Barbara Yawn, MD named Chief Scientific Officer of COPD Foundation
WASHINGTON, D.C. – September 29, 2017 – The COPD Foundation announced today that Barbara Yawn, MD has joined the organization as Chief Scientific Officer. Dr. Yawn comes with 25 years of experience as a primary care researcher with a focus in respiratory disease, specifically asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Additionally, she brings 14 years of full-time rural family medicine practice as well as training in research design and statistics. Dr. Yawn succeeds Dr. David Mannino in the role and will provide clinical oversight of the COPD Foundation’s overall research agenda going forward.
“Dr. Yawn is exceptionally well qualified to serve as the COPD Foundation’s chief scientific officer. She has been involved with the COPD Foundation since inception, including serving on the Foundation’s Medical and Scientific Advisory Committee (MASAC). As a primary care physician, Dr. Yawn has provided a unique and critical perspective,” says Craig Kephart, the COPD Foundation’s chief executive officer.
As part of her position, Dr. Yawn will serve as the principal investigator for the Foundation’s COPD Patient-Powered Research Network (COPD PPRN). The organization’s programmatic leadership believes her practical knowledge in connecting clinicians and patients will enable the COPD PPRN to further ties to primary care communities where many patients are treated. Her extensive expertise in designing and implementing pragmatic studies in community practices will support the Foundation’s priority to educate primary care physicians about the opportunities to help those affected by COPD through early diagnosis and resource sharing.
“I am honored by the opportunity to join the many talented people who work with the COPD Foundation including the staff, the broad group of volunteer experts, researchers and most importantly patients, families and caregivers. We have made significant strides in better addressing this and similar respiratory diseases but have many continuing opportunities and challenges to meet. Dr. Mannino has served as an excellent example to emulate as I move into this position,” says Barbara Yawn, MD.
The COPD Foundation scientific and programmatic leadership are pleased Dr. Yawn has accepted this role and believe her background will bring a crucial perspective to the COPD Foundation and its COPD Patient-Powered Research Network. For more information on the COPD Foundation’s research initiatives, please click here.