Dr. Jack Harkema, University Distinguished Professor, Albert C. and Lois E. Dehn Endowed Chair in Veterinary Medicine, and director of the Laboratory for Environmental and Toxicologic Pathology and the Mobile Air Research Laboratories at Michigan State University, is one of only three veterinarians to be part of the first class of American Thoracic Society (ATS) Fellows. The ATS Fellow designation is a mark of distinction, conferring recognition on members for their accomplishments, dedication, and contributions to the Society, as well as to the fields of pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine. Harkema, who is a faculty member of MSU’s Department of Pathobiology and Diagnostic Investigation, will be recognized in May at the ATS’ 2018 International Conference in San Diego, California.
“Dr. Harkema’s accomplishments, dedication, and outstanding contributions to the American Thoracic Society, as well as to the field of pulmonary medicine—animal and human—are recognized by this fellowship, a first-of-its-kind distinction for our Department,” says Dr. Srinand Sreevatsan, chair for the Department of Pathobiology and Diagnostic Investigation. “He is among the select few veterinary scientists and toxicologic pathologists that have accomplished the ATS fellowship.”
From 2014–2017, Harkema served as the chair of the ATS Environmental, Occupational and Population Health Assembly and a member of the ATS Board of Directors. Now, he is 1 of 178 total fellows, the vast majority of whom are human medicine doctors.
“It is an honor to receive this distinction from the ATS, the leading society for the advancement of respiratory health through research generated by teams of biomedical scientists that include physicians, nurses, public health professionals and veterinarians,” says Harkema.
The ATS is an international society of more than 16,000 members—physicians, research scientists, nurses, and other allied healthcare professionals—whose mission is to improve health worldwide by advancing research, clinical care, and public health in respiratory disease, critical illness, and sleep disorders. For more information, visit their website at thoracic.org.