Read the transcript of Contra Costa Times reporter Denis Cuff and respiratory therapist and former American Lung Association of California board chair Anne Kennedy's discussion with readers about health impacts of wood smoke and strategies to protect lungs from pollution lingering in the wake of this week's regional wildland fires.



Former American Lung Association of California board chair Anne Kennedy, RRT, RCP, and AE-C (certified asthma educator) has dedicated her career to patient education, and teaching people with lung disease how to better manage their symptoms so they can live more quality lives. She has worked in a variety of areas, including home care; pulmonary research at the University of California, San Francisco; and inpatient respiratory therapy.

She joined the American Lung Association nearly three decades ago when someone asked her to teach a Better Breathers class. She has been a staunch supporter and significant contributor to the organization ever since, often putting in as many as 30 hours a week on association projects. She has volunteered her time at all levels, facilitating programs, serving on committees, and leading the American Lung Association of California as Board Chair.

As a member of the American Lung Association of California Executive Committee, Kennedy suggested a structure for asthma educators that evolved into the National Asthma Educator Certification Board, a voluntary testing program used to assess qualified professionals' knowledge in asthma education.