Three Healthcare Leaders Join American Lung Association’s Local Board

The American Lung Association in Georgia is pleased to welcome three local leaders in the healthcare field to the Georgia Leadership Board: Shady Eldaif, MD, a leading thoracic surgeon, Adrienne Cunningham, a registered respiratory therapist, and Pooja Mishra, an oncology and healthcare leader. Together with the other 10 members of the Board and the local Lung Association team, they will help drive Lung Association’s lifesaving efforts, advocating for lung health and increasing resources to fund programs and services.

“We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Eldaif, Adrienne and Pooja to our Georgia Leadership Board. Their diverse experiences and insights will be critical to advancing our impact in the Atlanta community and across Georgia,” said Dr. Jannifer Harper, chair of the Lung Association’s Georgia Leadership Board. “Together, our Leadership Board is working to create a future world free of lung cancer and lung disease.”

More about the three new members of the Georgia Leadership Board:

Adrienne Cunningham is an Atlanta native and registered respiratory therapist of 18 years. She currently serves as a sales representative with Lemaitre Vascular, where she collaborates with surgeons and clinical teams on implantable vascular devices outside of the heart to treat vascular diseases. She is committed to making a positive impact in the Atlanta community and is active in the Junior League of Atlanta, the United Way of greater Atlanta and the American Association of Respiratory Care. Adrienne holds a Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Therapy, a Master of Public Health from Georgia State University and a Master of Business Administration from Mercer University.

“My personal journey with asthma and caring for thousands of patients with lung disease through the years has fueled my passion for lung health and my commitment to healthy lungs,” said Cunningham. “I am excited to bring my personal and professional experience to the American Lung Association in Georgia as a new board member.”

Dr. Shady Eldaif is an experienced leader in the field of thoracic oncology, having successfully completed more than 1,600 complex robotic thoracic surgeries to date. He currently serves as the director of thoracic oncology for the City of Hope Cancer Center Atlanta where he oversees a team of thoracic cancer specialists. Previously, he held several leadership roles at Northside Hospital, including chief of thoracic surgery, director of robotic thoracic surgery and chair of the Department of Surgery. Dr. Eldaif has been published in leading medical journals and has spoken at medical conferences around the country. He earned his medical and undergraduate degrees at Emory University. Dr. Eldaif grew up in the Atlanta area.

“My biggest driver and passion is to break barriers to provide access to exceptional healthcare to patients, specifically for cancer care,” said Dr. Eldaif.

Pooja Mishra has been local leader in cancer care for more than two decades, with deep expertise in business development, healthcare strategy, operations and consulting. She currently serves as the Vice President of the Oncology and Sickle Cell Service Line at Grady Health System, where she has pioneered solutions that have demonstrated improved patient access, decreased time from diagnosis to treatment and demonstrated stage shift in cancer care. Pooja is engaged in her community through work in reducing barriers to screening and early detection and is passionate about reducing barriers to healthcare access and growing the next generation of healthcare leaders. She holds master’s degrees in Health Administration and Business Administration from Georgia State University.

Mishra said: “Lung cancer accounts for 1 out of 5 cancer deaths. I share the Lung Association’s commitment to both prevention and early detection, which will save lives. I look forward to being the bridge to align like efforts, leapfrog growth, and drive measurable and meaningful impact to prevent lung disease and save lives. So glad to be part of this essential, transformative effort.”

Get involved and help the mission of American Lung Association. The LUNG FORCE Run/Walk at Atlantic Station is coming up on Saturday, November 2. For more information, and to register, visit LUNGFORCE.org/Atlanta.