The University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine will host a Mini Medical School program on lung health on Tuesday, Nov. 5, in the Adler Health Education Center at Genesis Medical Center East located at 1236 E. Rusholme St., in Davenport.

Lungs are amazing organs. With each breath, they orchestrate the complex exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide that keeps us alive. Healthy lungs also are our first line of defense against against all the bacteria, viruses, allergens, and environmental toxins that we inhale.

So, diseases that damage lung function, like asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which affect more than 36 million Americans, represent a major health problem.

UI pulmonary specialists Dr. Joel Kline, professor of internal medicine, and Dr. Alejandro P. Comellas, assistant professor of internal medicine and director of UI Lung Research, will present "Breathing Easier: How Pulmonary Research is Changing Lives," focusing on the how UI pulmonology researchers are working to alleviate the problems caused by lung disease.

The event is a partnership between the UI Carver College of Medicine, the Institute for Clinical and Translational Science at the UI, and Genesis Medical Center in Davenport.

Check-in and reception, including a light meal, will be from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., during which time Genesis Medical Center staff will provide interactive medical simulation stations as a pre-program activity to engage learners. The Mini Medical School program will run from 6:30 to 8 p.m.

Mini Medical School is free and open to the public. However, space is limited and reservations are required. To register, call 319-335-8886 or toll free 877-MED-IOWA. Online registration is available here.

Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to attend all UI-sponsored events. If you are a person with a disability who requires a reasonable accommodation in order to attend this reading, call External Relations in advance at 319-335-8886.