The American Lung Association announced on July 22 the election of its 2026-2027 board of directors, who will oversee efforts to improve lung health and prevent lung disease. The announcement follows the June 27 board meeting in Chicago, where new leadership and four new members were elected to the national board responsible for strategic and governance oversight.
Mike Carstens, Consultant at Health Insurance Risk Advisors, LLC, was named board chair. Mark Johnson, Senior Vice President of Investor Relations and Corporate Communications for Prothena Biosciences Inc., was named chair-elect. David Hill, M.D., a pulmonary and critical care physician with Waterbury Pulmonary Associates, was named immediate past chair. Joy Kleinmaier, Strategic Advisor for Healthnix, Inc., was named secretary/treasurer.
Harold Wimmer, President and CEO of the American Lung Association, said: “Over the past year and a half, we have seen significant changes to the public health landscape, and unfortunately changes that will have a negative impact on the health of families across the U.S. But the American Lung Association’s trusted voice and 122-year history, along with our dedicated board of directors, continue to lead with science-based information, bipartisan educational messaging and reliable resources. Our organization is extremely fortunate to have incredible board leadership from across the country who are committed to advancing our mission, and the new board members who joined this year will provide invaluable experience to help guide our organization.”
Newly welcomed national board members include Savannah Cavanaugh (Senior Advisor for AI Partnerships at Dell Technologies), Sumita Khatri (pulmonologist and researcher), James W. Sanders (Senior Vice President & Community Development Officer at Univest Bank), and Nakia Tremble (Senior Vice President of Operations for Specialty Hospital Division – Central Region at ScionHealth).
The American Lung Association has supported groundbreaking research contributing to advancements in lung disease treatment and prevention; extended its influence nationwide via local offices; received a four-star rating from Charity Navigator for fiscal management; worked through research, education and advocacy aimed at improving lung health; expanded its impact through community efforts; all under Harold Wimmer's leadership as president and CEO, according to the official website.
