Understanding Lung Cancer in People Who Have Never Smoked

Stanford CARE Hosts Inaugural Lung Cancer Summit to Address Health Disparities in Non-Smoker Lung Cancer

Palo Alto, CA—March 2025—When Dr. Bryant Lin, co-founder of Stanford CARE, a dedicated Stanford physician, educator, and researcher, first felt a persistent pain in his shoulder, he never imagined it would lead to a diagnosis that would change his life forever. A stage IV non-smoker lung cancer diagnosis is not something he or his doctors ever expected—after all, he had no history of smoking, no obvious risk factors. But suddenly, he found himself sitting in the very same patient chairs where he had once counseled others, confronting the stark reality of an aggressive disease that disproportionately affects never-smokers, particularly Asians.

Dr. Lin’s story has brought national attention to this urgent and often overlooked health crisis. Despite his diagnosis, he has remained steadfast in his mission—not only to fight for his own life but also to push forward research, awareness, and advocacy for the thousands of never-smokers facing the same battle. His journey is a reminder that lung cancer is not just a smoker’s disease and that more must be done to understand, detect, and treat it early.

In response to this growing crisis, Stanford CARE is hosting the inaugural Stanford Lung Cancer Summit on March 11-12, 2025. This summit will bring together leading clinicians, researchers, and patient advocates to tackle one of the most critical health disparities in cancer research today: lung cancer in people who have never smoked.

Summit Highlights

• Expert-led panel discussions – Cutting-edge insights on early detection, novel diagnostic tools, and personalized treatment strategies.
• Multidisciplinary approach – Coverage of molecular detection, epidemiology, radiology, pulmonary medicine, surgery, and patient-centered care.
• Equity and health disparities – Focus on healthcare challenges among non-smokers, particularly in Asian communities.
• Patient advocacy panel – Featuring patients and caregivers, offering firsthand perspectives on living with lung cancer as a non-smoker.

A Call for Collaboration

The summit seeks to unite the efforts of healthcare professionals, researchers, policymakers, and advocates to advance lung cancer prevention, treatment, and advocacy. Through meaningful discussions, this initiative will focus on identifying actionable steps for addressing the unique challenges faced by non-smoking lung cancer patients globally.

The two-day program will also include a patient advocacy panel led by Dr. Bryant Lin, co-founder of Stanford CARE, who will share his personal experience as a physician turned patient, alongside other voices working to reshape the future of lung cancer research and care.
“This summit represents a vital step in addressing one of the most pressing health disparities in our community,” said Dr. Heather Wakelee, Chair of the Summit Planning Committee. “By bringing together leading minds and amplifying patient perspectives, we hope to chart a course toward equitable care and transformative research.”

About Stanford CARE

The Stanford Center for Asian Health Research and Education (CARE) is a pioneering center committed to advancing the health of Asians everywhere through education, research, and advocacy. CARE leads efforts to address health disparities, ensuring that the unique needs of Asian populations are recognized and met through cutting-edge science and innovation.

Connect with Us

Visit our website at Asianhealth.stanford.edu

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