Meet the 2022 Winner: Peggy S. Lai, MD, MPH, ATSF
Peggy S. Lai is a pulmonary and critical care physician at Massachusetts General Hospital and Assistant Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. Her research focuses on the intersection between environmental exposures, the microbiome, and lung disease. She has been a member of the ATS since 2008, has served the EOPH assembly on the Early Career Working Group (chair 2017 – 2019), Planning Committee (chair 2020 – present), Program Committee (chair-elect 2022), and is currently a member of the ATS International Health Committee where she co-chairs the International Conference Working Group.
Dr. Lai’s work has focused on the relationship between environmental and occupational endotoxin exposure and obstructive lung disease in children and adults. More recently, her laboratory has shifted towards evaluating the environmental microbiome with additional work focused on environmental influences on the human microbiome. Dr. Lai also conducted studies on household air pollution in rural Uganda. Her work has been funded by NIEHS, NIAID, the American Thoracic Society, and the American Lung Association. She received the EOPH David Bates award in 2014 and was elected as Fellow of the American Thoracic Society in 2020.
Description:
This award is given to a primary EOPH member with exemplary support and commitment to the EOPH mission and with recognized contributions to the assembly in the areas of research, improving public health, teaching, mentoring, and/or service (not necessarily leadership). Individuals eligible for consideration are within 10 years from completion of postdoctoral training. Nominations of diverse candidates (by gender, race/ethnicity, country, area of focus and primary occupation) are highly encouraged.
Criteria:
- Within 10 years of having completed postdoctoral or clinical training, excluding time off for personal circumstances (i.e. Assistant Professor or equivalent)
- EOPH Assembly Member (primary)
- Significant contributions to the assembly in the areas of research, improving public health, teaching, mentoring, and/or service (not necessarily leadership).
Note: Award nominations will be carried over for 3 years and the Planning Committee may choose to move nominees to a different award category for optimal review.
