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Opening Ceremony

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If laughter is the best medicine, Dr. Glaucomflecken has your prescription ready. William Flanary, MD – aka Dr. Glaucomflecken – will kick off the ATS 2024 International Conference as the Opening Ceremony speaker on Saturday, May 18. Dr. Flanary is an ophthalmologist and comedian. He moonlights as “Dr. Glaucomflecken,” a social media personality who creates medical-themed comedy shorts to a social media audience of over five million.

His humor has been shaped by the challenges of medical school and residency, but also by his experiences as a patient. Dr. Flanary is a two-time testicular cancer survivor. He is also a cardiac arrest survivor, whose life was saved by his intrepid wife and her timely CPR. Initially used as a creative outlet to cope with these health challenges, Dr. Flanary’s comedy has evolved over time to incorporate biting satire of the U.S. health care system, academic publishing, and interpersonal conflicts pervasive in the medical system. He is a frequent keynote speaker who encourages medical audiences to embrace humor in everyday life.
In his presentation, Dr. Flanary will discuss his experience as a patient and touch on social media advocacy and how to fix health care.
The Opening Ceremony will also feature:

  • ATS President M. Patricia Rivera, MD, ATSF, will provide an update on accomplishments over the past year,
  • Video celebrating the success of 20 years of the ATS Research Program,
  • The latest class of ATS Fellows and Research Program awardees will be recognized, and
  • The Public Service Award, World Lung Health Award, Jo Rae Wright Award for Outstanding Science and the J. Randall Curtis Humanism Award will be presented.

Be sure to join us for the official kick-off to the ATS 2024 International Conference.

Support provided by Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Opening Ceremony Keynote Speaker

William Flanary, MD – aka Dr. Glaucomflecken


Saturday, May 18
4:30 - 5:30 p.m.
San Diego Convention Center

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