American Thoracic Society
American Thoracic Society  (ATS ), established in 1905, is an independently incorporated, international, educational and scientific society, serving its 18,000 members world-wide who are dedicated in respiratory and critical care medicine. The Society aims to help to prevent and fight respiratory disease by promoting research, education, patient care, and advocacy, ultimately to decrease morbidity and mortality from respiratory diseases.

# History
- 1905, American Sanatorium Association, established as a division of the American Lung Association, was devoted to the prevention, control and treatment of tuberculosis at that time;
- 1938, the American Sanatorium Association changed its name to the American Trudeau Society, after Dr. Edward Livingston Trudeau.
- 1960, the American Trudeau Society changed its name to the American Thoracic Society.
- 2000, the American Thoracic Society was separated from the American Lung Association.

# Mission Statement
The American Thoracic Society (ATS) is a non-profit, international, professional and scientific society for respiratory, critical care and sleep medicine. The ATS is committed to the prevention and treatment of respiratory disease through research, education, patient care and advocacy. The long-range goal of the ATS is to decrease morbidity and mortality from respiratory, critical care and sleep disorders and life threatening acute illnesses in people of all ages. In keeping with these goals, the American Thoracic Society interacts with both national and international organizations which have similar goals.

## Research
- Promote the highest quality research to facilitate the discovery of new knowledge
- Collaborate with other organizations in research advocacy.
- Coordinate, develop and manage research and research training grant programs in collaboration with other organizations.
- Provide advice and direction to all agencies and organizations that fund respiratory and critical care related research.
- Increase funding for research and training as a non-profit, tax-exempt society.

## Education
- Disseminate new scientific information through scientific meetings and publication of peer-reviewed journals.
- Translate new scientific information into patient education.
- Develop new approaches to educate professionals and other health care providers about respiratory and critical care medicine.
- Encourage and provide the highest standards of training in respiratory and critical care medicine for professionals and other health care providers.
- Encourage the highest standards for research and clinical practice worldwide.
- Facilitate the interpretation and transfer of both new research findings and existing information to the practitioner.
- Provide information and expertise in respiratory and critical care diseases to other organizations worldwide.

## Patient Care
- Support and foster the highest quality of patient care.
- Evaluate the interrelationships between delivery of health care, health care costs and health care policy.
- Establish, review and revise guidelines for optimal patient care.
- Promote the development and application of ethical standards in patient care.

## Advocacy
- Promote high quality and cost effective patient care.
- Advise, cooperate and participate with government and non-government agencies in matters of common interest, including clinical practice and research.
- Participate in activities whose aim is to prevent lung disease, promote lung health and enhance patient care worldwide.

# Conferences
- The Society holds its annual international conference in May. There are about 15,000 doctors and scientists from all over the world to attend.
- Places that had host the ATS International Conference:
- 2000: Toronto (Canada)
- 2003: Seattle
- 2004: Orlando
- 2005: San Diego
- 2006: San Diego 
- 2007: San Francisco 
Future meeting sites :
- 2008: Toronto, Canada
- 2009: San Diego
- 2010: New Orleans
- 2011: Denver

# Periodicals
- The American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine (AJRCCM) 
- The American Journal of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology (AJRCMB) 
- The Proceedings of the American Thoracic Society (PATS)