AARC Explores 2026 Pathway Guide

Speaker: Jessica Schweller, MS, APRN-CNP, RRT-SDS, AE-C, CCSH

This session explores the complex relationship between sleep, metabolism, and emerging therapies for sleep-related disorders. Learners will review key metabolic processes that occur during both normal and disrupted sleep, highlighting how sleep physiology influences overall metabolic health. The session will also examine the role of GLP-1 agonists in the management of obesity and obstructive sleep apnea, weighing their potential benefits against limitations and risks to support informed, evidence-based clinical decision-making. This session will also introduce other medical therapies being evaluated in clinical trials to help support patients with sleep apnea.

Speaker: Sara Parker, RRT, RRT-NPS, RRT-ACCS, AE-C

As respiratory therapists at the bedside, we see countless chest X-rays. But what is it about pathophysiology that characterizes chest X-rays? This presentation will detail the pathophysiology of various neonatal and pediatric chest x-ray findings and treatment, using before-and-after images to demonstrate how treatment changes the appearance of the x-ray by altering lung pathophysiology.

Speaker: Kristin Goessl, BS, RRT, RCP, AE-C

Speaker: Julie Jackson, BAS, RRT, RRT-ACCS

For respiratory care leaders, anticipating trends and adapting to industry shifts is imperative to success. The ability to forecast, adjust strategy, and identify potential risks related to industry change positions leaders for operational success. This lecture will review strategies for forecasting, maintaining flexibility, and adapting to industry shifts.

Speaker: Keith D. Lamb, RRT, RRT-ACCS, FAARC, FCCM

Scoring systems in critical care are commonly used to predict outcomes or treatment failure. This lecture will discuss the evidence supporting the use of the ROX index, HACOR score, and related measures.

Speaker: Andrew Klein, MS, RRT, RRT-ACCS, RRT-NPS, AE-C, FCCP, FAARC

Providing education to bedside practitioners has become increasingly challenging. Many respiratory therapists are self-described hands-on learners, which decreases the value of lecture-based education. Additionally, as our staff gets younger, more emphasis is placed on shorter targeted educational events. This lecture will review current educational models and offer insight into providing “boot camp”- style staff education that includes short didactic sessions and small-group, hands-on breakout activities. The structure and resources needed to deliver these events, as well as the collection of staff feedback and outcome metrics, will also be discussed.

Speaker: Laura Reindl, MS, RRT-ACCS, RRT-NPS

Clinical preceptors play a vital role in healthcare education. Unfortunately, many respiratory therapists receive very little training in how to be effective preceptors. In this presentation, we will discuss key components of preceptor training, including adult learning principles, assessment methods, and communication skills. We will highlight common challenges faced by preceptors and explore strategies to overcome them with the goal of enhancing the quality of clinical learning experiences for new hires and ultimately improving patient care.

Speaker: Jamie Markham, RRT, RRT-NPS, RPFT

Many PFT technicians are unsure of the steps needed to align their labs with ATS standards. This informative lecture will cover the key essentials for enhancing the quality of your testing procedures and Quality Controls, ensuring your lab delivers accurate, high-quality results so your patients receive the best possible care.

Speaker: Gerard Criner, MD, FACP, FACCP

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a chronic inflammatory disorder affecting millions of patients worldwide. Symptoms include dyspnea, chronic cough, and functional decline resulting in significant morbidity and health care costs (31B annually in the US alone). Medication management includes an assortment of drugs with a variety of dosing strategies and inhalation devices. Management may also include oxygen supplementation and non-invasive ventilation. Over the last three decades, surgical and interventional treatments via bronchoscopy have been developed to complement medical therapies and show promises to improve patient outcomes. A combination of imaging and physiological testing identifies patients most likely to benefit from treatments targeting structural abnormalities of the airway and lung parenchyma. This presentation will review surgical and bronchoscopy options for the treatment of COPD.

Speaker: Teresa Volsko, MBA, MHHS, RRT, LSSBB, FAARC

Tobacco use, and thus tobacco-related morbidity, is elevated among the poor, those with substance use disorder, and behavioral health treatment needs. However, many barriers exist that prevent clinicians from uniformly screening for tobacco use and identifying an individual’s readiness to quit. This lecture examines the key factors that could enhance screening conduct and delineate providers’ perceived barriers to connecting those they serve with tobacco use interventions.

Speaker: Michael Davis, PhD, RRT, FAARC

Recently identified mechanisms underlying asthma, cystic fibrosis, and other respiratory diseases suggest differences in pathophysiology and treatment response across specific phenotypes. This includes responses to anti-inflammatories, bronchodilators, and CTFR proteins, which affect the degree of fibrosis across multiple organ systems. This presentation will discuss results from several large ongoing clinical trials, as well as new treatment and diagnostic modalities.