Glenview, IL – The American College of Chest Physicians ® (CHEST) is proud to announce Julie Captain, CAP, as its new Director of Philanthropy. With extensive experience in academic health care fundraising, donor engagement, and strategic philanthropy, Captain will lead the continued growth of CHEST philanthropy, helping expand its impact on education, research, and supporting local communities.
A member of the Board of Directors for the National Association for Charitable Gift Planning, Captain has a deep passion for and expertise in legacy and charitable gift planning. Before joining CHEST, Captain was Associate Vice President of Advancement at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, where she led a team focused on fundraising for the hospital’s translational research, charity care, and Quality of Life programs, as well as the organization’s $100 million "Accelerate Ability” campaign.
“Julie has dedicated her career to connecting people with causes that reflect their values and inspire them to make a difference. That ability to build authentic relationships around a shared mission is exactly what CHEST needs as we continue to grow our philanthropic impact,” said Robert Musacchio, PhD, CEO of the American College of Chest Physicians. “Every gift made through CHEST philanthropy helps advance research, expand education, and support the next generation of clinicians working to improve lung health around the world. Julie's experience, integrity, and passion for mission-driven fundraising make her an outstanding addition to our team, and I am excited to see the impact she will have.”
In 2025 alone, CHEST philanthropy raised $1.9 million, engaged 530 donors, and funded 90 travel grants for future chest medicine leaders, reflecting the organization’s commitment to advancing the profession.
“CHEST has built an inspiring philanthropic vision centered on meaningful, measurable impact,” said Captain. “I am honored to join an organization whose team, members, and supporters are so deeply committed to advancing science, education, and patient care. I look forward to partnering with donors, volunteers, and the CHEST community to grow that impact together.”
To learn more about the impact of CHEST philanthropy and how donor support is advancing research, education, and supporting local communities, read the CHEST Philanthropy 2025 Impact Report at https://www.chestnet.org/membership-and-community/philanthropy/impact-report .
About the American College of Chest Physicians
The American College of Chest Physicians ® (CHEST) is the global leader in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of chest diseases. Its mission is to champion the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of chest diseases through education, communication, and research. It serves as an essential connection to clinical knowledge and resources for its 18,000+ members from around the world who provide patient care in pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine. For information about CHEST and its family of journals, including the flagship journal CHEST ® , visit chestnet.org .