Helping people with respiratory disease through education, research and information
About Us
The Pulmonary Education and Research Foundation is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization created in 1984, based in the south bay area of Los Angeles, California.
The Pulmonary Education and Research Foundation was formed from a passion to change the poor outlook for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), through research into pulmonary rehabilitation. Over time, this purpose has adapted to include other diseases where shortness-of-breath and exercise intolerance are hallmark symptoms.
16 million Americans are diagnosed with COPD, another 16 million are thought to be undiagnosed
56.2% of people with COPD reported that shortness of breath affected their quality of life
Pulmonary rehabilitation is one of the most effective treatments for COPD, but only 2% of medicare-eligble patients actually undertake a program
Recent Articles On Our Blog
3
Dec
How to Prevent “Truth Decay”
PERF needs your help. The world as we know it under attack. We are not talking Martians… or even about the COVID pandemic. We are referring to the blurred lines between fact and fiction. Truth and falsehood. How do we, as a society, combat this uncertainty? We support and act on scientific discovery to provide the information to guide our actions.
3
Dec
Depression: A Personal Reflection
I am a pulmonologist (lung doctor) specializing in pulmonary rehabilitation who has been asked to write a blog about depression. The reason I was asked is that I have freely shared that I have been dealing with depression most of my life. Most people that I work with on a daily basis are surprised to hear that I deal with depression because I do not act depressed. I only share the fact that depression is a part of who I am. That does not make me an expert, however, I do have some recommendations that work for me and can be useful tools for others dealing with depression.
12
Nov
You Can Make a Difference
PERF needs your help to support our mission to improve the lives of those who experience breathing difficulties, through the support of research and education. This message goes out in the midst of COPD awareness month and at a time when we read of record numbers around the world being diagnosed with COVID-19. PERF’s educational mission aims to help all those who experience breathing problems; and this part of our mission has taken on a special significance during the pandemic.