clinical professor of medicine at Oklahoma State University in Tulsa, Okla., and a consultant with HealthONE. Over the years he has also held an academic appointment at the University of North Dakota and served as a consultant to Fitzsimons General Hospital. He served as director of the Webb-Waring Lung Institute from 1983 to 1988, and was director of the respiratory care unit at the University of Colorado from 1965 to 1985. He was the director of academic and research affairs at HealthONE Center for Health Sciences Education from 1989 to 1995. Dr. Petty has served on the editorial boards of numerous scientific publications and has won many other awards during his distinguished career, including the University of Colorado’s Silver and Gold Award for Excellence, the Master Award from the American College of Chest Physicians and the Master Award from the American College of Physicians. He was named a fellow in the AARC in 1999. Respiratory therapists are specially trained health care professionals who assist physicians in treating and managing respiratory patients in hospitals, outpatient centers, physicians’ offices, skilled nursing facilities, and patients’ homes. The American Association for Respiratory Care is a professional membership organization of respiratory therapists dedicated to respiratory therapy education and research. Among its goals are to advocate on behalf of pulmonary patients for appropriate access to respiratory services provided by qualified professionals and to benefit respiratory health care providers. ### Contact: Sherry Milligan AARC Communications Manager (972) 406-4656, milligan@aarc.org E-Photos available upon request.

Respiratory Therapists Honor Tom Petty, MD, with Highest Award