Adult Acute Care Specialty Practitioner of the Year

The annual Specialty Practitioner of the Year (SPOTY) Awards recognize one member from each AARC Specialty Section who has gone above and beyond to advance the art and science of respiratory care within their specialty through exceptional contributions in professional service, leadership, or scholarship.

Stay tuned for 2026 nomination information.

Past Recipients

• 2024 Tyler Weiss, MSc, RRT, RRT-ACCS, AE-C, FCCP
• 2023 Madison L. Fratzke, BSc, RRT, RRT-ACCS
• 2022 Kenneth (Kenny) Miller, MEd, MSRT, RRT-ACCS, RRT-NPS, AE-C, FAARC
• 2021 Troy Whitacre, RRT, RRT-ACCS
• 2020 Felix Khusid RRT, RRT-ACCS, RRT-NPS, RPFT, FAARC, FCCM, FCCP, ATSF
• 2019 Karsten Roberts, MSc, RRT, RRT-ACCS
• 2018 Thomas Piraino, RRT, FCSRT
• 2017 Donna Tanner, MHS, MBA, RRT-ACCS
• 2016 Ron Pasewald, BS, RRT, RRT-ACCS
• 2015 Maria Madden, BS, RRT-ACCS
• 2014 Hui-Qing Ge (Grace), MS, RRT
• 2013 Tom Gillin, RRT2012Eric Kriner, BS, RRT
• 2011 Carl R. Hinkson, BS, RRT
• 2010 Daniel Rowley, RRT-NPS, RPFT, FAARC
• 2009 Mathew Davis, RRT
• 2008 Jhaymie L. Cappiello, RRT
• 2007 Jonathan Brady Scott, RRT
• 2006
• 2005 Joseph C. Hylton, RRT-NPS, CPFT
• 2004 Robert Estetter, RRT
• 2003 William S. Demaray, BS, RRT
• 2002 Keith D. Lamb, RRT
• 2001 Jeff Whitnack, RRT, RPFT
• 2000
• 1999 Patrick Yorio, RRT
• 1998 Lynn Smyrk, RRT
• 1997 Nicholas A. Widder, RRT, RPFT
• 1996 Carl Haas, RRT
• 1995 David A. Maddox, RRT
• 1994 Jack K. Covington
• 1993 John Graybeal
• 1992 David J. Rappa
• 1991 Richard Branson
• 1990 Robert S. Campbell