Pulmonary Fibrosis Awareness Month Underway, Events, Education and Advocacy Efforts Announced

PF Warriors presents “MY PF LIFE” throughout September, recognizing patients, caregivers and families who live with pulmonary fibrosis every day

IRVING, TX, UNITED STATES, September 17, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — PF Warriors, a global patient-led organization supporting people affected by pulmonary fibrosis (PF) and interstitial lung disease (ILD), is recognizing Pulmonary Fibrosis Awareness Month throughout September with the theme “MY PF LIFE,” a focus on the experiences, challenges and voices of people whose lives are affected by pulmonary fibrosis.

PF Warriors’ PF Awareness Month activities include a free in-person patient and caregiver education forum in the Dallas-Fort Worth area this weekend (September 19), weekly online support group meetings addressing the daily challenges of living with PF, virtual educational programs, the sharing of patient and caregiver stories, advocacy outreach, and participation in national and global collaborative initiatives.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) in ILD Care: Patient and Caregiver Education Forum

A centerpiece of PF Warriors’ educational activities during PF Awareness Month will be “AI in ILD Care: What Patients and Caregivers Need to Know, Ask, and Understand,” a free in-person and virtual education forum being held on Saturday, September 19. The in-person event will be at the Hilton DFW Lakes Executive Conference Center in Grapevine, Texas. Interstitial Lung Disease is a category of fibrotic lung diseases and Pulmonary Fibrosis represents a large portion of ILD disease. The event is free, but advance registration is required. To register for in-person, visit: https://pfwarriors.org/event/pf-warriors-in-person-meeting-ai-in-ild-care-september-19-2026/. . To register for the virtual session, visit: https://pfwarriors.zoom.us/meeting/register/N9-gqyZaRG608UHXxFVO4w#/registration.

The forum will bring patients and caregivers together with leading ILD physicians and other experts to explore how artificial intelligence can impact online health information, CT imaging, treatment decisions, communicating with healthcare teams, genetics and family questions, and advocacy. “AI is changing how patients and caregivers understand health information, but it also raises important questions. My hope is that this meeting helps attendees understand what AI can and cannot tell us and leaves them feeling more informed, confident, and empowered to talk with their healthcare teams,” said Jeff Swigris, DO, MS, a member of the PF Warriors Medical Advisory Council.

Living With PF Every Day

Throughout PF Awareness Month, PF Warriors is hosting weekly online support group meetings providing opportunities for patients and caregivers to talk about the practical and emotional challenges that can accompany life with pulmonary fibrosis, ask questions, share experiences and connect with others who understand the PF journey. PF Warriors will also continue its educational programming, Spanish-language support and online engagement throughout the month.

“Education and support go hand-in-hand because living with PF brings questions and challenges that extend far beyond the medical appointment,” said Dolly Kervitsky, RCP, CCRC, CNP, President of PF Warriors. “We want to empower patients, caregivers and families, especially during PF Awareness Month, to find reliable information, connect with experts and with one another, and feel better prepared for the conversations and decisions they face along the way.”

Patient Voices: Sharing the Reality of Living With PF

The “MY PF LIFE” theme will elevate the voices of patients and caregivers who participated in the first PF-focused U.S. Food and Drug Administration Listening Session in April.

During the session, patients and caregivers spoke directly with FDA representatives about their experiences with pulmonary fibrosis, including symptoms, disease progression, treatment, oxygen needs, quality of life and the challenges patients and families face throughout the PF journey. The summary of the meeting is available on the PF Warriors website at: https://pfwarriors.org/pulmonary-fibrosis-pf-community-fda-patient-listening-session-summary/

Working Together to Strengthen the Patient Voice

In the United States, PF Warriors works alongside other patient and advocacy organizations on federal policy issues affecting people with pulmonary fibrosis and other serious lung diseases. Current efforts include advocacy related to access to supplemental oxygen and legislation addressing barriers to research and potential therapies, specifically, the Supplemental Oxygen Access Reform (SOAR) Act, which addresses access to supplemental oxygen and related services, and the Fast-Tracking Approval for Innovative Rare Disease Therapies (FAIR) Act, which proposes a pathway intended to accelerate access to clinical trials and therapies for people with rare diseases. The legislation applies to approved clinical trials and drugs in the European Union (EU), United Kingdom (UK), or Canada. To learn more, visit SOAR Act: https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/2902
FAIR Act: https://www.fairactnow.com/

“Advocacy starts by listening to what patients and caregivers experience in their everyday lives,” said Teresa Barnes, Chief Executive Warrior of PF Warriors. “When we work together and bring those experiences to policymakers, we can help them understand how decisions about oxygen, research and access to potential treatments affect real people and families. PF Awareness Month is an important opportunity to make their voices heard.”

PF Warriors participates in a global pulmonary fibrosis coalition that brings together PF patient organizations, respiratory societies and industry partners around shared issues affecting the PF community worldwide.

Bringing Patient and Caregiver Perspectives to Research

During the European Respiratory Society International Congress in Barcelona, PF Warriors participated in three initiatives focused on research and patient engagement: patient and caregiver meetings focused on clinical research and diagnostic challenges experienced by people affected by pulmonary fibrosis with patients and caregivers from the United States, United Kingdom, Greece, Japan and other European countries who shared their experiences and perspectives. PF Warriors also contributed to two research posters presented during the Congress. In collaboration with Avalyn Pharma, “Understanding Patient Perspectives on IPF Clinical Trial Participation: Preferences, Motivations, and Comfort with Study Design” explored what matters to people with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) when considering participation in clinical research, helping bring patient preferences and experiences into discussions about clinical trial design. PF Warriors worked with Boehringer Ingelheim on “Nerandomilast in Patients With Fibrosing ILDs at Risk of Developing Progressive Pulmonary Fibrosis (PPF): Design of the FIBRONEER-ACT Trial.” The work reflects continued efforts to include patient and caregiver perspectives in the development and design of research.

About PF Warriors

PF Warriors is the largest PF patient support network for individuals and families affected by fibrotic lung diseases, serving more than 25,000 members across the U.S. and 14 other countries. The organization provides multilingual education, expert-led webinars, peer support groups, and advocacy programs that empower patients and caregivers. Membership is free at https://www.PFWarriors.org.

Teresa Barnes
PF Warriors
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Written By: EIN Presswire