Local Health and Safety Organizations Team Up with Tony Gwynn Jr. for Community Connections Series

Notable San Diego healthcare professionals present the second series of Community Connections-San Diego, beginning Wednesday, September 29, and each Wednesday thereafter through November 17 from 5 – 6 p.m. 

These free lung health sessions aim to improve and protect the health of all San Diegans. Co-Hosts Dr. Timothy Morris, M.D. of UCSD Health and Tony Gwynn Jr. of the San Diego Padres launched these informal gatherings in early 2021 to help guide San Diegans safely through COVID-19. The key supporter of our Fall 2021 Community Connections series is the Burr Heart & Lung Clinic at Sharp Grossmont Hospital. The Burr Heart & Lung Clinic at Sharp Grossmont is the exclusive healthcare partner of the American Lung Association-San Diego.

Community Connections sessions conveniently take place online and address helpful, and timely topics for families to get answers to pressing lung health issues. Topics include how to protect your lungs during wildfires, a healthy lung diet, minimizing COVID-19 risks on college campuses, and early detection screening to prevent lung cancer. For more information about weekly topics and to register for the series, please visit the American Lung Association website, Lung.org.

“The American Lung Association believes everyone should have the same chance at healthy lungs and clean air. But, too often, families with the most to lose get the least access to quality healthcare, the finest hospitals and even clean air,” said Tony Gwynn Jr. “This is just one of the reasons we’re proud to present Community Connections free to everyone in our region. My fellow board member, Dr. Tim Morris, likes to call these informal and informative sessions ‘Dinner with the Docs.’”

Series presenters and panelists include Dr. Tim Morris and Dr. Laura-Crotty Alexander of UCSD Health;  Dr. Kaveh Bagheri, medical director of the Burr Heart & Lung Clinic at Sharp Grossmont;  Dr. Scott Eisman and Dr. Ni-Cheng Liang of Coastal Pulmonary Associates, Scripps Health Encinitas;  Dr. Mark Fuster and Dr. Phillippe Montgrain of UCSD & VA San Diego Healthcare;  Gabriel Gutierrez of the County of San Diego Health & Human Services; Becky Hart, RN at Naval Medical Center San Diego;  Dr. Sandra Leibel and Dr. Evan Y. Snyder of Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute & UCSD;  Fire Captain & Community Resource Officer Alma Lowry or San Diego Fire-Rescue Department;  Shelane Paraiso, RRT of VA Medical Center;  and Dr. Michael Welch of Rady Children’s Hospital/Allergy & Asthma Medical Group & Research Center.