Dr. Petty graduated from the University of Colorado School of Medicine in 1958 and completed his internship at Philadelphia General Hospital, his residency at the University of Michigan and University of Colorado, and a fellowship in pulmonary medicine at the University of Colorado (CU). He joined the CU faculty in 1962, eventually becoming head of the division of pulmonary medicine, a position he held between 1971 and 1985. He continues to serve the University today as Professor of Medicine and Anesthesiology, and also hold positions of Professor of Medicine at Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke’s Medical Center in Chicago and Professor of Medicine Emeritus at National Jewish Medical and Research Center.

In the mid-1970s, he spearheaded the Nocturnal Oxygen Therapy Trials, which set the scientific basis for oxygen as it is used today in patients with oxygen deficits due to COPD and related disorders. In 1983 Dr. Petty was the organizer and founding president of the Association of Pulmonary Program Directors. Dr. Petty has chaired or co-chaired six oxygen consensus conferences.

Dr. Petty currently serves on the editorial boards of Postgraduate Medicine and Current Opinion in Pulmonary Medicine. He was senior editor of CHEST from 1970 to 1975, associate editor of the American Review of Respiratory Diseases from 1983 to 1990, and associate editor of RESPIRATORY CARE from 1970 to 1990. He has authored or co-authored more than 150 original investigations and he is credited with developing one of the nation’s first pulmonary rehabilitation programs. He has written over 800 articles in medical and lay publications. The Lung Cancer Frontiers newsletter was started by Dr. Petty through his not-for-profit organization, “Snowdrift Pulmonary Conference, Inc.” The first issue was published in January 1996. It is now published by National Jewish Medical and Research Center.

A member of 20 professional organizations, Dr. Petty has won numerous awards over the years, including the University of Colorado’s Silver and Gold Award for Excellence, the American Association for Respiratory Care’s Jimmy A. Young Medal, the Dr. Charles Hudson Award , and the American Thoracic Society’s Distinguished Achievement Award. He is a Master Fellow (MCCP) of the American College of Chest Physicians and a Master of the American College of Physicians (MACP). He was President of the American College of Chest Physicians from 1981 to 1982. In 2007 he was given the Master Achievement Award of the American College of Chest Physicians.

The prestigious Aspen Lung Conferences, which draw worldwide experts meeting in Aspen, Colorado each year in June, was renamed the Thomas L. Petty Aspen Lung Conference in 1990. This annual conference recently celebrated its 50th Anniversary.

Dr. Petty has authored 46 books including Adventures of an Oxy-Phile, a book recounting the stories and science of supplemental oxygen, especially for “for and by patients who have learned to adapt to the need for supplemental oxygen.” He has also authored The History of the Pulmonary Division of the University of Colorado and History of the Aspen Lung Conference. These are available on his web site, drtompetty.org . His most recent book is entitled From Both Ends of the Stethoscope, where he reviews a half a century of rich and challenging experiences as a doctor and a patient.