The Hawaii COPD Coalition was founded in Hawaii in 2007 to provide services and support to Hawaii's people affected by Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and its related disorders, including care givers, healthcare professionals, family and friends through research, education and increasing public awareness including early screening and diagnosis.  (Emphysema and Chronic Bronchitis are conditions included in COPD.) 

 

Hawaii COPD Coalition obtained funding and was instrumental in getting questions about the prevalence of COPD added to the 2007 Hawaii Health Survey.  It was also instrumental in getting a validated COPD question added to the 2008 Hawaii Behavior Risk Factors Surveilance System.

 

The Hawaii COPD Coalition organized three events with partners on November 2, 2007 featuring keynote speaker, Dr. James Kiley, Director of the Lung Division, National Heart Lung Blood Institute of the Department of Health:  Grand Rounds, a COPD Education Day, and a dinner and discussion with key stakeholders and policymakers. 

 

The Hawaii COPD Coalition has received funding from the Hawaii Tobacco Prevention and Control Trust Fund of the Hawaii Community Foundation for Project SUCCESS, Spirometry-Urged Cessation through Counseling Education and Sustained Support from December 1, 2007 through November 30, 2009.  Partnering with CVS Caremark/Longs Drugs, clinics have been held several times a month at different friendly neighborhood pharmacies throughout the state, including Maui, Kauai, and the Big Islands.  The co-leaders of this project are Valerie Chang, JD, Paul Enrigh, MD and Cindy Minakami, PharmD, MBA.

The project also features monthly support group meetings and an annual COPD Education Day with many speakers, exhibits and free handouts and demonstrations.  Information about the Hawaii COPD Coalition and Project SUCCESS has been presented at numerous state, national and international forums. Click here to view recent poster describing Project SUCCESS which was exhibited at the May 2009 American Thoracic Society International Conference in San Diego.