ALA Forum

Kim Maende • November 8, 2021

Nov. 10th: Massachusetts Virtual Asthma Educational Forum

On November 10th from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m., Join the American Lung Association Western Mass colleagues as we speak at the American Lung Association's educational forum about asthma in the Commonwealth. Attendees will learn about asthma prevalence and disparities, current programming throughout the state, and how they can get involved in local, state, and national advocacy initiatives.


Speakers include:

·    Sen. Adam Gomez, Hampden District

·    Sarita Hudson, Public Health Institute of Western Mass

·    Stacey Chacker, the MA Asthma Action Partnership,

·    Jodi Sugerman-Brozan, MA Coalition for Occupational Safety and Health


Registration for this event is free and can be completed via this link




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By Sarita Hudson August 24, 2026
The Public Health Institute of Western Massachusetts (PHIWM) is expanding its longstanding asthma prevention efforts into a regional Respiratory Health Coalition focused on reducing health inequities in the region with particular attention to Springfield, Holyoke, and Chicopee. Building on the success of the Pioneer Valley Asthma Coalition and Healthy Air Network, the coalition will expand to address COPD, and lung cancer as well as asthma through coordinated action on prevention, education, environmental health, access to care, and policy advocacy. By bringing together healthcare providers, community organizations, residents, employers, public health leaders, and policymakers, the coalition will advance sustainable solutions that improve respiratory health outcomes while reducing the social and economic burden of chronic lung disease. This new Respiratory Health coalition will be meeting through the fall to finalize planning on communications, education, and policy advocacy. We have recruited 10 Resident Advisors to bring community resident voices to our process. In addition, we have representatives from Baystate Health, the cities of Chicopee, Holyoke & Springfield, Caring Health Center, Hitchcock Center for the Environment, Holyoke Health Center, Nuestras Raices, ReGreen Springfield, and Revitalize CDC. To learn more about Respiratory Health efforts, please sign up for our new Respiratory Health newsletter or contact Sarita Hudson, shudson@publichealthwm.org