Grace Anne Dorney Koppel, wife of ABC News veteran Ted Koppel, has become a dedicated advocate for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) awareness after her 2001 diagnosis with severe COPD. Initially misdiagnosed, Grace Anne was told she had only three to five years to live but has defied those odds for 25 years. She stresses that COPD is a progressive and debilitating lung disease marked by breathlessness, anxiety, and a loss of control, but maintains that with aggressive treatment, pulmonary rehabilitation, and patient engagement, the condition can be managed effectively.

Her personal battle with COPD, which involved significant lung function loss by the time of diagnosis, has fueled her commitment to combating the misconceptions about this disease. Contrary to common belief, COPD is not exclusively a smoker’s illness; 25 to 40 percent of people diagnosed have never smoked. Environmental factors such as pollution, occupational hazards, and secondhand smoke contribute greatly to its development. Koppel emphasizes the need to dispel the stigma attached to COPD and raise awareness about its true causes and progression.

Recognizing gaps in COPD care, especially in rural America, Koppel and Ted launched the Dorney-Koppel Foundation and established 11 clinics dedicated to providing pulmonary rehabilitation and treatment where it is most needed. These clinics have helped many patients take control of their disease and enhance their quality of life. Koppel’s advocacy centers on demonstrating that COPD, while currently incurable, does not have to be a death sentence but rather a manageable lifelong condition requiring personalized care and sustained attention.

Koppel has also turned her attention toward advancing research and treatment options, highlighting promising developments like AstraZeneca’s biologic tozorakimab, which showed encouraging results in reducing COPD exacerbations. She urges increased funding and more focused research to develop new therapies. With COPD being the world’s fourth leading cause of death and often referred to as a “silent killer,” her efforts aim to reduce the disease’s stigma, amplify patient voices, and improve outcomes for millions affected globally.