Lunch and Learn

SPRING Series

May's Topic:

Stress, Mood and Asthma — Many Ways Lead to Rome

Join us for CAC's Spring 2024 Lunch & Learn series! These days, schedules seem to be more packed than ever; but learning more about asthma management doesn't have to take hours. On the Third Wednesday of each month at noon, we'll be hosting a 30-minute, informal Zoom group with an expert in the field of asthma to educate and answer questions around asthma and issues that can affect those living with it. Lunch and Learn is free and open to all, and designed to be valuable for everyone, from experienced healthcare workers to community members looking to improve their ability to care for themselves and their loved ones.

This event is FREE to attend for all, but registration is required to receive the Zoom link.

May's Asthma Expert:

Dr. Thomas Ritz, PhD
Professor of Psychology at Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas

Dr. Thomas Ritz received his Ph.D. from the University of Hamburg, Germany, and worked as a post-doctoral fellow at the University of London, St. George’s Hospital Medical School, and Stanford University Medical School and the VA Palo Alto. Following his habilitation and receipt of the venia legendi in Germany he joined the Department of Psychology at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, in 2005.  His research of the past 30+ years has focused on the psychobiology and psychosomatic medicine of respiratory disease and comorbid affective disorders. Much of his work is interdisciplinary with colleagues in biology, chemistry, and medicine, with an emphasis on consolidating a basic research foundation for asthma management and translating basic findings into psychological, behavioral, and life-style interventions for asthma and comorbid psychological disorders. In ongoing research, he studies the role of the central nervous system in asthma, the prevention of stress-induced respiratory infections, and the biologically informed treatments for anxiety and anhedonia. His research has been supported by federal funding agencies and private foundations in the US, Germany, Canada, and the UK. He is a Fellow of the American Psychosomatic Society and currently editor for the journal Biological Psychology.