Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital's Chief Medical Officer Rappels for Respiratory Health

Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital’s chief medical officer and pulmonologist Michael G. Ankin, MD, FACP, FCCP, stepped over the edge 278 feet above State and Lake Streets in Chicago yesterday to rappel the signature lightning bolt of the Wit Hotel to raise awareness and funds for the Chicago Respiratory Health Association's lung disease research, advocacy and education programs.

Ankin was one of 80 adventurous Chicagoans who rappelled 27 stories down the façade of the Wit for the promotion of lung health, helping raise an overall $85,000 for Chicago’s Respiratory Health Association. 

“It was an exhilarating experience and a fun way to raise money for a very serious and important health issue – respiratory health,” said Ankin.

Ankin is a senior member of pulmonary medicine at Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital, which provides comprehensive services for the health of the lungs, from the treatment of bronchitis and pneumonia to pulmonary hypertension and lung cancer.  The pulmonary health team uses diagnostic tests and examinations of the chest, heart and lungs to aid in diagnosis and treatment planning, focusing on education and rehabilitation to help control the symptoms that negatively affect patients’ health and quality of life. Ankin is medical director of the hospital’s renowned Pulmonary Rehabilitation program, which helps control symptoms, improve daily living and increase independence through exercise training and education from a multidisciplinary team.

Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital and the Northwestern Grayslake Outpatient Center provide comprehensive services for patients with lung or other cancers. Northwestern Lake Forest’s new Infusion Center – scheduled to open fall 2014 – will offer patients the added comfort and convenience of receiving their therapy in a brand new, state-of-the-art environment.

Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital has launched a new lung cancer screening program to promote the early detection of lung cancer. Through the screening program, low-dose CT scans are recommended for people who meet a series of criteria, based largely on age and smoking history. Lung cancer is the second most frequently diagnosed cancer among both men and women and is the leading cause of cancer death worldwide, accounting for the loss of approximately 1.4 million lives each year. The illness is difficult to detect in its early stages, and typically before the person experiences symptoms the cancer has already spread to other part of the body. Yet, when detected in its beginning stage it is very treatable.

For more information about Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital’s lung services, visit www.lfh.org/pulmonology_lungs.