[3] The Annals of the American Thoracic Society is a peer-reviewed medical journal that publishes clinical trials and original scientific research related to adult and pediatric pulmonary and respiratory sleep medicine, as well as adult critical care medicine, that is applicable to clinical practice, the formative and continuing education of clinical specialists, and the advancement of public health.

[4][5] Since 2013, the journal has produced a monthly podcast in which clinicians and contributing authors to the Annals of the American Thoracic Society discuss a range of topics pertaining to pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine in order to help research findings reach a wider audience.

[8] The journal was established in 2004 as the Proceedings of the American Thoracic Society, obtaining its current name in 2013.

[9] The editor-in-chief was Alan R. Leff (University of Chicago Medical Center).

David Lederer (Columbia University Medical Center) became the third editor-in-chief on April 1, 2017.