National Organization Elects New Board Members For Coming Year
Dallas , TX (January 17, 2008) – The American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC), a 45,000-member national association for respiratory therapists, has announced its new elected officers and directors for 2008.
Timothy R. Myers, RRT-NPS , director of the Asthma & Diagnostic Centers and pediatric respiratory care at Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital in Cleveland , OH , captured the office of president-elect. In addition to a long record of service with the AARC, Myers is a well-known researcher in respiratory care, having published papers on mechanical ventilation and other topics in major medical journals.
Myers will serve the AARC as president-elect this year, then assume the presidency in 2009-2010. During his three-year tenure, he will join fellow AARC leaders in representing the interests of professional respiratory therapists, as well as the patients who receive care from them. He will also work with Congress to assure patients have good pulmonary health and continue to ensure quality education for respiratory therapists, who take care of patients with asthma, COPD, and other lung ailments.
Toni Rodriguez , EdD, RRT, of Phoenix , AZ is continuing in her second year as president of the AARC. She is on the faculty at Gateway Community College in Phoenix and has been involved with the American Lung Association and the American Heart Association in Arizona .
Rodriguez is the first two-term president of the AARC and has been lauded for her leadership and vision for the organization and as a powerful speaker for the group.
Also serving or newly elected to office this year are:
- Vice President for Internal Affairs: Ruth Krueger Parkinson, RRT, Sioux Falls , SD
- Vice President for External Affairs: Karen J. Stewart, RRT, Charleston , WV
- Secretary/Treasurer: Colleen Schabacker, RRT, Cookeville , TN
- Parliamentarian: John D. Hiser, RRT, Hurst , TX
- Past President: Michael W. Runge, RRT, Bismarck , ND
Directors include:
- Denise Johnson, RRT, Minneapolis , MN
- Patricia Ann Doorley, RRT, Charlottesville , VA
- James Wm. Taylor, RRT, Kalamazoo , MI
- Michael J. Hewitt, RRT-NPS, Houston , TX
- Brian K. Walsh, RRT-NPS, RPFT, Amherst , VA
- Robert McCoy, RRT, Apple Valley , MN
- George Gaebler, RRT, Syracuse , NY
- Mari Jones, ARNP, RRT, AE-C, Wichita , KS
- Terence Carey, MD, Tulsa , OK
- Rick Ford, RRT, San Diego , CA
- Debbie Fox, RRT, Wichita , KS
- Dianne L. Lewis, RRT, Naples , FL
- James M. Maguire, PhD, Norwich , VT
Linda Van Scoder, EdD, RRT, Indianapolis , INSeveral of the AARC's Specialty Sections – groups within the association that focus on specific areas of respiratory care practice – also elected new leaders:
- Adult Acute Care Section: Michael J. Hewitt, RRT-NPS, Houston , TX
- Diagnostics Section: Melynn K. Wakeman, RRT, RPFT, RPSGT, Peoria , AZ
- Education Section: Lynda T. Goodfellow, EdD, RRT, AE-C, Peachtree City , GA
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RRT stands for Registered Respiratory Therapist
RRT-NPS stands for Registered Respiratory Therapist/Neonatal Pediatric Specialist
RPFT stands for Registered Pulmonary Function Technologist
RPSGT stands for Registered Polysomnographic Technologist
AE-C stands for Asthma Educator-Certified
ARNP stands for Advanced Registered Nurse PractitionerAbout the AARC
The American Association for Respiratory Care, headquartered in Dallas , is a professional association of respiratory therapists that focuses primarily on respiratory therapy education and research. The organization's goals are to ensure that respiratory patients receive safe and effective care from qualified professionals as well as supporting respiratory health care providers. Further information about the AARC and how to become a respiratory therapist are available at www.AARC.org .
For Immediate Release
Contact: Beth Binkley
binkley@aarc.org
