AlbertARizzoMD

Summary

• Dr. Rizzo has been a volunteer with the American Lung Association (ALA)since 1984 at both the local, regional and national level. In July 2011, he became Chairman of the National Board of Directors of the American Lung Association and continues to serve as the Immediate Past Chairman of the Board. In his volunteer leadership roles he has testified before Congress on behalf of advancing lung disease research through funding of NIH and has lectured at American Lung Association meetings throughout the country. In addition to smoking cessation, his topics include specific disease states such as COPD, Asthma, Sleep Apnea, and Lung Cancer. The importance of recognizing and trying to eliminate some of the health care disparities that often involve these diseases is one of his concerns. In addition to the advocacy and education roles as a volunteer for the ALA, he also is involved in research to help those affliceted with lung disease. He has been involved as a principal investigator for phase II, III clinical research studies since the early 1990s. These have included new drugs for COPD, asthma and pulmonary fibrosis. His involvement in clinical research stems from his feeling that clinical research stimulates his intellectual curiosity and helps him stay current in his field. This then translates into an enhancement of the care he can provide his patients.