Dr. Byron M. Thomashow Awarded Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Award


WASHINGTON, D.C. - May 18, 2016 - The COPD Foundation is proud to announce that its chief medical officer and board member, Byron M. Thomashow, MD, has received the 2016 Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Award. Sponsored by the Arnold P. Gold Foundation, the award recognizes those who embody the ideals of compassion in the delivery of healthcare. It is given annually to a faculty member who demonstrates outstanding sensitivity and empathy in care delivery as well as demonstrated clinical excellence. The award was presented at the Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons graduation ceremony on May 18.

In addition to his work at the COPD Foundation, Dr. Thomashow is a clinical professor of medicine at the Columbia University Medical Center and an attending physician at the New York-Presbyterian Hospital. He also serves as the medical director of the Jo-Ann LeBuhn Center for Chest Disease on the Columbia campus. He is widely known in the COPD community for his extensive knowledge of the disease and unrestrained compassion for those who are affected by it.

“The COPD Foundation would not exist as it does today without the tireless dedication and empathy Dr. Byron Thomashow embodies,” said Craig Kephart, CEO of the COPD Foundation. “He has touched the lives of thousands of individuals affected by COPD - they know he has a vested interest in their wellbeing. Despite his intense schedule, he always makes the time to connect with the individuals who need him the most. Finding a cure for COPD and improving the lives of those who live with it is Dr. Thomashow’s life’s work. He remains steadfast in this effort and demonstrates his commitment to this end everyday.”