University of Rochester Medicine Pulmonary Leaders Honored for Outstanding Research, Mentorship
University of Rochester Medicine pulmonary researchers M. Patricia Rivera, MD, Augusto Litonjua, MD, MPH, and Gloria Pryhuber, MD, have been committed to helping people of all ages breathe easier for decades. Their dedication and outstanding contributions to pulmonary medicine and respiratory science were recently recognized by the American Thoracic Society (ATS), the world’s leading medical society advancing global respiratory health.
The trio received awards during the 2026 ATS International Conference, held May 15-20 in Orlando, FL.
Legacy of Leadership in Lung Cancer Research
Rivera, chief of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at URochester Medicine and a past president of the ATS, received the Elizabeth A. Rich, MD, Award for her transformative work in thoracic oncology and dedication to advancing women’s careers in pulmonary medicine.
“Rivera has been mentored by strong, accomplished women in an era dominated by men,” said Gerard Silvestri, MD, MS, of Medical University of South Carolina, in a nomination letter. “She has never forgotten that and has paid it forward to the women who have come after her.”
Thanks in part to that mentorship, Rivera built an outstanding career as a physician-scientist and is widely regarded as an international leader in lung cancer research. She cares deeply about her patients and is driven to abolish stigma and improve the diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer.
“None of us does this work alone, and none of us arrives here alone,” Rivera said while accepting the honor at the ATS Women’s Forum. “Every step forward in my career has been guided by people who challenged me and reminded me of the purpose of the work that we were doing.”
Discovering the Developmental Origins of Lung Disease
Litonjua, director of Pediatric Pulmonology at URochester Medicine, received the John M. Peters Award from the ATS Environmental, Occupational, and Public Health (EOPH) Assembly for his foundational research on the developmental origins of asthma and lung disease. He helped uncover the link between low prenatal vitamin D levels and childhood asthma, and later demonstrated that it helps protect against the harmful effects of direct and prenatal tobacco smoke exposure.
“Gus is a generous and humble physician scientist, mentor, and academic leader of great integrity who is richly deserving of the John Peters Award,” said Juan Celedón, MD, DrPH, chief of Pediatric Pulmonary Medicine at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, who nominated Litonjua.
In another leadership milestone, the EOPH Assembly also named Daniel Croft, MD, MPH, chair-elect of its program committee, which coordinates the programming for the annual ATS Conference. Croft will assume the chair role in 2027.
Mapping Lung Molecules
Pryhuber, professor of Neonatology at URochester Medicine, received a Recognition Award for Scientific Accomplishment for her contributions to building a comprehensive molecular map of the human lung.
As principal investigator of the Human Tissue Core, Pryhuber played a crucial role in acquiring and processing donated human lung tissue for the Molecular Atlas of Lung Development Program (LungMap). Since its inception in 2014, LungMap has significantly accelerated the scientific understanding of human lung development and disease.
“Gloria’s work has had a broad and lasting impact on neonatal and pediatric respiratory health,” said Hitesh Deshmukh, MD, PhD, chief of Neonatology and Dean’s Professor of Pediatrics at URochester Medicine. “This award is a well-deserved recognition of her remarkable contributions to respiratory research and her long-standing commitment to mentorship and collaboration.”
A Deep Bench
At the ATS International Conference, presenters shared research authored by nearly 100 URochester Medicine faculty members, staff, and trainees spanning a wide range of disciplines. Oral presentations by Rivera, Pryhuber, Croft, Matthew McGraw, MD, associate professor of Pediatric Pulmonology, and Andrew Dylag, MD, associate professor of Neonatology—along with 25 poster presentations—showcased the institution’s national leadership, collaborative nature, and scientific impact.
URochester Medicine researchers shared clinical and foundational research that is advancing pulmonary medicine and respiratory health by:
- Addressing disparities in lung cancer care
- Exploring the molecular and physiological mechanisms underlying diseases like COPD, pulmonary arterial hypertension, and bronchopulmonary dysplasia
- Investigating the impact of environmental and occupational exposures on respiratory health
- Developing and testing innovative diagnostic and therapeutic approaches, such as cardiopulmonary exercise testing, spatial multi-omics, and robotic bronchoscopy
- Providing personalized, age-specific care for rare conditions, immune dysregulation, and pediatric lung diseases
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