Dr. David Mannino is a distinguished physician-scientist and leading authority in respiratory epidemiology and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease research. He currently serves as Professor and Chair of the Department of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine. After earning his medical degree from Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University and a bachelor's degree from Pennsylvania State University, he established himself as a prominent figure in pulmonary medicine and epidemiology. His career includes a significant tenure at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention where he served as chief science officer of the Air Pollution and Respiratory Health Branch, contributing foundational research on respiratory disease epidemiology.
Dr. Mannino's groundbreaking research has fundamentally advanced the understanding of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease epidemiology, with his work establishing critical baseline data on COPD prevalence and risk factors that has informed clinical practice worldwide. He has authored over 300 peer-reviewed publications in leading journals, with his seminal studies on the epidemiology of lung diseases becoming essential references for researchers and clinicians. His research has particularly focused on the complex interplay between asthma and COPD, identifying key risk factors and the significant overlap between these conditions that has reshaped clinical approaches to respiratory disease management. The impact of his work extends beyond academia, directly influencing public health policy and clinical guidelines for respiratory disease screening and treatment. His methodological contributions to population-based studies of respiratory health have set new standards for epidemiological research in the field.
Beyond his research achievements, Dr. Mannino has been instrumental in building the global COPD research community through his co-founding of the COPD Foundation, where he continues to serve as a Medical Director, creating a vital hub for research, education, and patient advocacy. He maintains influential editorial roles as Associate Editor of the Journals of the COPD Foundation and serves on the editorial boards of prestigious journals including Thorax, Chest, and the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. His leadership extends to advisory roles with multiple professional organizations such as the USCOPD Coalition, the National Lung Health Education Program, and the Alpha-1 Foundation. Currently directing the Department of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health at the University of Kentucky, Dr. Mannino continues to advance research on respiratory epidemiology while training the next generation of physician-scientists in pulmonary medicine and public health. His ongoing work promises to further illuminate the complex relationships between environmental exposures, genetic factors, and respiratory disease outcomes, ensuring his continued impact on both clinical practice and public health policy.
