Recognizing the significant and growing human and economic burden that lung disease represents, we continuously examine our business model, looking for ways of more effectively and efficiently delivering on our mission and investing the funds entrusted to us by our donors and partners.
After careful review and assessment, the Ontario Lung Association’s Board of Directors came to the difficult but necessary conclusion that a change was needed to accomplish this. As part of this change, we withdrew from the partnership agreement with the Canadian Lung Association
While our legal name remains the Ontario Lung Association, as of February 26, 2020, we began to forge a new way forward as the Lung Health Foundation to make an even greater impact in the lives of Canadians.
This transition reflects a renewed commitment to our mission and to donors, and is part of a larger transformation for the organization as we launch a new and bold strategic plan to guide our efforts over the next five years and beyond to improve the lung health of all Canadians.
As helping those affected by, and at risk of developing, lung disease is the sole reason we exist, the improvement of health outcomes must be the filter for every decision we make, and every dollar we invest.
With our new strategic plan, the Lung Health Foundation will adopt a uniquely integrated approach to improving the lung health of Canadians by identifying gaps and addressing them through:
· concentrating our efforts in asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and lung cancer, as well as key areas of health promotion – infectious respiratory disease, and smoking/vaping prevention and cessation
- modernizing our research program, broadening its scope, and better aligning it with our organizational priorities
- driving policy and practice change
- investing in urgently needed programming and supports
- promoting awareness about the lung health issues affecting everyone
With a more clear and defined focus, everything we do will work in tandem towards the change we need to drive – from research and knowledge translation, to awareness and education, to direct programming and patient support, to advocacy.
With a century of work under our belt, we are well positioned to lead the way into the next era of improving the lung health of Canadians. We are excited to start this new chapter in our history, and we hope you are too.
Lung health starts now!