This Lung Disease is Actually the 4th Leading Cause of Death in the U.S.

Dr. MeiLan Han, MD, MS, Professor of Medicine and Chief of the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care at the University of Michigan discusses chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), the importance of correctly identifying COPD risk, symptoms and exacerbations, knowing what to ask your doctor to make for a productive conversation and prioritizing treatment. She is joined by Tracy, a patient living with COPD who shares her journey and what she wished she knew before her COPD diagnosis. They talk about why websites like ListentoYourLungs.com and SpeakUpforCOPD.com can help patients prevent and manage flare-ups and the MY COPD Action Plan Dr. Han developed in partnership with the COPD Foundation to improve patient/physician communication.

MeiLan Han, MD MS, is a Professor of Medicine and Chief of the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care at the University of Michigan. Dr. Han received her medical degree from the University of Washington in Seattle, WA. She completed her residency in Internal Medicine and fellowship in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at the University of Michigan. Dr. Han has also completed a Master’s Degree program in Biostatistics and Clinical Study Design at the University of Michigan School of Public Health.Dr. Han’s research has focused on defining phenotypes in COPD using imaging. She is a lead investigator for several NIH sponsored COPD studies. She also serves on the scientific advisory committees for both the COPD Foundation and American Lung Association, the board for the COPD Foundation and serves as a spokesperson for the American Lung Association. She is currently a Deputy Editor for the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine and serves on the editorial boards for Thorax, Lancet Respiratory Medicine and Journal of the COPD Foundation. She is also a member of the Global Obstructive Lung Disease scientific committee which is charged with developing internationally an internationally recognized consensus statement on COPD diagnosis and management.