The American Lung Association in Georgia has announced the addition of three healthcare professionals to its Georgia Leadership Board. Shady Eldaif, MD, a thoracic surgeon; Adrienne Cunningham, a registered respiratory therapist; and Pooja Mishra, an oncology and healthcare leader, have joined the board. They will work alongside ten other members and the local Lung Association team to support lung health initiatives and fund programs.
Dr. Jannifer Harper, chair of the Lung Association’s Georgia Leadership Board, expressed enthusiasm about the new appointments: “We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Eldaif, Adrienne and Pooja to our Georgia Leadership Board. Their diverse experiences and insights will be critical to advancing our impact in the Atlanta community and across Georgia.”
Adrienne Cunningham brings 18 years of experience as a respiratory therapist and currently works with Lemaitre Vascular as a sales representative for vascular devices. She is actively involved in several community organizations including the Junior League of Atlanta. Cunningham stated her dedication to lung health: “My personal journey with asthma and caring for thousands of patients with lung disease through the years has fueled my passion for lung health.”
Dr. Shady Eldaif serves as director of thoracic oncology at City of Hope Cancer Center Atlanta and has performed over 1,600 robotic thoracic surgeries. He previously held leadership roles at Northside Hospital. Dr. Eldaif commented on his motivation: “My biggest driver and passion is to break barriers to provide access to exceptional healthcare.”
Pooja Mishra is Vice President of Oncology and Sickle Cell Service Line at Grady Health System where she focuses on improving patient access and early detection in cancer care. Mishra shared her commitment: “Lung cancer accounts for 1 out of 5 cancer deaths... I look forward to being the bridge to align like efforts.”
The public can support these efforts by participating in events such as the LUNG FORCE Run/Walk scheduled for November 2 at Atlantic Station.
