Meet Your COPD Foundation Captains!

COPD Foundation Captains are volunteers with COPD, caregivers, friends and family members or healthcare providers who use their contacts and talents and partner with the COPD Foundation to serve as state and community leaders.

Captains promote the importance of becoming a part of the COPD community. They work to spread COPD awareness in their state and local areas, mentor fellow COPD community members, and participate in online and in-person grassroots advocacy and community building activities focused on health policy issues that are important to those who have COPD. If you are interested in joining our group of volunteers, click here.

If you'd like to speak with a COPD Foundation Captain directly, please email statecaptains@copdfoundation.org and we will connect you with the Captain in your area of interest.


Barry Hoehn

Barry Hoehn Profile Photo Birmingham, Alabama


I am a COPD Foundation state captain living in Birmingham, Alabama. I decided to become a State Captain so I could help people who have COPD understand that there is so much they can do to take charge of their health and to stay connected with resources they will need to manage their health well.

When I was diagnosed, I knew there were things I was going to have to do to take charge of my health. The first thing was to quit smoking. The day I was diagnosed, I threw my pack of cigarettes away and never smoked another one. I also learned the importance of exercise. I was able to develop an exercise regimen with my pulmonary doctor, and I am convinced that this faithful exercise has helped keep my COPD from progressing.

If you or your loved one has been diagnosed with COPD, don’t give up. Get active. And above all, have faith in yourself, and in God.

 



COPD Foundation State Captain Program Informational Video

The COPD Foundation is looking for new State Captains to join our community to be champions for promoting COPD awareness, improving quality of life for those with COPD, to participate in research opportunities, policy, and much more. Email statecaptains@copdfoundation.org for questions and to start the onboarding process today!