Illinois Releases State COPD Plan

Illinois only the second state to address the fourth leading cause of death WHAT: Respiratory Health Association of Metropolitan Chicago (RHAMC) and the Illinois COPD Coalition will announce the rele

WHO: Grace Anne Dorney Koppel -- COPD patient/advocate

James P. Kiley, PhD -- Director of the Division of Lung Diseases, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

Jeffery Glassroth, MD -- Illinois COPD State Plan Chair and Vice Dean & Chief Academic Officer, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University

Terry Mason, MD -- Commissioner of the Chicago Department of Public Health
TBD -- Cook County Bureau of Health Services

Joel Africk -- President and Chief Executive Officer, Respiratory Health Association of Metropolitan Chicago

WHEN: Thursday, May 1, 2008 at 10 a.m.

WHERE: James R. Thompson Center, 100 West Randolph St., Chicago; 15th Floor Press Room

WHY: In the United States there is one death every four minutes due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This progressive disease is the 4th leading cause of death, killing more women than men, and is predicted to be the 3rd leading cause by 2020. COPD is diagnosed in more than 12 million people and an additional 12 million likely have the disease and don't even know it.

VISUALS / INTERVIEWS:
-- All press conference speakers
-- Local COPD patients

For media unable to attend the news conference: Video coverage will be available immediately following the news conference. The coordinates will be distributed by 8:30AM, May 1.

CONTACT: Mary Beth Berkoff, +1-312-628-0225, Cell: +1-777-213-4776, or Meghan Bradley, +1-312-628-0250, Cell: +1-773-209-6704, both of American Lung Association of Metro Chicago

/PRNewswire-USNewswire -- April 22/

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: American Lung Association of Metro Chicago

Web Site: http://www.lungchicago.org/

2008-04-22 17:49:44 0342587 PRNEWSWIRE