Focus Groups
All times are Central Standard Time.
Make an Impact on the Future of Respiratory Care — Participate in Focus Groups
AARC Congress 2026 focus groups are sponsored by Fisher & Paykel. If you have questions related to focus groups, contact Paul Miniter, AARC VP of Business Development and Sponsorships.
Day 1 — Saturday, Nov. 14
12:00 p.m.–1:30 p.m. | Room TBA
Advancing Pediatric NIV Mask Design Through Clinical Insight
If you are a respiratory therapist with pediatric experience in a director or bedside clinician role, share your insights in this interactive focus group on Pediatric Noninvasive Ventilation (NIV). Your frontline expertise on device selection, workflows, and current market interfaces will directly influence the development of next-generation pediatric NIV mask solutions. The focus group will explore the unique challenges, benefits, and limitations of existing pediatric NIV masks, along with critical barriers faced in care delivery. Help drive innovation, improve mask design, and advance care for pediatric patients receiving NIV support.
Day 2 — Sunday, Nov. 15
12:00 p.m.–1:30 p.m. | Room TBA
Managing Airway Stability in Invasively Ventilated Patients
If you are a respiratory therapist serving in a director or bedside clinician role, sign up to be considered for this interactive focus group on airway stability during invasive mechanical ventilation. Discuss and share your real-world experiences, practices across clinical settings (ED vs. ICU, tertiary vs. regional), and the benefits and challenges of various securement methods. The focus group will explore key decision-making factors, practice variations, and real-world barriers. Your insights will directly shape future educational initiatives and product development aimed at improving patient outcomes.
Day 3 — Monday, Nov. 16
12:00 p.m.–1:30 p.m. | Room TBA
From Bedside to Boardroom: Respiratory Therapy’s Role in Quality Improvement
Join fellow respiratory therapy leaders who are interested in quality improvement for an interactive focus group exploring how RT departments drive hospital-wide quality and continuous improvement. Share your strategies for identifying priority initiatives, establishing key performance metrics, and aligning projects with system goals. You’ll also be able to share the practical ways you measure impact and effectively communicate value to C-suite leadership to support strategic program growth. If chosen for this focus group, please bring a past or current quality improvement project example to enrich knowledge-sharing.