Grace Anne Dorney Koppel

Grace Anne Dorney Koppel, is an American private practice attorney and spokesperson for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). She is married to journalist Ted Koppel and is the mother of journalist Andrea Koppel.

Contents

Biography

A graduate of Fordham University (B.A.), Stanford University (M.A.), and Georgetown Law (J.D.), Grace Anne Dorney works as a practicing attorney, senior Vice President for Koppel Communications, (an independent production company) and business manager for her husband, Ted Koppel, in Potomac, Maryland.

Since January 2006, Dorney has also been active as a national spokeswoman and patient advocate for the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health in the hopes of raising awareness of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) which affects some 24 million Americans, 12 million of whom are undiagnosed and untreated. She has appeared on the CBS Evening News, Good Morning America, The View, on cable, radio and in magazine publications,[1] to try to capture physician and public interest for NHLBI’s "Learn More Breathe Better" campaign. Dorney has four children and five grandchildren. She also has COPD but has "learned much more" about managing her disease and does "breathe better".

In the news

NHLBI's "Learn More Breathe Better" campaign was featured in the November 29 issue of the New York Times in a story on COPD, part of its "Six Killers” series on the leading causes of illness and death in the United States. The front page story featured James Kiley, PhD, Director, NHLBI Division of Lung Diseases, patient advocate Koppel, and a number of our partners in the COPD community.[2]
The COPD "Learn More Breathe Better" campaign was featured on CBS Evening News with Katie Couric, raising awareness and understanding of COPD with nearly 6 million viewers. Campaign spokesperson Koppel and her husband, Ted Koppel, spoke with correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta about their experiences with COPD. James Kiley, Ph. D, Director of the Division of Lung Diseases at NHLBI addressed prevalence statistics and the epidemic nature of the disease.[3]
Koppel and her husband, Ted, appeared on ABC's The View to talk about COPD on behalf of the "Learn More Breathe Better" campaign. Barbara Walters and Joy Behar spoke openly with Grace Anne about her diagnosis and management of COPD. The interview highlighted the symptoms and risk factors of COPD and the need for greater use of lung function tests.
The July edition of Woman's Day featured a story titled, "Breathing Lessons" by Koppel, as told to Andrea Atkins. In the three-page article, Koppel tells her personal story from symptoms, to diagnosis, to management of her COPD. She encourages those experiencing symptoms to talk with their doctors about taking a lung function test and directs them to the "Learn More Breathe Better" campaign website for additional information about COPD. In addition, the article refers readers to the Woman's Day website for additional resources on COPD.[4]
Grace Koppel and her husband, Ted, appeared on Retirement Living TV’s Daily Café to raise awareness about the fourth leading cause of death in the United States. Grace Anne encouraged those at risk to seek treatment, and she discussed how careful management of COPD can improve both one’s ability to breathe and enjoyment of life. The Retirement Living website featured a link to the "Learn More Breathe Better" campaign website and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute website.
Newsweek’s May 7 edition, which hit newsstands on April 30, features a special Spring Health Supplement including a "Coping with COPD" Q&A with Koppel. The piece also refers readers to www.LearnAboutCOPD.org for additional information.[5]
Patient advocate Koppel appeared on ABC's Good Morning America to talk about COPD on behalf of the NHLBI's "Learn More Breathe Better" campaign. Diane Sawyer sat down with Grace Anne, who was diagnosed with COPD in 2001, to talk about her diagnosis, the steps she is taking to manage this disease, and the importance of those who are at risk of COPD learning about the disease and getting treatment if necessary.
Patient advocate Koppel visited National Public Radio’s Diane Rehm Show, with guest host Susan Page, to talk about her fight against COPD. She was joined by James Kiley, Ph. D, Director of the Division of Lung Diseases at NHLBI and Robert Wise, M.D., Director of the Pulmonary Function Laboratory at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center and the Multidisciplinary Training Grant in Pulmonary Medicine.[6]

Personal life

Married Ted on May 17, 1963. Ted and Grace Anne have four children: Andrea (political and Chinese topical journalist), Deirdre, Andrew, and Tara.

In 1993 Ted and Grace Anne paid $2.7 million for 16 ac (6 ha) overlooking the Potomac River in Potomac, Maryland.[7] The couple filed a law suit to hold their neighbors to an agreement to limit the size of the houses in the neighborhood to 10,000 ft² (900 m²).[7]

References

  1. ^ COPD Learn More Breathe Better in the News. - National Heart Lung and Blood Institute.
  2. ^ Grady, Denise. - Health: "From Smoking Boom, a Major Killer of Women". - New York Times. - November 29, 2007
  3. ^ Grace Koppel. - CBS News. - September 12, 2007
  4. ^ WD Health: "Breathing Lessons". - Woman's Day
  5. ^ Spring Health: "Coping with COPD: A Conversation with Grace Anne Dorney Koppel". - Newsweek. - (c/o Washington Post)
  6. ^ Guest host: Susan Page: "Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease". - The Diane Rehm Show. - WAMU 88.5 American University Radio. - March 1, 2007
  7. ^ a b Mosk, Matthew. - "Koppel Tries to Cut Neighbors Down to Size". - Washington Post. - December 26, 2002. - Retrieved: 2008-07-10